Aiwa was the second biggest player and was strong in tape technology so their machines represent good value.

While Sony was the leader in the field, a number of other Japanese companies made good quality players and brands including Aiwa, JVC, Panasonic and Sharp are worth considering. But if you want a trusty source of portable sounds I recommend going for one that’s in the best condition you can afford. Thankfully a lot of personal tape players were made in Japan to a very high standard which is why so many are still working today up to 30 years later. Sony players dominate the second hand market, which is a testament to the build quality of the machines that it started making in 1979 and continued to produce up until 2003 when Apple’s devices changed the way we listen on the move.Īs with any vintage electro-mechanical device a portable tape player needs to be in good condition if it’s going to give reliable service. In much the same way that Apple dominated the mp3 market in the Noughties, Sony was the brand to beat in personal cassette players back in the Eighties. With prices of new and previously loved examples coming in below £20, these devices are great value and the better examples produce sound quality that is very appealing. There can’t be a more affordable way to get into analogue audio than a portable tape player or Walkman as they were known back in the day. Having rounded up the best home tape decks, audiophile guru Jason Kennedy turns his attention to the market for portable cassette players.

Usb cassette player recorder