Is the Cassette Recorder Dead?

HiFi Choice Magazine still reviews cassette decks I believe, although model numbers are sometimes different between UK and USA. Web site is www.hifichoice.co.uk I agree that new formats are risky if they do not catch on. Cassette is a safe bet.

One comment about switching from cassette to CD in the car: Be aware that car CD players WILL damage your CDs by scratching them up (especially from being jarred by bumps when the unit is off and the car is moving. (The optical pickup bangs into the CD) And from droping them in the car, and mis-handling them. I have a separate set that I use only in the car and consider disposable. So please be aware of that problem with CD in a car. I bought the LAST Stereophile recommended cassette machine, a JVC 711 cassette player. And use it sparingly, and maybe it will last 30 years. (just to create tapes for my Walkman.) I would be searching for an Aiwa 990 or another JVC 711 as a low price replacement. For the more affluent, The top Nak's are the choice items. Othe used cassette machines may also have a decent sound, but these are the units I know of. And to answer the original question: Is the cassette dead? Not yet. 8-Track is DEAD, EL cassette is DEAD, Beta is very near DEATH, Phillips DCC is DEAD, Mini Disc is in the hospital, struggling, LaserDisc has been in a severe accident and the jury is out, but it looks very bad. The thing that saves the cassette is the CAR.. and Walkman. Both formats have CD available but they have not come to dominate the market yet.

Tape decks are still good for taping off the radio or tuner. I tape lots of FM Music and AM talk shows to my cassette deck. There are lots of great cassette decks. The Sony es models, Nakamichi tape decks, which you will see always on Ebay, Teac Tape decks.

Well no one has talked about the economics and how they have changed. You can purchase CD-Rs for about $0.30 each. Try buying a cassette tape blank for that. These are only good on computer type CD players but can be played back on most audio system CD players. I just purchased a Harmon Kardon CD2 recorder that can record off of radio and all the other functions (ie it has a D to A converter) that I used to use a cassette for. It can record using the CDRWs which are the re recordable media. Much more expensive media but you only need one or two. The CDRs for this recorder cost more then the media for computers...about $1.25-$1.50 each but are still competitive with blank cassettes.

Thanks for the input Elizabeth. I have never used a car CD player and the fact that they muck up the CD's is really good to know. We will stick with the old car stereos and cassttes. I live in LA and drive with the sunroof (on my car) down year round except when it is raining and a high quality auto stereo seems like a waste anyway. I can always listen the "hot" stereos in the "hot" cars that pass me by (you know the ones I'm talking about - the ones where you can hear the bass a 1/4 mile down the road. Too bad that "those" car stereos never seem to be playing Mancini. LOL.