8 Retro Electronics Nostalgia-Lovers Should Buy: Walkmans, CD Players, and More
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Your favorite retro gadgets are back in rotation, but you don’t have to stop by a garage sale or antique shop to get one. So that you’re not spending hours searching online, we put together a short roundup of new and used electronics to buy, including Walkmans, cassette players, CD players, record players, boom boxes, and vintage radios from the 1950s. Although some are a bit pricier than others, most of the items on our roster are affordable over all. Below, find eight tech items nostalgia-loving shoppers will love. For more tech recommendations check out our best retro video game machines list and instant cameras worth buying.
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Sony WM-EX194 Walkman
Missing the ‘80s? This vintage Sony Walkman is in good, working condition, and comes with retro earbuds. The Walkman has an AM/FM radio, a cassette player, bass enhancement, and an anti-rolling mechanism to minimize sound distortion when you’re walking. The walkman two AA batteries (you can buy a pack here).
1byOne High Fidelity Vinyl Record Player with Built-in Speakers
Record players never really go out of style. 1byOne’s vinyl player combines classic mechanics with modern tech features and a fashionable design. The record player delivers hi-fi sound and spins at 33 and 45 RPM. There’s also built-in wireless connectivity so you can pair it with other devices, and it’ll look nice on a mid-century inspired wooden console. If you’re more into antiques, check out this vintage turntable from the 1960s.
Digitnow Cassette Player
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Digitnow’s cassette player fuses the past and present in one device. It’s a USB cassette player that converts your tapes to MP3. To get started: plug the cassette player into your PC or Mac, load a tape in, and press play. Next, you’ll hit “record” on the included software to turn your music into a digital format. You can also save everything as an MP3 and transfer it to your iPhone, Android, laptop, and other digital devices.
HOTT CD 204 Portable CD Player
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They may have quietly taken a back seat to MP3s and streaming platforms, but CD players could be due for a comeback. This portable CD player comes equipped with Hi-Fi decoding technology, plus it’s MP3 compatible. It also has an LDC display, anti-shock protection, USB and battery charging capabilities, and an auxiliary jack to plug up to other devices.
QFX Retro-39 Shoebox Tape Recorder
QFX has been a destination for high-quality electronics since 1985. The company has adapted with the times, introducing the Retro-39 Shoebox Tape Recorder by adding USB hardware to their tape recorders. The battery-operated tape player/recorder has a built-in-mic, a carry handle, and a headphone jack.
Panasonic RX-5040 Vintage Cassette Boom Box
Looking for a vintage boom box? This Panasonic’s RX-5040 AM/FM cassette play mini stereo has been fully refurbished. The 15″ x 8.5″ x 5″ stereo features cassette playback and recording, a stereo indicator light, and headphone jack. For a more options, try this refurbished ’80s Sanyo boom box, or this never-been-used Panasonic RN-600.
Panasonic PV-V4522 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR
VCRs went out of production about five years ago, so you mostly find used models for sale now. This Panasonic PV-V4522 4-Head Hi-Fi VCR has AV inputs in the front so you can connect it with other electronics such as a camcorder or gaming console. If you’re looking for a VCR/DVD combo, the Toshiba SD-V296 will cost you a lot more ($159) but you’ll get double the connectivity without the extra clutter. Another even cheaper vintage VCR is this Sony SLV-N51. It’s $90 and works fine but there are light scratches on the body and no remote control.
Vintage Tube Radio with Wifi and Bluetooth
If you really want to take it back then you might enjoy this ultra-retro radio. It’s from 1952 but was modernized to include WiFi, a Bluetooth speaker system, and aux inputs. For a cheaper Bluetooth radio from the same era, check out the Philips Tube Amplifier Receiver.
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