[electronicsdesign]

1. I'd prefer a simpler device. Playback only is fine. Battery life of 8hrs is good, so we're already doing great. Dolby B & chrome tape support is a minimum. Never know what you'll get buying from Bandcamp/Discogs but that would cover 98% of it. Maybe 2 dip switches inside door for controlling this assuming tape type detection isn't still feasible; or one 3-position switch(DolbyB-None-Chrome) To my limited understanding this would require some EQ circuitry, not a dedicated IC?

Dolby B is desirable, but I clarified in post #151 why it's not achievable.

Playback only is fine, focus should be on the sound quality (low noise preamp, good head, etc.).

8 hours of battery is also fine, don't think battery life is hugely important on such device mostly because cassettes are limited to 60-90min and there are only so many
cassettes one can carry around. It's not like a DAP where I can store 2TB of music and listen for hours and hours every day.
That's why I prefer user replaceable batteries (2 x AAs), even if the battery life is not the best it can get.

EQ for chrome and metal support doesn't require any dedicated IC, it requires only a handful of resistors and capacitors in the feedback network of the head preamp and
a switch. Very simple and cheap to implement. Can't see a reason not to do it.
An external switch is fine in my opinion, it doesn't need to have automatic detection, although that would be desirable.

Recording and playback with dolby b c s should be there. Pre recorded cassettes are not very well recorded. So making an analog metal tape dolby s master is my dream.

Yes a walkman with all Dolby NR systems is dream I had myself, but unfortunately not feasable.

 

[earmonger]

which labels are still releasing? Or what vendor? That's interesting

Countless bands are still releasing music on cassettes. Go to bandcamp.com and just start poking around.

FiiO, it's crucial that the mechanism have serious fidelity and low wow and flutter. Direct drive would be preferable to a belt that would eventually have to be replaced (the death of my Aiwa AD-WX808 and some little portables). Obviously the doors should be transparent -- gotta watch those reels turn! And seriously, consider AA batteries, or at the very least a replaceable, rechargeable Li-Ion battery that's non-proprietary. This could be the last cassette player many people will buy, so avoid obsolescence as long as possible.

 

[Vruksha]

Yeah lotta artist/bands are releasing cassettes these days, it’s making a comeback, why else would Fiio be interested in getting into analog? They do see the market need, especially after todays movies, series bringing cassette tapes back to trend and it is becoming a thing which I am quiet happy about. There should be equal space for both digital and analog lovers. There is a timeless beauty in analog which shouldn’t disappear within whatever is the latest and greatest trend.
Direct drive would make a lot more sense now compared to belt drive and yes to replaceable battery, cassette mechanism is the most complex of all so it will be quiet lame to throw it out after the battery’s life cycle, rather have a option to replace the battery.
I will repeat a good quality transport and mechanism over the inferior one that’s going around these days will make it easier even for Fiio in dealing with customer issues on the longer run.

The curiosity I noticed with the younger generation is in watching the whole thing work so a transparent door will sell more in numbers, I actually find the transparent door (the last silver/grey) one more visually pleasing.

 

[InvisibleInk]

Dolby B is desirable, but I clarified in post #151 why it's not achievable.

Playback only is fine, focus should be on the sound quality (low noise preamp, good head, etc.).

8 hours of battery is also fine, don't think battery life is hugely important on such device mostly because cassettes are limited to 60-90min and there are only so many
cassettes one can carry around. It's not like a DAP where I can store 2TB of music and listen for hours and hours every day.
That's why I prefer user replaceable batteries (2 x AAs), even if the battery life is not the best it can get.

EQ for chrome and metal support doesn't require any dedicated IC, it requires only a handful of resistors and capacitors in the feedback network of the head preamp and
a switch. Very simple and cheap to implement. Can't see a reason not to do it.
An external switch is fine in my opinion, it doesn't need to have automatic detection, although that would be desirable.

Yes a walkman with all Dolby NR systems is dream I had myself, but unfortunately not feasable.

Is that because a license from Dolby is required, and it is either, too expensive, or simply not available from them? What do you know for certain about it?

 

[MohawkUS]

Dolby B is desirable, but I clarified in post #151 why it's not achievable.

Could it be reverse engineered or aped though? Maybe just a simple EQ to lower certain bands that tape hiss falls into(and that would be boosted by rec with DolbyB?)

 

[electronicsdesign]

Is that because a license from Dolby is required, and it is either, too expensive, or simply not available from them? What do you know for certain about it?

A license from Dolby is required, on all vintage walkmans/recorders/decks that have Dolby NR we can see the following text:
"Dolby Noise Reduction manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories licensing corporation.
Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories licensing corporation". See picture attached.
It is simply not available, Dolby Laboratories don't license the technology anymore. Which means it cannot be used with the Dolby logo or trademark.

Could it be reverse engineered or aped though? Maybe just a simple EQ to lower certain bands that tape hiss falls into(and that would be boosted by rec with DolbyB?)

There are ways to do it if one really wants to, but it can't be named Dolby B because of the trademark and patent behind the technology.
However I won't expect Fiio to do this, at least not at this point in time.
That's why I would rather push for something that's realistic to happen like a normal/chrome EQ switch and a user removable battery.

The alternative is to use what is called Dynamic Noise Reduction (which is what the new Teac W1200 deck uses) using an off-the-shelf IC like LM1894.
While better than nothing, the results are far from ideal and it's definetely not a 1 to 1 replacement for a Dolby B NR decoder.

 

[dbsf]

Is that because a license from Dolby is required, and it is either, too expensive, or simply not available from them? What do you know for certain about it?

You kidding. Dolby B/C patent expired long long time ago. Dolby B/C as technology is free of any loyalty. I believe even the latest Dolby Atmos patent has expired too. However, "Dolby" and double D are trade marks, so FIIO just need invent a new name, such as Douby B/C and put a single D mark on the switch.

honestly, no one cares about Dolby, nowadays most TWS headphones can fit human hearing response curve, can suppress whatever noise actively. Dolby is a mummy sitting in the museum.

 

[jamato8]

Dolby is a mummy sitting in the museum.

I love that. Great phrase. :^)

 

[FiiO Willson]

A license from Dolby is required, on all vintage walkmans/recorders/decks that have Dolby NR we can see the following text:
"Dolby Noise Reduction manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories licensing corporation.
Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories licensing corporation". See picture attached.
It is simply not available, Dolby Laboratories don't license the technology anymore. Which means it cannot be used with the Dolby logo or trademark.

There are ways to do it if one really wants to, but it can't be named Dolby B because of the trademark and patent behind the technology.
However I won't expect Fiio to do this, at least not at this point in time.
That's why I would rather push for something that's realistic to happen like a normal/chrome EQ switch and a user removable battery.

The alternative is to use what is called Dynamic Noise Reduction (which is what the new Teac W1200 deck uses) using an off-the-shelf IC like LM1894.
While better than nothing, the results are far from ideal and it's definetely not a 1 to 1 replacement for a Dolby B NR decoder.

Hi Friend,
Thanks for the suggestion!
the LM1894 is still available and we will focus on this chip!
But this chip is not Dolby B noise canceling technology.
I don't know if there are still chips for sale with Dolby Class B noise reduction technology, I've been searching for a while and haven't found any!
The CP13 will be in mass production soon, and will not add noise reduction, but I think it will be a good choice for the next casseete player if there is a next

 

[Elegiac]

Ahaha... well. What are the noise specs for this one then?

 

[FiiO Willson]

Ahaha... well. What are the noise specs for this one then?

The purpose of CP13 is to get the product up first,
and if there is a subsequent market that someone agrees with, then we'll make a better one out of it

 

[Elegiac]

The purpose of CP13 is to get the product up first,
and if there is a subsequent market that someone agrees with, then we'll make a better one out of it

Very well. As long as it sounds better than what is available.

There is a sure market. But it is a market that is used to being disappointed.

 

[dbsf]

The purpose of CP13 is to get the product up first,
and if there is a subsequent market that someone agrees with, then we'll make a better one out of it

The era of cassette player is over, long long time ago, you don't need another proof. If you just want to "get the product up" I am sure it will 100% fail.

You need bring something new to the old memory.

 

[FiiO Willson]

The era of cassette player is over, long long time ago, you don't need another proof. If you just want to "get the product up" I am sure it will 100% fail.

You need bring something new to the old memory.

We have to have it before we can do it better~
It's the same with any company,
you have to make sure you don't lose money before you make more innovative products out of it.

 

[jamato8]

We have to have it before we can do it better~
It's the same with any company,
you have to make sure you don't lose money before you make more innovative products out of it.

That's right. Just like the first products FiiO made that were inexpensive and affordable and then go from there.