The word “CD” may sound like alienlike to some of this generation, a bygone era that nobody cares about now. Besides, most people would choose to listen to their favourite music via streaming on YouTube or Spotify.
But don’t write them off just yet because CDs still have their place even in the current music-listening landscape. Firstly, it’s a tangible item that gives you a sense of pride, listening to and supporting your favourite artist. It sounds better too, unlike the compressed music files found in the likes of MP3 and AAC formats and yes, even vinyl records.
So, if you are a true music lover who loves the sound of crisp vocals and the clarity of musical compositions, CDs remain an excellent option. Below are some of the best CD players on the market, complete with short user reviews so you’ll have all the info you need to make the right choice.
Table of Contents
Why It’s Our Top Pick:
“A top-of-the-class CD player, not only does the Marantz CD6007 offer crystal-clear sound but its quality is excellent too. You won’t be disappointed with the price you’re paying.’’
Overview:
Enjoy crisp audio quality with the classy Marantz CD6007, thanks to its high-quality 192-kHz/24-bit D/A conversion that utilises the AK4490 chip. It also has two selectable digital filters that optimise digital audio reproduction and it supports multiple formats. This includes CDs as well as others such as MP3, AAC and WAV files.
Performance:
Overall customer reviews are generally positive. The Marantz CD6007 delivers excellent sound quality that’s crisp and dynamic. Build quality is just as great, justifying its hefty price tag. It’ll add a touch of sophistication to your home.
Here’s a compact CD player from Panasonic that takes up only a minimal footprint. Instead of the usual black aesthetics, the Panasonic RX-DU10 comes in a retro two-tone grey hue.
Overview:
The Panasonic RX-DU10 sports 9cm full-range speakers, complete with a CD player on top and a built-in digital tuner that supports a band or frequency range from 87.5 to 108.0MHz and 520 to 1610kHz in FM and AM respectively.
It’s all about practicality and versatility, also featuring a USB port for MP3 playback and a 3.5mm headphone jack for personal listening pleasure.
Performance:
Those who bought the Panasonic RX-DU10 love its overall old-school boombox design as well as its portability. Despite its relatively low price point, the audio quality sounds reasonably crisp.
The famous German brand Blaupunkt is no stranger to manufacturing quality car audio equipment and one of its models, the Liverpool 110 is no exception.
Overview:
What you’ll get here is a compact design that doesn’t occupy too much space, thanks to its single-DIN structure (the size of its head unit). The Blaupunkt Liverpool 110 sports some striking red accents that contrast well against its predominantly black design.
Features include a LED backlight, AM/FM radio frequency, LCD and a 4-band EQ (Flat,Rock, Class & Pop). Besides, it supports CD and MP3 playbacks and it even comes with a handy remote.
Performance:
The majority of the user reviews are positive, with its good build quality being praised. The CD and MP3 function, in the meantime, work well as intended.
The Sony MHC-M60D doesn’t just play CDs but it also comes with a DVD player, which you can connect to your TV via an HDMI port. And that is not all, as it includes not one but two mic inputs for karaoke enthusiasts.
Overview:
The Sony MHC-M60D supports high-quality Bluetooth listening at the maximum bitrate of 990kbps, thanks to the brand’s LDAC audio technology. It also utilises the Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE), which helps to boost the sound of compressed digital files. It even has multi-coloured speaker lights that allow you to control them via the Fiestable app.
Users can benefit from the cinematic S-Force Front Surround audio upon watching their favourite movie or series with its built-in DVD player.
Performance:
Most customers praised the Sony MHC-M60D for its excellent bass quality as well as its value-for-money multiple features. Listen to music, watch a movie, or host your next karaoke session right at home!
Denon is a well-known audio equipment brand that needs no introduction. The DCD-600NE sports a sleek design in black. Everything from the aesthetic to the audio components has undergone rigorous testing to ensure this device is built to last.
Overview:
Functionality-wise, the Denon DCD-600NE plays not only CDs but also other formats such as MP3 and WMA. It comes equipped with the brand’s proprietary AL32 processing, an analogue waveform designed to bring out the best in its audio clarity.
Performance:
Denon DCD-600NE owners love its outstanding build quality that feels both solid and premium. The sound quality is clean and well-defined right out of the box.
Overview
If you're looking for a CD player with a speaker for your home office or bedroom, then the Philips TAM3205 Micro Music System is a good fit for you. This CD player can be connected with Bluetooth, supports CD, MP3-CD, and FM, and contains a USB port for charging your phone. Its 18W maximum output brings decent sound for smaller spaces such as the home office or bedroom.
Performance:
This CD player supports Bluetooth so you can listen to your own custom-made playlists or podcasts. It claims to produce clear sound and good bass from its 3" woofers and bass-reflex ports. For user's easier control, this CD player even comes with a remote control.
Overview:
This KELETOOL wall-mounted CD player can be linked to both Bluetooth and USB flash drives. It is widely compatible with a variety of formats such as CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3, WMA, and WAV. You can perform a wide range of remote control functions thanks to its traditional power switch design. For simple wall mounting, it has a built-in wall-mounted kit and a stand.
Performance:
This wall-mounted CD player is versatile as it is compatible with CD, Bluetooth and USB flash drives, making it useful for anybody. It can even be connected to external speakers as this wall-mounted CD player has a 3.5mm male-to-male audio cable. Since it is small and lightweight, you can also bring this CD player along with you on your travels..
What should I look for in a CD player?
Planning to get a CD player? Well, a good CD player should support different formats including CD-R and CD-W. An additional USB port where you can enjoy an MP3 playback would be a bonus. Some of the other must-have features include an AM/FM radio frequency and an LCD.
How does the CD player work?
Operating a CD player is easy and straightforward: You insert a disc (CD) and press the play button. But have you ever wondered about the inner workings of a CD player?
When you place the CD into the player, a laser scans the code from the centre to the edge of the disc. This allows it to read and convert the information via an internal processor before it starts playing the content of the disc.