How to start (or restart) your cassette collection

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View this email in your browser  |  Manage newsletter subscriptions By Orlando Mendiola | 12.06.22 When you walk into a record store, the cassette section (yes, record stores have cassette sections again) won't be just filled with old cassettes, but rather freshly shrink-wrapped albums from the past week. A format that was once considered a thing of the past and the reason album sales declined—due to the ease of pirating music—has been slowly making its way back along with the vinyl revival. Cassette sales are up, and 2023 is predicted to be an even bigger year for the format. But why are cassettes back? Those familiar with the format may consider cassettes to be low-fidelity but, as with vinyl, the quality of your listening experience depends on the equipment you use to play your music. Here's everything you need to know about starting (or restarting) your cassette collection. If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. How to Start a Cassette Collection in the 21st Century The most unlikely of music formats is staging a return. Part novelty and part nostalgia, here's how to dive in. See what our editors are raving about. Get WIRED's Holiday Gift Guide newsletter—a roundup of the best seasonal recommendations from WIRED editors—delivered straight to your inbox.   Tap the link below to join the mailing list and view our latest guides.  SIGN ME UP You Might Also Like ... New to Vinyl Records? Here's What You Need to Know Before you go shopping for turntables, cartridges, and headphones, here are a few things to remember as you start your journey into records. Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Spotify Experience Whether you're a new user of the music streaming service or a playlist pro, these tips will improve your next listening session. How to Bust Your Spotify Feedback Loop and Find New Music Does the algorithm know you too well? Here's how to shake up your recommendations for a more varied listening experience. Where to Buy Vinyl Records Online and in Person The best way to support your favorite musicians is by going straight to the source. Check Out GQ's New Watch Newsletter, Box + Papers   Our friends at GQ are launching a weekly digest of the latest news, stirring rumors, and freshest grails in the watch world sent straight to your inbox every week. We think it will be a must read for any timepiece fan. Sign up now!   GET WIRED Get WIRED for just $29.99 $5. Includes the print edition plus editor in chief Gideon Lichfield's column, System Update. Subscribe now. Have questions or comments? Reply to this email.   When you buy something using the retail links in this email, we earn a small affiliate commission. Read more about how this works.   This email was sent to you by WIRED. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our email address, wired@newsletters.wired.com, to your address book.   View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe or manage your newsletter subscriptions