This retro-tastic Bluetooth cassette player is a modern twist on a 1979 Sony Walkman

(Image credit: We Are Rewind)

We see a lot of Bluetooth turntables these days, but Bluetooth cassette players are a little rarer.

We Are Rewind’s Cassette Player is a throwback to Sony’s iconic first Walkman from 1979, the TPS-L2. Its metallic casing and simple rectangular shape are a clear nod to the original portable cassette player, with modern touches bringing an additional 21st-century flair.

The player includes all the controls you would expect to find on a classic portable cassette player – Pause, Play, Rewind etc. It also includes a Record function, so you can create your own mixtapes the old-fashioned way.

Gone are the days of disposable batteries. We Are Rewind includes a rechargeable battery, which is said to last up to 12 hours. Alongside this is Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, allowing the player to be paired with Bluetooth headphones or speakers nearby. There is also a headphone jack and an auxiliary input for recording (both 3.5mm).

Some may sniff at the idea of playing an analogue media format over Bluetooth, citing issues in the analogue-to-digital (and back again) conversion process and the inherent loss of quality that comes with it. However, for those of us with mixed media music collections and wireless headphones or speakers, sometimes a certain record, CD, or tape isn’t available on our streaming service of choice. Sometimes a song, album, or mixtape needs to be heard, by any means.

We Are Rewind’s Bluetooth cassette player is on sale for £133 / $164 / $268AUD and is available in three metallic shades: orange, blue, or grey. They also sell cassette tapes, either individually or in bundles if you find yourself in need of fresh stock.

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Ainsley Walker is a staff writer at What Hi-Fi?. He studied music journalism at university before working in a variety of roles including as a freelance journalist and teacher. Growing up in a family of hi-fi enthusiasts naturally influenced his interest in the topic. Outside of work, Ainsley can be found producing music, tinkering with retro tech, or cheering on Luton Town.