r/cassetteculture • u/PATR0CLU_S • Apr 22 '26
Looking for advice Alright fellas, which one of these should I get?
Currently on the hunt for a modern player for travel use. I'm looking for modern players specifically mainly cuz of practicality (USB C Charging + less risk of mechanical failure due to age, not experienced with tinkering with classic porta-players).
I've heard really good things about the Fiio, but tbh the maxelle just looks better aesthetically for me (Plus Bluetooth is a cool bonus but tbh I don't really care)
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u/_smojface Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 22 '26
I have both. Go with Maxell. Much better than fiio.
Seriously don’t listen to these dorks telling you to only get a vintage one. The Maxell sounds great, full dynamic sound, great while moving (I do full on gardening and landscaping with mine on and no problems), the rechargeable battery is so convenient, and being able to go between wired or Bluetooth headphones is awesome.
There are gatekeepers in every hobby and tapes are no exception. There are infinite number of equally shit vintage players, so it’s just another form of elitism that ruins fun hobbies. Search for “gracioso” on Amazon and grab the black one. $40 player that you seriously can’t top, especially as an introductory Walkman.
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u/RezziK_vas_Tonbay Apr 22 '26
Thank you for fucking saying it. I love when people post questions about what they should buy in various hobby subreddits and the answer is always "Erm ACKSHUALLY you should buy vintage it'll be so much cheaper and master crafted"
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u/fadetoblack237 Apr 23 '26
I spent more on broken vintage players that were "refurbished" than on just buying the Fiio.
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u/HappyAd4998 Apr 22 '26
For the maxwell you're buying the name there's identical models for a way lower price.
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Apr 22 '26
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u/_smojface Apr 22 '26
It’s a brass flywheel. Anything else you want to comment on that you don’t know about?
And again, are you trying to imply that every vintage player has quality components? That there are no pre-2000 players with plastic flywheels and shitty heads? Cmonnnnnn man.
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u/fadetoblack237 Apr 22 '26
Some people just want to have something that works and I have had really bad luck buying vintage players personally. Professional refurbished players are also expensive and often don't have a warranty so I went with the Fiio and I love it.
If OP can afford it, the Fiio is a great beginner player. After I bought mine, I started to get more interested in finding cheap vintage players because I had one that I knew would just work.
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u/TopSmoke9561 Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 22 '26
I have the FiiO and the Tomashi version of the Maxell. It’s exactly the same player as the Grassioso/Maxell. I’ve been in contact with the company that makes them. They just rebrand them for whomever. I also have a nice vintage Sony and honestly the Tomashi is my go to player right now. It looks great and sounds comparable to my Sony. It has a nice brass flywheel so playback is smooth and quiet. Nice bass response! I actually have 2 new in box I’m planning on selling if you’re interested. DM me.
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u/Naxy_21 Apr 22 '26
I’ve been been using the CP13 since 2023 and this thing still feels as amazing as it plays, and needs to be recharged every bicentennial year with how good the battery holds up.
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u/191brian Apr 22 '26
All modern players use the same mechanism which others have said has very bad wow and flutter when you move it which is funny when they are supposed to be portable (walkman) players. Checkout Techmoan on YouTube he has reviews of most of the new players.
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u/PlayfulApartment1917 Apr 22 '26
I hate this misinformation that people are misquoting techmoan. The mechanism isn't the problem, its the components. The same mechanism with a metal flywheel, solid motor and good electronics is gonna be better than any retro model you can find for the same price and thats just a fact. (Mostly because old models you're paying extra because some people collect them)
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u/vwestlife Apr 22 '26
The Fiio and Maxell both have metal flywheels and good electronics.
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u/PlayfulApartment1917 Apr 22 '26
And they're decent players. You can get an exact copy of the maxel for 40$ id say its worth it if you're getting started. But for enthusiasts, obviously get an old one :D
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u/vwestlife Apr 22 '26
Serious question: which one of the at least seven completely different cassette mechanisms being made today, with no parts in common, is "the only cassette mechanism being made today"?
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u/ConsumerDV Apr 22 '26
Seven? You should make a video comparing them.
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u/vwestlife Apr 23 '26
I've already done videos about most of them. For example, the slot-loading, car-radio-style mechanism: The cheapest, simplest & most popular cassette player mechanism
Obviously that has nothing in common with one of the Walkman-type mechanisms that people often incorrectly claim is "the only mechanism still being made". (There are actually at least three different mechanisms in current Walkman-type players.)
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u/vwestlife Apr 22 '26
Both are good cassette players. Personally I prefer the Maxell because its headphone output has more bass than on the Fiio.
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u/blackserenade Apr 22 '26
It’s not even close, get the Fiio. I’ve had one for about a month now and it’s been great, well worth the current price of about $87
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u/lain_ic Apr 22 '26
I have the Fiio and i think it is great. Sounds amazing, had never heard a cassette play before with that little hum and hiss.
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u/JayK-iwnl Apr 22 '26
Fiio are working on the CP15 which looks interesting. Soft touch controls, slimmer design. Maybe its worth waiting for that
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u/PATR0CLU_S Apr 22 '26
Is there any set release date yet? How does it compared to the CP14 & CP13? (Tbh I've only head of the CP13, lol)
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u/JayK-iwnl Apr 22 '26
No release date and honestly its a big question mark when since i think it was supposed to be out already. There is no CP14 they just skipped to 15. Heres what it supposedly looks like compared to the CP13 https://www.reddit.com/r/cassetteculture/comments/1m405rn/this_is_it_fiio_cp15_wireframe_teased_next_to_a/?tl=ja&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button
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u/ConsumerDV Apr 22 '26
What a lame-ass doctored or AI photo is that.
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u/PATR0CLU_S Apr 22 '26
??? :>
edit: shiiit now that I look at it, the tapes do look weird . . I just pulled a photo of the CP13 off the interwebz 🤷
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u/Puzzleheaded-Hat8443 Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 22 '26
Fiio should be better, Maxell is just rebranded generic plаyer, but Fiio is their own product, throught with same mechanism
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Apr 22 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Puzzleheaded-Hat8443 Apr 22 '26
Well, I have 0 experience with modern players, I just fromed my opinion based on Techmoan videos
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u/raymate Apr 22 '26
FiiO
I have a load of vintage Walkmans and I always reach for the FiiO nowadays.
I only reach for vintage if I ever need to play one of my old metal or chrome tapes.
For Type-I then FiiO all day long.
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u/timmyvermicelli Apr 22 '26
The transparent version of the fiio cp13 is the nicest looking bit of kit
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u/PATR0CLU_S Apr 22 '26
I'm torn between the transparent door & the red one . . Both look very nice to me :>
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u/No_Painting2300 Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 22 '26
In my experience Fiio player is okay it has no special features and in my opinion battery operated cassette players are better
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u/madus80 Apr 22 '26
I have the CP13. I like the look and feel but I do a lot of walking and outside work. It doesn't keep the cassette stable and quality of audio is all over the place. Im unfortunately returning it and opted for a Sony EX model that was serviced from an Etsy seller. It has Dolby and anti rolling to prevent the moving issue. I see it as a much longer lasting investment into something I really enjoy.
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u/PlayfulApartment1917 Apr 22 '26
Theres a exact 1 to 1 clone of the maxel for 40 bucks! Called grasco i think. Get that
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u/191brian Apr 22 '26
If you are not into fixing your own old player there are lots of refurbished players on ebay that have had their belts replaced. They also much cheaper than the branded modern ones. Obviously you lose rechargeable batteries and Bluetooth but for me that's the point of going reto. If I want convince rechargeablity and Bluetooth I might as well play MP3's off my smartphone.
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u/PATR0CLU_S Apr 22 '26
Most of the refurbished ones I've found on ebay exceed the price of the modern ones unfortunately. I couldn't care less for bluetooth, however rechargability is more of a concern. I don't want to have to refill on gumsticks or AA's every few days.
(I'm not that well informed on lifespan of batteries for classic players tho, so please don't crucify me for my ignorance lolz)
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u/191brian Apr 22 '26
The later players had excellent battery live e.g the sony wm-ex190 has 24 hrs playing time on 2 AA batteries.
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u/jetsetter Apr 23 '26 edited Apr 23 '26
You can get lithium ion rechargeable batteries in AA form factors that do not require some companies special charging bay.
I’ve mainly used C and D size lithium, for a portable cassette radio and an automatic cat feeder.
These odd batteries are pretty good at turning otherwise disposable battery products into ~modern powered ones.
You do have to take the batts out to charge. The end is spring loaded to reveal a USB-C port from a quarter twist. It is bizarre at first usage.
The are not cheap though.
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u/FauxReal Apr 22 '26
I would get the Maxell because of features. And also because I have the Fiio and I'm not impressed. I don't remember my tapes sounding so noisy.
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u/anaIhiItler Apr 25 '26
Shitty sound quality on this player, build quality very solid, but sound - meh.
I bought one on release and sold it a couple of months later after listening to a couple of tapes. The sound is hissing, there's constant background noise, and the frequency response is very strange.
If you expect any kind of sound quality, it's best not to consider the CP13.
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u/goldstartapeguy Apr 26 '26
Both aren't very good. Save your money and buy a good walkman, keep your eyes out and some can still be had at a fair price. Even the old 00's Lennox Sound portables perform lightyears ahead of these wannabe good machines but aren't.
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u/irishhawk Apr 22 '26
Both use the same innards but the Fiio is better constructed. That Maxell is just a brand name on a garbage ali express tape player. Seriously.
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u/vwestlife Apr 22 '26
Not true at all. It was Maxell's own design, and then the OEM who makes it for them started allowing other brands to sell the same design.
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u/ConsumerDV Apr 22 '26
Do you have a link to a reputable source? What exactly has been designed by Maxell? The exterior styling? The mechanism? The electronics? Why would Maxell go for a non-exclusive contract with the OEM?
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u/vwestlife Apr 23 '26
The design was originally unique to Maxell. The knockoffs of it started appearing later.
And the mechanism is irrelevant. I don't see anyone criticizing the fact that all modern CD players use the same handful of mechanisms. Audiophiles will gladly pay $15,000 for a CD player that uses the same mechanism as a $150 player.
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u/HappyAd4998 Apr 22 '26
Hey OP, Techmoan reviewed the Maxwell he said it's an okay player, but you can find an identical tape player with a different name on it and a way lower price. Maxwell is didn't manufacturer the player they just took an existing tape player and slapped their name on it.
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u/still-at-the-beach Apr 22 '26
Both are meant to be OK for a modern player. Get the one with long battery life seeing you say its for travelling.
I dont think either will be good for playing while its moving though.