I'm looking for a budget stereo cassette player with a line out so that I can transfer my cassette collection to my PC's HDD for media streaming.

Ideally I want something portable so that I can use it when time is available without occupying too much usable desk space.

I recall the cassette players of old of which there were several suitable types.

Any help or advice gratefully received.

It's getting really, really hard to find any cassette decks these days, let alone a decent one. The big names of old - Denon, Yamaha, Akai, Nakamichi - have all left the game and the one surviving model is a Sony TC-WE475 twin deck separates component... but you'll be hard pressed to find that on sale anywhere.

You might be best looking through the second-hand market. The Sony WM-D6C Pro Walkman was the best cassette portable recorder made, and - unlike the WM-D6 it replaced, was built up until about 2002, so you might be able to pick up a good 'un. Be very careful, though... the player could have been used as a bootlegger's toolkit and could be hammered. Spares and repairs are hard to come by, too.

Good luck...

Don't be afraid of second hand cassette gear.
Usually the only fault will be stetched/ perished drive belts (rubber bands between motor and spindles).

Any klutz with a screwdriver (that'd be me) can replace those.

CPC.co.uk sell all sizes including a variety pack 'universal kit'.

I'd forget about portability. For quality (and timings) put up with a full size deck while you transfer, then get rid.

Thanks guys

I was hoping for something more portable as I had started the project a few months ago and had to give it up as my old full sized deck was in the way in between ripping sessions.

After receiving your suggestions I will consider digging it out again and see if I can be more creative with space management.