Cassettes are back and we have SEVENVA01, SEVENVA02, SEVENVA03 all available on audio cassette plus a very special colab between CRYME and ogtrues, ART07 that is exclusiely avalable on audio cassette.
But if you want to slow down and get into cassette culture you're going to need something to play them on and at SEVEN we stock two of the most talked-about portable players in our Berlin shop and online store: the FiiO CP13 Cassette Player and the We Are Rewind Portable Cassette Player. So if you have been looking for We Are Rewind in Berlin, you can come and try one in person before you buy. They take slightly different approaches, though, so which one should you actually choose?
Rather than guess, we handed both to someone who listens for a living. Andres Klein, better known behind the decks as Ackermann, is a sound and mastering engineer, producer and DJ. he is actually the specialist mastering engineer of all SEVEN cassettes so it seemed right he should check how they sound on the machines that we sell.
We packed off one of each to Andres in Stuutgart and lived with the pair for over a month before giving his view, testing the FiiO alongside the We Are Rewind in its orange "Serge" colourway. Here is his verdict.
The two contenders
The FiiO CP13 is the newcomer and the slightly cheaper of the pair. It keeps things simple: play a tape, plug in your headphones, done. No Bluetooth, no recording, just a well-built little machine focused on one job. It runs a higher-voltage motor with a speed-stabilising circuit to keep playback steady, and charges over USB-C.
The We Are Rewind is has more features. Alongside the standard headphone jack it adds Bluetooth 5.1 for wireless headphones and a 3.5mm line-in that lets you record straight to cassette from your phone or laptop. In other words, you can make your own mixtapes with it. It comes in five colourways, including the orange "Serge" that Andres tested.
| FiiO CP13 | We Are Rewind | |
|---|---|---|
| Playback | 100% analog | 100% analog |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes (5.1) |
| Recording | No | Yes (line-in to tape) |
| Headphone jack | 3.5mm | 3.5mm |
| Battery | Rechargeable, approx. 13h | Rechargeable, approx. 10 to 12h |
| Body | Aluminium | Aluminium |
| Price at SEVEN | €129 | €149 |
Loudness: the FiiO pulls ahead
Andres's biggest takeaway was volume, and it was not close. Listening through a good pair of wired monitor headphones, the FiiO sounded dramatically louder.
"It's way louder. Almost double the loudness, I would say. On my headphones I can't turn it up all the way or it hurts."
The We Are Rewind, by comparison, left him wanting more even at the top of the dial.
"The We Are Rewind on max volume is still a little bit like, can I have it louder, please?"
For anyone who likes their music with some weight behind it, or who uses higher-impedance headphones, this alone is a meaningful difference.
Build and connection: stability matters
The second big theme was reliability, and again it slightly favoured the FiiO. The We Are Rewind's headphone jack turned out to be its weak point.
"The headphone jack on the We Are Rewind is a little bit wonky. It kind of cuts out when I move around with the headphones."
The FiiO's jack stayed rock solid, and while both devices are made from aluminium, the FiiO unit simply felt more robust in the hand.
"The FiiO seems to be made more stable, more tough. It just makes a much more stable impression."
On the move
Since a Walkman lives or dies by how it performs while you are actually walking, this mattered to Andres. Here the FiiO was his clear pick, largely thanks to that dependable headphone connection.
"The mobility aspect is much better with the FiiO. I can move around and the headphone jack does not cut out. For my kind of usage it is just much more stable."
Where the We Are Rewind wins: features
This is not a one-sided story. The We Are Rewind does two things the FiiO simply cannot: it plays to wireless headphones over Bluetooth, and it records to tape.
"The We Are Rewind is great because you have the wireless headphone option and you can record. You can't do that with the FiiO."
That recording ability shapes how Andres now uses the pair together. He records his own tapes on the We Are Rewind, then plays them back on the louder, more portable FiiO. One machine to create, one to enjoy.
The verdict: both players have their purpose
Andres was upfront that this is not a clean sweep, and that the right answer depends on what you need from a cassette player.
"For me, the FiiO is the winner. And since it is cheaper, that is a double win. But the FiiO would be perfect if it had the recording and the wireless headphone functions too. Then it would be the clear winner."
His bottom line: if you mostly want to listen, and you want it loud, reliable and easy to carry, the FiiO CP13 is hard to beat for the money. If you want Bluetooth freedom and the joy of making your own tapes, the We Are Rewind earns its place. Andres is happy to own both.
"If I had to choose just one, I would take the FiiO and figure out how to record tapes some other way. But if you only want one device, get the We Are Rewind - it's still solid and you can record on it."
This review is based on hands-on testing by Andres Klein (Ackermann), sound and mastering engineer, producer and DJ in April 2026
Looking for We Are Rewind in Berlin? Both players are in stock at SEVEN, our Berlin record store, to try in person or order online: the FiiO CP13 Cassette Player at €129, and the We Are Rewind Portable Cassette Player at €149 in five colourways. You can also browse the full We Are Rewind range, including wireless headphones, the Curtis boombox and accessories. Ask us about blank tapes to start recording your own.