Advice when buying a personal cassette player The personal cassette player has been around for 20 years since the first version of the Sony Walkman was introduced in Japan and the US. The Walkman revolutionised the way people listen to music.

Playing time

There are several personal cassette players available either with traditional AAA batteries or with rechargeable batteries. AAA batteries are simple to use, widely available and relatively cheap, making them popular for personal cassette player use. However, long-term cost is lower with a rechargeable battery. The playing time is normally somewhere between 14-50 hours.

Other functions

There are extra functions available like remote control, extra bass, Dolby noise reduction, built-in radio, etc. Weight might be another aspect to consider.