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- Coolgeek P1 cassette player unveiled
- Brings some modern twists like Bluetooth and an HD display
- Kickstarter campaign just launched; MSRP is $179 but cheaper now
The cassette player revival started with retro-inspired models like the EDITH WE-001 and FiiO CP13, but we’re starting to see more modern versions like, well, this weird wall-mount system. And another new option—the one you’re here to read about—definitely falls into the latter camp.
Coolgeek, whose RGB Light-Up Turntable we covered a few months ago, is back with its latest gadget: the P1 Cassette Player.
Like his turntable, this device is being ‘released’ on Kickstarter, so you can’t buy it right away. However, from what we’ve been told, it sounds pretty far along in production, so I don’t imagine the lead time here is too long.
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While the P1’s standard price is $179 (about £130, AU$260), in true Kickstarter fashion it’s available much cheaper if you sign up to the campaign beforehand; it will be half the price in the ‘Super Early Bird’ wave, and gradually increase.
What your money you get
At its core, Coolgeek’s P1 Cassette Player is… well, a cassette player (think Walkman, but Sony makes those), so you don’t really need me to walk you through what it does, do you? It plays cassettes. But of course there is more, or we wouldn’t cover it.
For one, the model has Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, so you can listen to your tapes with your wireless headphones. There is also a 3.5mm jack for wireless headphone lovers, as well as a USB-C port, but the latter is only for charging.
There is also a small HD display, which is mainly used to arrange the Bluetooth connection. According to images we’ve seen, there’s also a couple of colored LED indicator columns (ooh, lights!) Presumably for volume, but we weren’t explicitly told what it represents.
Like many retro-inspired gadgets, the P1 is transparent, so you can spin your band as you listen. Coolgeek told us that it was designed not only for older cassette players, but to have its own design identity.
Many of the new cassette players we’ve seen have playful, pastel-colored designs and curved edges, and Coolgeek’s P1 looks a lot more mechanical and industrial by comparison—like real 1970s and 1980s concrete technology. So if you’ve been wanting an alternative cassette player, the campaign is worth a look.
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