Cassette tape adapter

A cassette adapter allows another source of music to be played through sound systems with a tape player.

Today, it is primarily used for vehicles without auxiliary ports built into their stereo systems.

A typical cassette adapter uses a single-sided writing tape head (similar to the recording head on a traditional tape deck) connected to a stereo minijack connector with a cord.

These devices often require external power and convert the device's electrical signal into radio waves which are then transmitted over an unused FM frequency to a nearby FM tuner.

A cassette adapter could also be used with other audio equipment, such as a microphone, handheld game console, or laptop computer.

To simulate tape movement, a system of gears or a drive belt connects the tape player's drive motor (via the take-up spindle) to a wheel inside the adapter.

Because the wheel never stops spinning, the deck never senses an end-of-tape and never tries to reverse the tape.