FiiO launches Snowsky sub-brand with cassette-shaped music player, Retro Nano

FiiO has released a cassette-shaped music player, available for under £60.

The Retro Nano may look like it was plucked straight out of the '80s, but offers modern capabilities as a DAC/amp device.

Inspired by vintage tape recorders, the nostalgic player even goes a step further into the past with a visual UI that simulates a turning tape and the inclusion of eight retro sounding presets that channel the sonic effect of eras gone by.

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Available in blue or white, the Retro Nano has both Bluetooth and wired modes where you can connect your phone or any other device.

If you go down the likely route of streaming music from your smartphone, you can control your music via the speaker, with buttons that allow you to pause, play and skip back between songs and to control the volume.

Alternatively, you can control your music via FiiO's Control app if you have an Android or iOS phone.

The headphone jacks (3.5mm and 4.4mm) also offer noise reduction for any calls, which you can take courtesy of the player's in-built mic.

The device lasts up to 7.5 hours on a single charge, running on a removable and rechargeable 3.7V lithium battery. You can charge up the battery via the device's USB port.

The Retro Nano has been released under the Chinese tech company new sub-brand, Snowsky, which is described as "focused on being youthful, fashionable, unique and fun, while also bringing the traditional FiiO hallmarks of quality and great user experience."

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Cassette tapes revolutionised how people listen to music from the 1960s onwards and allowed music to be shared around the world.

They were a huge part of rave culture, and mixtapes were the main way that dance music DJs recorded and shared their sound in the '90s.

In a piece published by RBMA, British drum 'n' bass DJ and record producer DJ SS described tapes as a "pivotal part of the industry for spreading our music".

They've also undergone something of a revival in recent years. In 2023, Mixmag reported that their sales grew by 5.2% in 2022, according to data by the British Phonographic Institution (BPI).

The cassette-tape comeback is in line with the overall resurgence of analog music listening. Last year, vinyl sales reached their highest level since 1990, with 5.9 million vinyl records being sold, while CD sales have also seen an upturn in recent years.

You can purchase a Retro Nano for £59.99 here.

Henrietta Taylor is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter