Six Compact CD Players Lead the Quiet Revival of the Format
The compact disc, once a staple of the 1980s, is experiencing a subtle resurgence, although it doesn't carry the same cultural significance as vinyl. Affordable second-hand CDs are widely available, and numerous artists utilize platforms like Bandcamp to distribute their music. With superior sound quality and a physical connection to albums, CDs are gaining renewed interest. A fresh assortment of portable CD players has surfaced, including the Fosi Audio Merak ($139.99), Beams Hill (¥7,590), FiiO DM15 R2R (£249/$249/€269), Shanling EC Play ($199/€220/£209.99), xDuoo CDM-10 ($429/£429), and YBA Design One (€1,848). This trend highlights a growing appreciation for physical media in our digital era, as noted in Jonathan Bell's article for Wallpaper* magazine.
Key facts
- CDs are experiencing a quiet revival, though less prominent than vinyl.
- Second-hand CDs are cheap and widely available; many artists still release them via Bandcamp.
- CDs offer sound quality superior to most streaming services.
- Fosi Audio Merak: desktop CD player, $139.99, transparent lid, USB-C power.
- Beams Hill: portable CD player from Japanese retailer Beams, ¥7,590, AA batteries, no Bluetooth.
- FiiO DM15 R2R: portable CD player, £249/$249/€269, 7-hour battery, Bluetooth, ripping to WAV.
- Shanling EC Play: portable CD player, $199/€220/£209.99, 12-hour battery, Bluetooth 6.0, supports CD-R/CD-RW.
- xDuoo CDM-10: desktop CD player with tube amp, $429/£429, 7-hour battery, no Bluetooth.
- YBA Design One: portable SACD player, €1,848, 5.5-hour battery, from French company YBA.
Entities
Artists
- Jonathan Bell
Institutions
- FiiO
- Shanling
- xDuoo
- YBA
- Beams
- Bandcamp
- Wallpaper*
Locations
- Guangzhou
- Japan
- France