Quick look: Insiders reward Cassette Player

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This buildable tape player is another item that's just been added to the Insiders Rewards Centre, and it can be yours in exchange for 2,400 points.

Summary

6471611 Buildable Cassette Player, 145 pieces.

A cool model of a retro electronics device

  • Cassette fits inside the player
  • Lots of inverted 2x2 tiles
  • Not life-sized

The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.

It's another 'yellow box GWP' with the instructions forming the image on the front and pieces packed in a zip-lock bag.

Back in the olden days, before Spotify, before MP3s, before iPods, and before portable CD players, people used to carry small cassette players and a bagful of tapes around with them in order to listen to music on the go. Hard to believe, I know, but true!

The model comprises the tape player itself, a tape, and headphones. None of them are life-sized, although the player is close to it (from what I remember!).

The player has a number of dials and knobs on the side to represent the controls of the real thing. The back is plated with inverted 2x2 tiles, and there's a hole at the top for the headphone jack.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the player opens up to reveal space for the cassette to be slotted into.

Pressing the button on the top of the player releases the cassette.

It's quite a cool little model, I suppose, but perhaps not as desirable as the microscale castle we reviewed earlier in the week.

If you want to add it to your collection, head on over to the Insiders Rewards Centre, where it can be yours in exchange for 2,400 points.

55 comments on this article

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By in United Kingdom,

Well, I can't wait to not get this.

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By in Denmark,

I wasnt even born when things like this were a thing lol

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By in United States,

Oh no, not me, I never lost control...

I quite like it! I'll have to pick it up sooner or later!

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By in United Kingdom,

I picked this up, but I do think it’s a bit overpriced for what it is. That said, I’m impressed by the interactive features, and getting it through other channels probably wouldn’t prove that much cheaper in the long run.

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By in United Kingdom,

Love these retro builds... arrrrrh, the memories. Already secured myIl Insiders code for it.

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By in United States,

Interesting model! A suggestion for these reviews would be to give a typical price value - so at 2400 points that's the equivalent of an $18.46 discount in the US store.

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By in United Kingdom,

I still have the real thing here somewhere; it was made by Aiwa and I picked it up in a sale in early 1989 as it was red which was a less desirable colour! This looks like a pretty good comparison...

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By in United States,

They just need to get together with Sony and do a proper Walkman :-)
No half measures ;-)

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By in United Kingdom,

How's the sound quality?

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By in United Kingdom,

Wasn't this an Ideas set? I seem to recall one reaching review.

My rewards are going towards the marvel tower.

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By in Canada,

Considering a much younger me had to save for over a year to purchase a Sony Walkman F1, this is more tune with my current budget.

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By in United Kingdom,

I don't think there are any unique parts. Why not save your VIP (Sorry, *insiders*) points and pick a brick the parts?

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By in Germany,

It's been available the whole time, hasn't it? With 'whole time' I mean the insiders weekend and black Friday. I bought one with my hard earned points last weekend.

I am old enough to have used one of these back in the days... Personally, I find it more desirable than the castle. But that's just me, of course.

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By in United States,

Is this to go with that "Be Kind, Rewind" shirt from that comic-con?

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By in United States,

Is it compatible with the cassette build that came with Baby Groot? If not, I think that's a miss.

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By in Sweden,

What's 2400 points in discount these days?

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By in United States,

Underwhelming

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By in Germany,

@dimc said:
"What's 2400 points in discount these days?"

3000 points gets me a 200SEK discount voucher. So it's 160SEK for me, or about 14 Euros. Not sure about the Euro rates for these vouchers, though.

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By in United States,

Now I have a way to play the cassette that came with my buildable Groot.

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By in Germany,

@Huw : unless you were thinking of a player for a Minicassette, Microcassette or Picocassette this thing isn't even close to life-size. By the looks of it it is even smaller in size than a standard compact cassette itself without any player.

Here for reference a video about the Picocassette by one of my favourite YouTubers:

https://youtu.be/t5FqjQlFBDM?si=AB44K-ob9RocrudS

Beginning at about 1 minute 33 seconds in there's also a size comparison between the three tiny cassette formats mentioned above.

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By in United States,

@ytjedi said:
"Is it compatible with the cassette build that came with Baby Groot? If not, I think that's a miss."

No - that cassette is larger and more realistic looking. The Groot version is almost the exact dimensions of an actual tape.

https://i.imgur.com/CXQ4Wrn.jpg

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By in Germany,

Should have been done in the scale of the buildable I am Groot cassette so we can listen to that Awesome mix tape too. ;)

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By in Netherlands,

Missing the pencil for the often required tensioning of the tape….

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By in United States,

Sony Walkman vibes

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By in United States,

This thing is going to look fantastic sitting on top of my NES. Maybe it will fit the buildable Bowser as well.

I showed my 7yr old the set and he of course had no idea what a cassette was.

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By in United Kingdom,

The headphone cable looks a bit short

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By in United States,

Well, I'm tempted. I got the 1980s-style Rewards Camera a few years ago and it's delightful even if a also kick in the nostalgia.

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By in United Kingdom,

In the minority I’m sure, but I prefer this to the castle.

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By in Netherlands,

@TheBrickBulbasaur said:
"Oh no, not me, I never lost control...

I quite like it! I'll have to pick it up sooner or later!"


Original or Nirvana unplugged? The latter for me :)

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By in United States,

Soundwave, superior.
Lego tape-deck, inferior.

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By in United States,

Was wondering when this would get a mention. Cute set.

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By in United Kingdom,

This is quite cute, although the larger cassette in 76217 is far more accurate. I would also have preferred it to be the original Philips cassette recorder I had, from 1963!

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By in United States,

Not as good as the Vintage Camera (6392344).

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By in Australia,

@Rimefang said:
"Soundwave, superior.
Lego tape-deck, inferior. "


Man, I’d love a Lego transforming Soundwave to accompany my Optimus Prime. As for this, it’s a little on the simplistic side but I’m a sucker for retro looking Lego.

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By in Netherlands,

Proof they still can do unlicensed sets of real life objects...

I actually quite like this, and much prefer this over the castle. Sure, it would have been great it was actual size, and even better if it would have fitted the tape from Groot.

There's just one major problem: this costs 2400 points more than I have. Guess I have to stick with my old Aiwa walkman....

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By in United States,

@kfr said:
" @dimc said:
"What's 2400 points in discount these days?"

3000 points gets me a 200SEK discount voucher. So it's 160SEK for me, or about 14 Euros. Not sure about the Euro rates for these vouchers, though."


Or $18.46 USD.

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By in United Kingdom,

My first ever portable tape Walkman was from Nokia, yes, about a decade before mobile phones were a thing.

This review has changed my mind about feeling indifferent about getting this to actually wanting it now, it’s pretty neat little slice of retro.

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By in United States,

I wonder if it'd be cheaper to Bricklink this than to spend enough cash on the website to force a purchase. (I have two Lego stores within driving distance, so there's very little I can't get in person.)

...and I don't see a parts list on Brickset. I can kind of eyeball many of the parts, but I can't say for certain what they all are. Anyone have a parts list from another site?

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By in Australia,

Anyone else picturing Star Lord?

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By in Germany,

Still got my Sony Walkman.....
Still working.....
Still cool......

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By in United States,

I definitely want this for my retro tech shelf next to 10306, 71374, and 6392343.

@ozbrickcreator: One of my first thoughts when seeing this was wondering if it would work, size-wise, with 76251.

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By in Ireland,

This feels incomplete without a pencil

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By in United Kingdom,

@mahasamatman said:
"This feels incomplete without a pencil"
Absolutely... And maybe a scrunched up ball of tape wrapped around the capstan!

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By in United Kingdom,

@TheOtherMike said:
"I definitely want this for my retro tech shelf next to 10306, 71374, and 6392343."
What, no space on the shelf for 10323?

Also very much looking forward to 21345 in January.

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By in United States,

@ sjr60: No, and I'm not all that interested, anyway. But I'm with you on 21345. I'll make space for that, if I need to.

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By in United Kingdom,

@GelbPhoenix said:
"I wasnt even born when things like this were a thing lol"

Don't make me come over there.... I'll forget what I was there for by the time I get there

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By in Germany,

Actually, it reminds a bit of a Microcassette recorder, like a dictation machine. Mainly due to the cassette.

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By in United Kingdom,

I got sent this with my last order even though I didn't redeem any points. Not complaining!

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By in United Kingdom,

Headphones look more like electro-convulsive shock therapy probes!

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By in United States,

Nice review. I would have liked to have seen a battery compartment with batteries. That's a pretty minor and doesn't take away anything from the model for me. The cord on the headphones is another is different story. Even at the scale it is at that cord is like noticeably too short. Likely should 3 to 4 time longer than it is. They should have used the longest they make, which I think the 41L. This detracts from finished model and is something I'll likely replace on mine.

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By in United States,

"There is another name you might know me by,
...Star Lord"

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By in United States,

{ @Utter said:

Original or Nirvana unplugged? The latter for me :)
}

I love them all, but I'll go 1. Nirvana, 2. Midge Ure, and 3. Bowie

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By in Netherlands,

@LegoMaster2006 said:
""There is another name you might know me by,
...Star Lord""


Who?

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