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Remember how we said cassettes weren't coming back?

MannyE

MannyE

Exterminate!
Well, as much as we put the final nail in coffin of the cassette, I had NPR on this weekend (Friday maybe?) and guess what? A story about how cassettes are making a comeback. All the same language I was hearing about LP was in the package they aired.

Maybe they will come back!
 
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My record store has lots of cassettes and I'm there at least 2 trips a week for a couple hours a trip. Never see people shopping and paying for tapes, but he does have a large section and some people must come in for him to use that space for them. He got rid of lazzer disc and 8tracks.

On another note, the record section over the last 4 years went from 75% used and 25% new to 65% new and 35% used. The used new arrivals hardly ever even make it to be filed as they get bought up fast. There is also less used records coming in as some people that might have been sellers are buying tables again. I just though of something, I'v been selling off so much over stock but maybe I should be still hanging onto it.
 
I'm like a gambler that won't ever spend his "betting cash" on anything but betting. I only sell to get more "audio money" and once I find something I like it won't get sold.

Cassettes though, at least for me, don't have the same pull as Vinyl. I don't see myself dropping big bucks for a cassette player and even less for a new cassette.

However, I DO buy them by the pound when I find a bunch of music I like. I never say no to cheap music.
 
Wasn't there just another thread on this? Everyone settle in, if the tape revival is anything like the vinyl revival we will be discussing whether or not there is in fact a revival for the next decade. Expect liberal use of the term " niche market" and the revival deniers to insist tape is a dying/dead medium.
 
Tapes barely even work these days. Buying them used is a gamble, because so many tapes were stored in hot cars or who knows where. I've explored that path with high end tape decks. It was a waste of time. Especially when Spotify consistently sounds perfect.
 
What to do with your old cassette tape collection?



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“If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane.”

― Robert Frost
 
i have quite a pile of cassettes and a couple players. i like them for the nostalgia but that is all they are good for. i would say they are a step backwards sound quality wise.
 
Nah, got a stack of old MixTape UDXLII and such downstairs - pushing 40 years old,
and I actually worked at Saxitone Sound in the DC area for a while!

Anyway, can't bear to toss those old tapes, then again, haven't played them in at least 15 years ... no real interest. The ONLY factory recorded cassette tape left was a rare copy of "Last of the Red Hot Burritos" - something I could never find on vinyl - but once I finally found an odd copy on CD, the tape was never played again.
Not interested in restarting Cassettes in my home - too many weaknesses due to moving parts, tape breakdown, worn oxide, etc.
 
As seen through the eyes of a thrift crawler...
I could be wrong, but a cassette revival (to whatever extent) seems like a natural progression in the order of things.
As the demand for used vinyl has gone up, the availability of desirable titles in decent condition has decreased either by virtue of collections going to dealers instead of thrifts and so on (although, locally, the dealers are having a hard time finding collections to buy to keep their bins stocked) or, loved ones are keeping the collection for themselves, not releasing into the wild. And of course, if they do make it out of captivity, they are snagged almost instantly, nothing is sitting there collecting dust, thats for sure.
So, that situation, in my eyes, forms somewhat of a vacuum which is at least partially being filled by the next best plentiful analog media, cassettes. At $.50 apiece or so its easy to take the gamble and even if 2 out of 3 are bad, the one good one makes things worthwhile.
Other way I've seen it is at least I have the title on tape..and that can hold me until I stumble across the same on vinyl (which has actually worked out a few times).
Did I just jump on this bandwagon because I felt pressured? No, never gave up on cassettes and have managed to acquire some decent decks through the years which have kept me in the game, without them I could very well have given up.
Oh...btw, anyone else noticed there has been more traffic on the site concerning 8 track? Or is that my imagination?
 
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Cassettes can sound quite good. Even Sheffield Lab had some titles out on cassettes that were dubbed real time using Nak decks back in the mid 80's - and they sounded fantastic. I would think that with today's technology the format could be more reliable, more consistent sonically, and vey near audiophile quality. I think it would be tough to get someone to invest the kind of money it might take to build and operate an HQ cassette copying facility (one that runs really time not 2x, 4x or 8x speed). But, you never know. 15 years ago none of us thought it would pay-off to build a new LP pressing facility either!
 
Well, I am about to replace the stock premium deck in my 2000 4Runner that has cassette in favor of the modern niceties for my daughter that is now using it. Maybe I shouldn't! Of course bluetooth so she isn't breaking the law might be a bit more practical at this point.

I did just make a trade yesterday for a Nakamichi Tri Tracer so there's that.
 
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