Panasonic RQ-CW03 portable cassette player belt change and speed adjustment

The Panasonic RQ-CW03 portable cassette player is a basic (stereo) tape player from the turn of the millennium. It plays tapes, even has an extra-bass switch, but that's it. No recording, no radio. I remember having to go out and buy this, because I had moved on to CDs, but unfortunately my Irish language exam prep hadn't. As a result, this has largely sat in a drawer unused, slowly yellowing, since that exam. And, predictably, when I last pulled it out to listen to some tapes it was no longer functioning.

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A delicate arrangement but workable. Unfortunately, every screwdriver I had was either too big or too small for the trimpot, except, oddly, the one on my Leatherman (Free T2). It fits almost perfectly, like, suspiciously so. A bit like how the Bic biros are (still) exactly the right size and shape to wind the cassettes. But I'm lucky it did fit as it enabled me to adjust the speed, which was wildly out.

Then I partially reassembled the player, and tested with a music tape. The extra-bass still works, but the volume pot is scratchy. I hit it with some electrical contact cleaner spray, worked the wheel back and forth, and let it dry. Cleared that crackling right up.

And this friends is everything I remember tape being. The sound is amazing, and the extra bass mode really delivers. All while conveniently attached to my belt/waistband. I think it's incredibly sad that this quality of player is no longer readily available. Especially considering the low cost of it when brand new. But I'm delighted to have mine working again!

Speed trimpot adjustment procedure
Photo by chebe