Cassette players are back! But why are they so huge?

Technology has always moved toward smaller, sleeker, and more efficient designs. From the bulky mobile phones of the ‘90s to today’s slim smartphones, progress has meant miniaturization. So why are new cassette and CD players making a comeback looking bigger than their vintage counterparts?

With cassette sales at a 20-year high and CDs regaining popularity, especially with Gen Z, companies are bringing back modernized cassette and CD players. But while these devices include modern features like Bluetooth and USB-C charging, they are noticeably larger than the ultra-compact models from the early 2000s.

Old vs. New: The Size Comparison That Makes No Sense

The Fiio DM13, a new Bluetooth CD player, resembles a chunky Discman from 1989 rather than the sleek, round models from the early 2000s. Back then, companies like Sony and Panasonic had perfected ultra-thin, portable CD players with anti-skip protection, making them ideal for listening on the go.

Cassette players have followed the same trend. The We Are Rewind Bluetooth cassette player is the same size as Sony’s first-ever Walkman from 1979. But by the early 2000s, cassette Walkmans had shrunk to barely larger than a tape itself. This raises the question: why are we going backward in size?

The Real Reason: Missing Components and Manufacturing Hurdles

The answer lies in missing components and supply chain challenges. Those ultra-compact designs from the early 2000s relied on specialized parts that are no longer in production. Sony, Pioneer, and Panasonic stopped making portable players years ago, and with them, the miniaturized cassette and CD mechanisms they developed.

Today’s manufacturers rely on off-the-shelf components, mostly from China, that were never intended for high-end, compact designs. Every modern cassette player uses the same generic tape mechanism, a mass-produced model that lacks the precision engineering of the ‘90s and 2000s. The situation for CD players is just as difficult, as manufacturers struggle to find reliable laser heads and components, forcing them to design bulkier devices to compensate.

Bigger, but Smarter?

Modern cassette and CD players come with new conveniences like Bluetooth streaming, USB-C charging, and even CD-to-USB recording. But these features require extra internal space, and when paired with bulky off-the-shelf parts, the result is a player that’s larger than it should be.

While these new devices bring retro formats into the digital age, they lack the sleekness of their predecessors. Until manufacturers reinvent the missing compact components, the modern revival of physical media may come with an unexpected trade-off: bigger, bulkier gadgets that defy tech’s usual trend of getting smaller.