FiiO CP13 Review

In this article we review the FiiO CP13, the brand’s first portable cassette player, priced at just $129 USD.

Disclaimer: The FiiO CP13 was sent to us free of charge in exchange for our honest opinion.

FiiO

Established in 2007, FiiO has become a powerhouse in the audiophile realm, offering an impressive line-up of affordable and high-quality products. From IEMs, headphone amps, DACs, to DAPs, FiiO has consistently delivered top-notch devices, setting benchmarks for other brands to follow like the FiiO M23, the mighty FiiO Q7, or the everlasting E10K, which has remained on the market for over a decade.

An unceasing saga of success, propelled not only by a steady flow of high-end devices but also by the introduction of smart, budget-friendly products. Their latest series of USB DAC/Amps is a prime example—compact dongle-sized gadgets that hark back to the venerable FiiO E5 and E3, first revealed over a decade ago.

An expansive range that includes the delightful FiiO KA13, the formidable FiiO KA17, and the lovely KA15 we had the chance to listen to a few months ago. And just a couple of weeks ago, I reviewed their DM13 portable cd player.

And if that line-up already seemed very complete to me, the brand pushed even further this year, with products seemingly out of FiiO’s usual bracket :

• the FiiO KB3, a mechanical keyboard embedding its own DAC/Amp
• the FiiO SP3 / SP3 BT, a set of desktop active speakers
• the FiiO SR11, a compact desktop streamer designed to complete the KA11
• or even the FiiO ESTICK, a mini power bank made especially for the FiiO KA17, so you could use the desktop mode on the go

But those were just the tip of the iceberg, and the brand decided to go even further, with… a vintage line-up! Yes, you read that right, the most famous chi-fi brand (if still considered chi-fi) developed their own line of retro devices.

What kind of product do you say?

• the FiiO TT13, an automatic turntable, surfing on the spectacular hype trend initiated a few years ago by the vinyl – a device we reviewed a few months ago now
• the FiiO DM13, a portable stereo CD Player for those missing the CD Era, packed with many nice features such as a ripper option, balanced outputs and a battery for portability – a device we also reviewed a few weeks ago
• and last but not least, the FiiO CP13, a cassette player for those missing the Walkman era – a device strangely popular, like the Wearerewind K-7 player

Good news, this is the one we are reviewing today!

Casing

Designed to match their new “retro range” aesthetics, the FiiO CP13 showcases a sleek and modern design that directly pays homage to the classic Walkman era.

A good choice in my opinion, seeing how popular retro devices has become across the past years, be it cars, furniture, or audio products for what matter to us.

And, in that regard, the brand clearly nailed it, offering us a cassette player that share a striking resemblance with the old Philips one I owned back in the time, but more premium.

In fact, like the FiiO DM13, the CP13 looks and feels surprisingly nice in hand, definitely out-matching their antic predecessors in terms of build quality : it’s an hefty, dense, robust device, far from the plasticky one I remembered in the 80/90’s.

As usual with the brand, the main body remains entirely made of aluminum, highlighted by a transparent window on the front-panel that allows you to check where you are in your listening session – another nostalgic touch that enhances the retro experience.

Features that makes the CP13 slightly heavier than what you’d expect for a K-7 Player, the CP13 weighing almost 310g, and that despite its compact dimensions (120 x 88.3 x 31.8 mm). Still, those dimensions should allow you to fit the player on every work desk, or any bag if you were to carry it on your daily commute.

As usual with the brand, build quality is flawless, with no gaps and premium materials everywhere your eye can see and your hand can touch—my favorite feature being the extended I/O, which comes in very handy as we’ll see later on.

Top that with physical buttons for Play, Rewind, Fast Forward, and Pause – all prominently placed for easy access – a volume control managed via a smooth-turning knob, and you’re good to go!

How about the layout then ?

I/O

In terms of I/O, the FiiO CP13 is straightforward, focusing on essential functionalities to deliver a pure analog listening experience.

On the right side you get:

• 1x USB-C port, for charging
• 1x 3.5mm Headphone jack, to connect your headphone, IEM or speaker
• 1x volume controller

And finally on top, you’ll find:

• a play button
• previous + next track buttons
• a stop button

And yes, to my own surprise, the brand didn’t include a second analog port for record purpose – you won’t find a rec button too. Something that you’ll find on We Are Rewind EQ-001 cassette player though, in case you’d like to create you own mixtape, like when we were young(er).

Now, let’s get going!

Daily use

On a daily basis, it’s hard to get something simpler than the FiiO CP13. If you’re new to this, this cassette player might be your ideal step into this world.

All you have to do is open the lid, put a cassette, press play, plug a headphone et… voila! No scree, no led, the only indication that everything is working will come from the front lid, where you’ll actually see you record spinning.

From there, you can up/down the volume, advance into the track, rewind or simply… stop the play. Being completely analog, the CP13 doesn’t need to include features like shuffle, repeat or favorite, in case you’d like to put one song in perpetual reading.

On the go, I was pleasantly surprised to found out that whatever I did, the music never skipped a beat and even after being a bit rough with it, the tape itself never derailed out of the cassette.

The only drawback I could point out was the volume potentiometer that appeared to be a bit too prominent in my bag, leading to some unwanted volume increase/decrease, but nothing major.

I/O

Unlike the DM13, the FiiO CP13 doesn’t come with various analog and digital outputs, designed to fit a higher-end setup. The only option you get is the phone out, single-ended of course!

Bluetooth

Same here, no Bluetooth output for those that’d have expected to pair their headphone wirelessly. The EQ-001 does offer that option, but to be quite honest, on a pure analog device like this cassette player, I don’t really see the appeal of going Bluetooth – wire is part of the charm!

In the box

Obviously, being a niche product set at a price this low, the FiiO CP13 doesn’t come with an extensive bundle.

In the box, you get :

• the FiiO CP13
• a USB-C to USB-A cable
• a glass protection film
• some documentations
• and… that’s it

So yeah, nothing fancy, but for the price and use, I won’t complain!

The review continues on Page Two, after the click HERE or by using the jump below.