Review on 📻 Crosley CT100B-SI: Retro Portable Cassette Player with Bluetooth, AM/FM Radio, and Built-in Microphone – Silver by Angela Wash

I've been looking for a portable tape recorder/radio boombox for a while and came across this Crosley model that looked realistic like an old classic player. dad obsessed. I immediately fell in love with the retro design and had high hopes for it (even bought some new straps to try). Well I should have known better, as is the case with most Crosley products, good looks are all you get. Closer inspection revealed an inferior design, ranging from a cheap plastic body to curved springs in the battery compartment. However, I persevered, pocketed it and turned on the radio first. Reception was ok, but AM and shortwave reception was almost non-existent. Then I tried to play the tape and that's when the real problems started. Playback was muddy, distorted and the music sounded like the device had been submerged in an aquarium. I was afraid my tape would get stuck and cause irreparable damage. Bear in mind that I was playing on a brand new cassette, so any defects were immediately ruled out. I tried another (brand new) tape and the same thing happened. So I decided to return it and get a refund. Revain kindly offered to replace it, but I declined and decided to buy a refurbished original 1980's boombox instead, which I really should have done from the start. If anyone is considering buying one of these please know what you are getting into and reset your expectations. If Crosley had bothered to create something that actually worked well instead of just focusing on the aesthetic, it would be a more trusted and respected brand. Now their products are nothing more than cool toys, poorly made at best. Look elsewhere, friends. Your tapes deserve the best!