Cassette tapes are making a comeback?

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Appeal of cassettes today

  • Some enjoy the immediacy: press play and music starts instantly, with no buffering, decoding, or app latency.
  • No risk of injected ads and no internet/platform dependency; feels like “offline freedom” and real ownership.
  • Linear playback and awkward seeking encourage listening to full albums and mixes instead of constant skipping.
  • The physical ritual (inserting a tape, mechanical buttons, visible motion) and artwork/J-cards contribute to a more “involved” experience.
  • Certain lo‑fi and extreme genres (black metal, dungeon synth, hardcore) are said to benefit aesthetically from tape saturation and limited fidelity.
  • For some, deliberately embracing imperfection and inconvenience is a conscious antidote to instant gratification.

Cassettes for kids

  • Strong support for tapes as children’s media:
    • They “save state” mechanically, across any player.
    • Big, simple buttons and picture-based selection work before kids can read.
    • No accounts, clouds, or updates; devices are mostly mechanical and repairable.
  • Seen as superior to internet-connected kids’ players that add servers, DRM, and surveillance risks.

Sound quality, hardware, and formats

  • Many note modern cassette mechanisms are cheap clones, with worse performance than vintage decks and lacking Dolby noise reduction and advanced features.
  • Others point to boutique new players and high-grade tapes, but at high cost.
  • Debate over fidelity: with good decks, good tape, and NR, cassettes can sound “pretty decent” and musically pleasing, though still below CD/FLAC.
  • Critics focus on hiss, wow/flutter, stretching, and occasional tape eating; some say they were glad to abandon tapes and won’t go back.
  • Minidisc, DAT, CDs, and local digital files are repeatedly cited as better technical solutions that still offer physical or offline control.

Market size, niche, and criticism

  • Multiple commenters argue “comeback” is overstated: cassette sales remain tiny and mostly function as merch or collectibles for dedicated fans.
  • Comparisons are made to vinyl: meaningful niche, but negligible versus streaming.
  • Some see the revival as lifestyle/marketing nostalgia (“hipster” culture); others defend it as a legitimate hobby and art form.
  • Environmental concerns are raised about producing more plastic media when digital distribution exists.