This Portable Hi-Fi Player Is an Affordable Way to Get Back Into Classic Cassette Tapes

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The physical media revival continues.

Close-up of a gray Miko cassette player with silver and orange control buttons on top.

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Admittedly, it’s pretty easy to buy a vintage cassette tape player or a vintage Walkman these days. Ebay is a great resource.

However, buying one that is in working order is a different story entirely. And getting it repaired can be quite pricey.

Two wireless stereo cassette player/recorders with transparent green and smoky gray cases labeled "miko" on a blue surface. — The Miko is Gadhouse’s first portable cassette tape player.

For those looking for an affordable way to get into classic cassette tapes, whether you’ve stumbled on your parents’ old collection or you picked some up at a concert (all the big artists are selling them these days), there’s a great new option: Gadhouse’s Miko.

Nostalgic aesthetics, modern tech

Gadhouse is an affordable audio brand that’s best known for its turntables, speakers and headphones, all of which have old-school charm and (relatively) inexpensive price tags. The Miko is the brand’s first foray into portable cassette tape players.

Green wireless stereo cassette player/recorder with yellow tape and two colorful cassette tapes on a blue background. — The transparent lid adds to its nostalgic charm.

As you probably guessed, the Miko is very much a new-age Walkman. It has the analog feel of the players from the ’90s and early 2000s, but it also has a rechargeable battery and even supports Bluetooth, so you can use your wireless headphones.

Young person with colorful hairpins in double buns wearing headphones and a green polka-dot sleeveless top, holding a portable cassette player and a cracker. — The Miko supports both wired and wireless headphones.

Of course, the Miko has a 3.5mm headphone jack to support wired headphones, too. It even accepts two AA batteries, in case you really want to feel like you’re using an older audio player.

Close-up of a gray device with four buttons, including an orange slider button on the right side. — The tactile playback (and recording) controls are on top.

On top of the cassette tape player are its tactile playback controls. There are five click-y buttons for play, fast-forward, rewind, stop and record. Yes, it can be used to record new mixtapes or voice notes. The built-in directional microphone is located on top of the Miko, as well.

Gray electronic device side panel with volume dial, AUX and headphone jacks, and an on/off Bluetooth switch. — On the side is the old-school volume scroll wheel and Bluetooth toggle, plus headphone and auxiliary jacks.

As for sound, Gadhouse claims that the Miko is engineered “to deliver clear stereo playback that highlights the distinctive warmth and character of analog recordings.”

Black and gray wired headphones connected to a silver cassette player on a white surface with cassette tapes and a baseball. — For an extra $50, the Miko will come bundled with its retro-inspired headphones.

Contributing to the retro look and feel of the Miko is its translucent casing, which lets you see inside the player and watch the cassette tape spin as it plays. This casing comes in two different finishes: Mint (light green) and Smoke (gray).

Silver and black Miko wireless stereo cassette player/recorder with orange button on a blue background. — The Miko is shown in a Smoke finish.

Gadhouse claims the design draws “strong inspiration from cassette culture between 1985 and 1995, an era known for expressive industrial design and vibrant audio aesthetics.”

The Miko isn’t the first new-age portable cassette tape player. There are quite a few others. On the high-end, there’s We Are Rewind’s Portable Cassette Player ($159). On the more affordable end, check out Fiio’s CP13 ($88).

Availability and pricing

At $99, the Gadhouse Miko is one of the more affordable options. It’s available now. Starting April 30th, Gadhouse will sell the Miko bundled with its retro-inspired Wesley headphones for $149.

Compact black and gray wireless stereo cassette player/recorder with control buttons on top.

Gadhouse Miko Cassette Player

$99 at Gadhouse

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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