Do you have a ton of old cassettes, but nothing to play them with? Maybe you want to record music onto tapes, or even digitize music from old tapes.
The point here is that you need a good cassette deck. In this article, we will review 5 of the best cassette decks available to help you find one that will suit your needs. So let’s get right to it.
Best Cassette Decks: Reviews
1. Pyle Home Dual Cassette Deck
- DUAL SPEED DUBBING: The dual cassette tape deck provides normal and high speed audio cassette dubbing.
- MORE CONTROL OVER PRODUCTION: The cassette deck includes a 3 digit tape counter, CrO2 tape selector, and auto tape selector. It provides excellent recording level control for increased production level. The auto stop function provides further control over the end result.
If you need a good cassette deck to record music onto cassettes and maybe play all of your old favorites from 20 years ago, the Pyle Home Dual Cassette Deck is a good option. It’s quite versatile, user friendly, and cost effective too.
Review
The Pyle Home Dual Cassette Deck comes with a number of features which assist with the control, production, and recording of music. Here you get a 3-digit tape counter, a CrO2 tape selector, and an auto tape selector. There is also an auto stop function.
All in all, the Pyle Home Dual Cassette Deck is quite simple to use to record audio, and create a nice final result.
What is quite important to note as well is that the Pyle Home Dual Cassette Deck comes with dynamic noise reduction to ensure the utmost in quality of your recordings.
What you might also like about this particular cassette deck is that it comes with a multifunctional fluorescent display, which is very user-friendly and easy to see.
Of course, it can also be used to play your old cassettes that you have not been able to listen to for years. It does come with RCA connection capabilities, and the cables come included as well.
However, one thing to note is that the amplifier for playing and recording audio is not included, and will need to be purchased separately.
Pros
- User friendly
- Record and play audio
- High quality recording
- Cost effective
Cons
- Not very durable at all
- Requires an amp
Best for
It is the right choice for someone who has tons of cassettes they would want to play but doesn’t have a flexible budget to support their hobby. A budget-friendly option to satisfy the needs of anyone who enjoys vintage-style played music.
2. Tascam CD-A580 Rackmount Cassette/CD/USB MP3 Player Recorder Combo
- A rackmount media player that offers many playback options from cassette to CD to USB flash media
- Cassette to USB recording is available to digitally archive cassette collections, and CDs can be recorded to cassettes
If you are looking for a cassette deck that can play music and audio from a variety of sources, and convert audio from one source to another, the Tascam CD-A580 Rackmount Cassette/CD/USB MP3 Player Recorder Combo is a really nice option , although it is on the more expensive side.
Review
The Tascam CD-A580 Rackmount Cassette/CD/USB MP3 Player Recorder Combo has a lot of features, mainly that it allows you to convert audio from one source to another.
This particular cassette deck allows you to transfer audio from cassettes to a USB drive, you can record CDs onto cassettes, and audio from CDs can also be recorded to USB flash drives.
In other words, if you need to digitize all of your old cassettes and CDs, then Tascam CD-A580 Rackmount Cassette/CD/USB MP3 Player Recorder Combo is one of the best options out there, hands down.
What’s nice about this item is that it comes with a single direction logic-based transport control, and user-friendly display with easy-to-find buttons. The Tascam CD-A580 Rackmount Cassette/CD/USB MP3 Player Recorder Combo can of course play back cassettes and CDs from multiple CD formats too.
Also, there is an infrared remote control included, so you don’t always have to get up to change tracks, plus it also comes with an AUX headphone jack, so you don’t necessarily need speakers. It’s a rack mountable unit, which you might like.
Pros
- Easy to digitize music
- Can play audio from multiple sources
- User friendly
- Rack mountable
Cons
Very expensive
Best for
If you are really serious about your cassette-related hobby and you want to get only the best sound quality and an opportunity to digitize it the Tascam cassette deck is everything that you will need!
3. Pioneer CT-W205R Dual-Well Auto-Reverse Cassette Deck
- Dual-well cassette deck with full-logic controls, relay play, and high-speed dubbing
- Auto-reverse in both decks, including auto-reverse recording in deck II and rewind auto play in deck I
Here we have what is a fairly affordable cassette deck, one that can be used to record music onto cassettes, as well as play your old tapes too. It does not cost very much, it has a lot of functionality, and is very easy to use as well. For the price, it might just be one of the best options out there right now.
Review
The Pioneer CT-W205R Dual-Well Auto-Reverse Cassette Deck has a number of cool features, with one of the best being the fact that this is a dual cassette deck with full logic controls, relay play, and high-speed dubbing.
Moreover, both decks have an auto-reverse feature, with auto-reverse recording in Deck 2, and rewind auto play in Deck 1. When it comes to recording, the Pioneer CT-W205R Dual-Well Auto-Reverse Cassette Deck comes with a 6-segment LED level meter with a peak hold function.
This is something which also goes a long way in making your audio recordings much easier to make and much better sounding too. What’s also cool here is that this particular cassette deck comes with a 15-track music search feature, so you can find specific cuts of audio without having to search for too long.
Another great feature is that it comes with auto noise reduction, something else which helps make your recordings sound better.
If you need something basic to record or play audio from cassettes, then the Pioneer CT-W205R Dual-Well Auto-Reverse Cassette Deck is another fantastic choice.
Pros
- Super user-friendly
- Not too expensive
- Play and record cassettes
- Noise reduction feature
Cons
Not the most durable product
Best for
For someone who has heard about cassettes and decks and wants to try out a retro concept, this product is a budget-friendly option that should allow them countless hours of fun and good music.
4. Tascam 202MKVII Double Cassette Recorder Deck with USB Port
- Tascam Double Cassette Deck with USB Port
If you are on the hunt for a super high-quality cassette deck that can play and record audio, plus convert cassettes into other formats, such as USB, then the Tascam 202MKVII Double Cassette Recorder Deck with USB Port is something you may want to look into.
Keep in mind that this is by far the most expensive option in our review, but also by far the most advanced.
Review
In terms of overall quality, the Tascam 202MKVII Double Cassette Recorder Deck with USB Port is indeed one of the better options. Simply put, it is made with high-quality components that are designed to last for a long time.
In terms of user-friendliness, this cassette deck is also up there with the best of them. It comes with a great LCD display and a user-friendly control system, so you don’t have to spend forever just to figure out how it works.
In terms of recording features, such as noise reduction and auto-playback, the Tascam 202MKVII Double Cassette Recorder Deck with USB Port comes with it all.
The Tascam 202MKVII Double Cassette Recorder Deck with USB Port can record and play audio, to and from cassette decks. One of the best features is that you can copy music from cassettes onto USB, or in other words, you can easily digitize music with it.
What’s really cool here is that you can connect a microphone so you can record karaoke or other audio right onto a cassette along with music.
The Tascam 202MKVII Double Cassette Recorder Deck with USB Port also has a dual recording ability, so you can create 2 cassettes at once with the same recording.
Pros
- Very advanced functionality
- All the features you need
- Very durable and long lasting
- Super user-friendly
Cons
Very expensive
Best for
This Tascam cassette deck is a product you should invest in only as a true lover and enthusiast. It is extremely pricey but given the variety of smart features that it includes, it is worth every penny!
5. Rybozenz Cassette Player Converter
- Cassette player: play your collected tapes, this retro-style music player allows you to return to the old days and relive your good memories past
- FM/AM radio: enjoy your favorite FM and AM stations when on the go or relaxing at home/outside, it is portable and lightweight with a detachable belt clip.
This product is a little different from the others we have looked at. This is technically not a cassette deck, but it does have a single great function, which is to digitize music from cassette tapes. It does not cost much, and it is super easy to use.
Review
The Rybozenz Cassette Player Converter is specifically designed to convert your old cassettes into digital MP3 format.
All you have to do is to put the cassette of choice into the device, connect the USB stick, and press the button to allow the audio to be transferred to a USB drive.
What’s also nice is that the Rybozenz Cassette Player Converter works with all kinds of tapes, not just specific tape types.
It can be used to burn music onto a CD as well, when using the proper software, and yes, it does come with professional-grade audio editing software, so you can always get the best sound possible when converting music into digital formats, plus it works with all computer operating systems as well.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Fairly durable
- Easily digitize music
Cons
Cannot record or play audio
Best for
Much like vintage speakers or record players, cassette decks are not for everyone. This type of product is perfect for those that are in love with the old ways of playing and recording music.
While it is perfect for collectors and enthusiasts, it can be used by music producers as well, in case you want to go for a retro effect!
Summary
At the end of the day, if you need a high-quality cassette deck, either the Tascam 202MKVII Double Cassette Recorder Deck with USB Port or the Tascam CD-A580 Rackmount Cassette/CD/USB MP3 Player Recorder Combo are the best options.
If you are looking for something a little more basic and affordable, either the Pioneer CT-W205R Dual-Well Auto-Reverse Cassette Deck or the Pyle Home Dual Cassette Deck are good options.
The Rybozenz Cassette Player Converter is fine if you just want to digitize music from tapes.