An enthusiast has combined Spotify and cassette players into one device

Retro audio continues to gain popularity, and with the resurgence of wired headphones, CD players, and portable music players, increasingly unusual experiments are appearing. YouTube channel creator Julius Makes decided to go beyond the usual nostalgia and combined modern streaming services with classic compact cassettes.

The device he created is a one-off and is not intended for sale. The project was conceived as a creative experiment, not an attempt to create a new consumer gadget. Nevertheless, the result is quite striking. The device receives a music stream from a digital service, including Spotify, converts it to an analog signal, and records the audio in real time to magnetic tape, then immediately plays it back through the built-in speaker.

It's important to note that this isn't an imitation or digital effect, but a full-fledged recording onto a physical medium, with all the characteristic features of cassette sound. The author himself emphasizes that the device is not designed for high-fidelity or audiophile quality, as modern lossless formats, amplifiers, and DACs provide those.

The project's goal is to convey the unique atmosphere of analog sound, with its warm, slightly muddy presentation and characteristic distortion. The player is equipped with mechanical buttons, volume and recording level controls, a cassette echo effect, and a variety of inputs and outputs for connecting external sources and equipment.