Most(98%+) of cassette aux adapters are made with internal gears that engage the auto reverse function with a rubber wheel. When using one of these adapters, you may notice that your radio keeps flip flopping from side 1 to side 2.

In some vehicles simply removing this mechanism will solve for the issue of the radio constantly flipping sides; but not E30 radios (Alpine Cm5905/CM5907/CM5908); removing the gears will cause the same exact issue to continue.

Luckily we’ve been able to validate two vintage, yet readily available tape adapters that will work with E30 radios. Both styles are endlessly available second hand on Ebay, often in still sealed NOS new condition.

First is the Sony CPA-9C that uses a band to better mimic a real tape:

The second style is the Panasonic SH-CDM10B, or can be found as a set in a RP-CK455 kit; the latter is often easier and cheaper to find in NOS condition.

This style uses a film to even more closely mimic a real tape and has a unique auto adjusting head.

This entry was posted on July 28, 2023 at 12:34 am and is filed under Interesting Stuff. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.