Yeti Gets Cassette Player In 2023

Not all songs on my 80s Hip-Hop cassette tapes are available digitally.

I'd like to be able to listen to them while driving, just like back in the day.

Could I install a good cassette player in my Yeti?

Have I ever mentioned that I own FIVE Sony cassette Walkmans?

Oh yeah.😎

One of them I cannot repair - the other four I have serviced and restored.

I use 'em regularly in the street. Rotating every couple of weeks.

I've had an idea. 😲

It's true my Pioneer head unit does not have an AUX in, so my initial idea is out the window.

Yet I still need the cassette player to play through my Pioneer.

A new plan is hatched.

I jump online and order myself three things:

• car FM radio transmitter
• USB voltage converter
• USB splitter

Within a week they have all arrived.

Let's get on with it.

I need to remove the radio/heater controls bezel...

And two hex screws to remove the heater/air con control unit...

I want to tuck the USB splitter away inside the cavity behind the heater/air con control unit.

I'm going to plug two things into this splitter

I'll leave it's short USB cable sticking out.

My Sony Walkman cassette player requires 3 volts.

The new voltage converter I bought has adjustable voltage: 1.5v up to 12v

I set it to 3v.

Plug it into the USB splitter and together they are tucked away in the cavity.

Now I plug one end of the FM transmitter cable into the USB splitter.

I will route the other end of the cable behind the radio bezel.

I've got the heater control unit and the bezel reinstalled.

So, here's my 3v cable...

 

And my FM transmitter cable...

I recently installed a battery status monitor plus on/off switch in my Yeti 😎

I will use one of its two 5v USB sockets and plug in the USB splitter...

Now let's connect the FM transmitter to its cable.

Then plug its 3.5mm jack into my Sony Walkman's headphone socket.

And mount my Walkman in the built-in phone cradle of my Pioneer SPH-10BT.

I search for a vacant FM band on both my Pioneer and the FM transmitter, and...

they agree upon 87.5 FM.

BOOM!

Out blares my 80s favs...

''It's like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder how I keep from going under''

And security isn't any trouble.

Unplug my Walkman - remove my Pioneer's faceplate.

Simple.

So what about sound quality?

Well, decent cassette tapes, played on a fully serviced Sony Walkman via FM still isn't going to give me quite the detail I am used to from my FLAC music library via USB.

But the sound quality is on par with Bluetooth I'd say - pretty good

I have uploaded a short clip to YouTube in case you want to see (and hear) the Walkman in action...

Skoda Yeti dot-net YouTube channel

Thanks for visiting.

And feel free to stay tuned for more Yeti modifications I have planned.

If you want a car FM transmitter they are here on Amazon

If you want a USB voltage converter they are here on Amazon

And USB splitters are here on Amazon

Need something else for your Yeti?

Amazon currently lists HUNDREDS of Yeti Parts & Accessories

Just a heads up: many of my posts contain affiliate links of products I have bought for my Yeti.
If you buy something from one of these links, you will not pay a penny more.
I will get a small commission, although not every time.
The extra pennies help me to pay the annual cost of the domain name.
I thank you for your support.