In a recent video on Youtube, The Verge looked at some of the new cassette and CD players currently being produced, noting that they are bulkier than many of the earlier machines from the 80s and 90s, and asked why this is the case.
Hackaday has since tackled this question in an article, reporting that, as there is currently only a niche demand for such retro tech, it is not cost effective to produce these devices with the smaller form factors of earlier models.
The article notes that much of the tech from the early 2000s was cheaper to produce at scale, meaning that even low-end models from that era can outperform many of the newer models.
Those looking to get into cassettes, or who are seeking a more retro aesthetic, are encouraged to seek out vintage machines, or build their own player using the guts from an old model.
However, for those whose interest in cassettes is solely for the purposes of nostalgia, or to cultivate a retro image, a larger, more conspicuous player may be desirable.
