New cassette and CD players grow bulkier despite modern features

Sales of cassette tapes and vinyl records are increasing, while CD sales have also seen a resurgence. In response, companies like We Are Rewind and Fiio are producing new cassette and CD players with modern features like USB-C charging and Bluetooth. Despite these updates, the new players are bulkier than earlier models. For example, the dimensions of current cassette players are similar to the original Sony Walkman from 1979, while older models had become much more compact by the early 2000s. The larger designs of today's players contrast sharply with the slim profiles of past devices. This raises questions about why modern technology has not maintained the compactness that was common in earlier years.