Streaming and vinyl may be all the rage, but there are plenty of us who have never let go of our CD collection and enjoy listening to and buying CDs to this day. What Hi-Fi? has been testing and reviewing CD players ever since the format's inception (since 1983, in fact), and many of us still prefer owning a physical music format like CD discs. It has clear advantages over other formats – more reliable and permanent than streaming; more compact and cheaper than vinyl – and once you buy an album, it's yours to keep forever.
CDs and CD players are currently experiencing a surprise boom in sales and popularity. According to a RIAA 2023 report, CD sales in the US rose 11 per cent to $537 million in 2023, while they even went up 2 per cent in the UK to reach £126.2m. It looks like a good time to revive your old CD collection or start afresh if your love of music has left you wanting something more permanent and reliable than streaming.
Our curated list below includes fully integrated CD players, which have a digital-to-analogue converter built in, and CD transports, which can only read the data on the disc and require an external DAC to work. There are budget to premium recommendations below, and the best models offer excellent, no-nonsense usability, sturdy build quality, seamless playback and great sound for the price point.
Every product on this list has been thoroughly tested by the expert review team at What Hi-Fi? in our dedicated listening rooms. You can read more about our CD players test process at the bottom of the page, along with tips on how to choose the best spinner for you.
The quick list
If you’re on a tight budget, the Award-winning Marantz CD6007 remains the best-sounding affordable CD player you can buy.
It might look dated but you won’t find a more entertaining, more revealing player without spending a lot more cash.
Sensibly featured, easy to use and surprisingly musical, the SA-C600 is a brilliant just-add-speakers system.
If you own a good DAC we wouldn't hesitate to recommend the CXC transport.
The Cyrus CD t is an exceptionally talented transport, with a level of transparency, clarity and insight that’s unrivalled at this kind of price.
Disclaimer
24th October 2024: All new What Hi-Fi? Awards 2024 winners labelled, we've updated the Marantz CD6007 copy and added the Audiolab Omnia CD system in the also consider section.
I have been testing and reviewing at What Hi-Fi? for over 10 years, and that includes my fair share of CD players and CD transports. While it's not the most jam-packed category in recent years, CD players are still worth considering if you (like myself and the review team) still have shelves full of CDs and even SACDs that you want to enjoy. When testing disc spinners, we check for sturdy build quality that delivers the least amount of vibration so the disc can be read most accurately, the disc loading mechanism and how smooth or noisy it is, how legible the display is from a distance and how good it sounds for the asking price. The picks on this list represent the best value for money at each price point and will keep you enjoying your CD collection for years to come.
The best budget CD player
This Marantz model has been around in various guises for a long time, and remains the best budget option at this price. You'll need to go back a decade and four model cycles to find a CD6000 that looks notably different, so it's the insides where Marantz has made the improvements to their CD players count.
It has a quieter power supply and improved HDAM amplifier modules, helped along by a sprinkling of higher-quality internal components, not least of which is the change of DAC. This allows the CD6007 to process high-resolution files through USB-A on front socket, supporting PCM music up to 24-bit/192kHz and DSD128.
It's worth noting that the original CD6007 production used an AKM4490 DAC chip, but after a fire at the AKM factory in 2021 that affected supply, this was changed to an ESS Sabre ES9010K2M DAC chip and all CD6007 units produced after May 2021 use this ESS DAC.
What does all that mean? The original AKM DAC-equipped unit sounds more fluid and expresses low-level dynamics in a more rhythmic manner, but the new ESS Sabre-equipped unit sounds cleaner and has more punch. Overall, the CD6007 retains its tonality and detail resolution, and makes your music sound great. It's full of rhythm and drive. It's precise, clean and delivers dynamics at every inch of the spectrum. Stereo imaging is focused and expansive, and there are even a few digital filters to tweak the sound to your tastes. At this budget price, the sophisticated quality of its build and performance really can't be bettered.
Owners of the previous CD6006 UK Edition needn't rush to change their player, but the multi-Award-winning CD6007 is most definitely the right choice for first-time buyers at this end of the market.
Read the full Marantz CD6007 review
The best mid-range CD player
There hasn’t been a seriously good, seriously capable, and seriously fun CD player of this level in a very long time. The newly crowned Arcam CD5 changes things. It's a tremendously talented player that deserves an audition if you’re still holding on to your beloved CDs and want to give them a new lease of life.
It's a great mid-range entry and does one thing well – playing CDs with finesse. There's composure and fluidity to the music that has us hooked from the start, with a nimble and snappy sense of rhythm that keeps our toes tapping without ever over-analysing the wealth of detail it retrieves. Deep basslines are delivered with a satisfying mix of solidity and muscle, while the CD5 deals with shifting dynamics with ease and subtlety – it takes us through the emotional rollercoaster with songs while keeping an even balance across the frequencies.
The CD5 looks smart and is built to a pleasingly high level, and while the player's menus could be more intuitive to access, the display is large enough to read and the player itself is easy to use.
If you're looking for a greater level of clarity and refinement than what this excellent CD player offers, then you’ll have to spend more than double the money on the likes of the top-notch Cyrus CDi – a multiple Award-winner that now costs around £1500-£1600. As a new entrant into a category that isn't flourishing as it once used to, the Arcam CD5 is a solid buy for any CD fan.
Read the full Arcam CD5 review
The best premium CD player
Cyrus hasn’t put a foot wrong with its CD players for as long as we can remember; it would be fair to say that its track record has been phenomenal. So it’s no surprise that the Cyrus CDi is another gleaming example of the company treading the right path. This model has now won the What Hi-Fi? Award for best CD player over £1000 for more than ten years in a row – that alone is a testament to just how talented and reliable this player is. To add to its plaudits, the CDi is one of our reference source players in our dedicated listening rooms.
The long, narrow aluminium chassis isn’t exactly a bolt from the blue, but underneath lies one of the best-sounding CD players we've heard at the money. We like the fuss-free design, easy-to-read display and high-quality remote (earlier SE models came with a rather plasticky affair). The slot-loader is noisy when feeding it a disc, though as silent as you’d hope it would be during playback.
As for the calibre of sound, it's truly impressive for the money, offering buckets of detail and rhythmic precision. Pace and momentum are exercised with articulation and vibrancy. There is authority and solidity to the sound that is fantastic to hear and, even over a decade later, it's a performance we haven't stopped enjoying and marvelling at. What we said in our original review stands: "We found ourselves entertained by the Cyrus’ dynamic agility and neutral balance in a way that’s rare at this price. Though fast and fluid, the sound is much weightier than any of the company’s previous models."
It's a wonderfully revealing player, and you'd have to spend significantly more to hear anything better.
Read the full Cyrus CDi review
The best CD streaming system
The Technics SA-C600 is an elegant all-in-one system with extensive streaming and connectivity (even an MM phono stage) that you just have to add speakers to – and it also has a talented CD player.
We like the tactility of the swivelling transparent CD cover on the top; it’s made of toughened acrylic and feels good to use. The SA-C600 proves an admirably consistent performer across the board, producing musically compelling results with CDs as well as high-res files across our network.
This Technics is expressive and punchy. It has a surefooted sense of rhythm and drive, as well as expressive dynamics that make the performance engaging to listen to. Detail levels are good, but it is the confident way this unit organises that information into a cohesive and musical whole that really impresses.
If all you're after is a CD player, then you might want to choose something more dedicated in this list that puts all its eggs in that audio basket. But if versatility is required and you want to stream your music services over wi-fi as well as spin discs - and why not - then this Technics is worth your attention.
Those who already own an amplifier and have more to spend should consider the Technics SL-G7000M2 as well.
Read the full Technics SA-C600 review
The best budget CD transport
The Cambridge Audio CXC is a transport, meaning you'll have to supply your own DAC, but with many amplifiers and active speakers now having a DAC built in, this could be an efficient way of adding a disc-spinner into your system.
This Cambridge CD transport simply reads the data using its single-speed transport and S3 Servo, and using this separate bit of kit to do one specific job makes for better sound quality. There’s a real musicality here that can get lost on lesser players, with an organic, fluid interplay between instruments. It's punchy and agile, with ample detail retrieved in the wide, spacious soundstage. There's a good rhythm to songs, although we wouldn't mind a tad more subtlety to the detail and dynamic contrast. Paired with the CXA61 amplifier, the CXC delivers an enjoyable, friendly presentation.
It's a nicely made bit of kit too, with a machined metal chassis that feels solid and a design that matches the rest of Cambridge's impressive CX range.
If you already own an external DAC (or there is a good-quality DAC integrated in your system) we wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Cambridge CXC over a standalone CD player at this price. You’d have to spend a good deal more than £500 – leap up towards the Arcam CD5, for instance – to better the sound quality it offers.
Read the full Cambridge Audio CXC review
The best premium CD transport
The Cyrus CD t is one of the best CD transports you can get, regardless of price. It's a CD transport, rather than a CD player, meaning it will simply read the data on the disc. You'll need a standalone DAC to handle all the digital-to-analogue conversion.
Cyrus's Servo Evolution disc-reading software, plucked from its £1750 CD xt Signature, combined with enhanced internal circuitry, creates a performance that's difficult to criticise. Sound is nuanced and subtly dynamic while offering deep bass with varied textures and precision throughout.
The die-cast aluminium chassis design is solid and the backlit remote offers a great way to enjoy everything from a comfy chair. Connectivity is best described as 'minimal', with two digital outputs – optical and coaxial – and the standard MC-BUS control connections.
Provided you own, or are willing to invest in, a good DAC, the CD t is an exceptionally talented transport for the money. Clarity and insight are unrivalled at this price.
Read the full Cyrus CD t review
Also consider
Cambridge Audio AXC35: Like the Cambridge CXC aesthetic, but want a DAC built-in and a more budget price tag? The AXC35 is a no-frills CD player with one pair of RCA line outputs and one coax output for £349. It sounds clear, detailed and dynamic, with a pleasing musical cohesion. It's not quite as gripping, subtle or dynamically fluid as the Award-winning Marantz CD6007, but it is capable and is always on a good deal during the sales.
Roksan K3 CD Di: With its price slashed to under £900 since launch, this Roksan player will win you over with its confident, musical performance. Instruments are rich and organised in a spacious soundstage, while voices are beautifully expressive and effortless. It has ample connections and a solid build quality that could last decades.
TEAC VRDS-701: Brilliantly engineered, with an obsessively designed VRDS transport mechanism that results in a stunningly capable and authoritative sound. This £2500 TEAC player needs an appropriately capable and premium partnering system, and it delivers a beautifully detailed, composed and controlled presentation that's as musical as it is informative.
Audiolab Omnia: Another all-in-one system akin to the Technics SA-C600, the well-specced Omnia combines hi-res streaming, amplification and a CD player into one neat box – just add speakers. It delivers a clear, detailed, expansive sound that's easy-going and missing a little bit of rhythmic energy, but the price has been slashed in half to £799 since we tested it, making it a terrific deal.
How to choose the best CD player for you
What should you consider before purchasing a CD player? It's worth taking into account factors like DAC functionality, ease of use, controls and of course audio performance when making your choice.
More premium players will have better DAC chips and internal components, fewer errors and also support different optical disc formats (SACD alongside standard CD, CD-R, CD-RW, for instance). Some CD players even pack in wireless and streaming tech to turn your CD player into an all-in-one media system, and include a USB port so you can play 24-bit high-resolution files. It's up to you whether you want the extra features (which can be more expensive) or stick with a solid disc spinner that will do the job well.
The other thing to consider is if you need an integrated CD player (one with a DAC built-in) or a CD transport (no DAC inside). Transports such as the Cambridge Audio CXC will need to use either a standalone DAC or the one in your stereo amplifier to handle the digital-to-analogue conversion before the sound reaches your speakers. The upshot of a CD transport? It puts all its concentration and skills on reading the CD disc. The downside is you'll need to make sure you buy or already have an appropriately skilled DAC to connect it to.
Alternatively, you can simply pick the player that's most closely aligned with your budget, system and preferred functionality. Do you prefer slot-loading or a disc tray? Does it have a display that can be read easily at a distance? Do you need Bluetooth, or do you have a large collection of SACDs that needs some love? Remember to set your budget according to the demands of the rest of your system.
How we test CD players
We have acoustically-treated testing facilities in London and Reading, where our team of experienced, in-house reviewers test the majority of hi-fi and AV kit that passes through our door – including CD players.
We have over 100 years of combined experience in reviewing, and we are always impartial in our testing and ensure we listen to every CD player at its optimum. We place the player on a sturdy and level surface, connect it to the price-appropriate amplifier and speakers, and ensure we give it ample running in time. We also try each player with different partnering amplifiers and speakers, and play plenty of CDs (and SACDs, where compatible) in various genres during our testing period.
What Hi-Fi? is all about comparative testing, so we listen to every CD player we review against the current leader in its category and price band, to gauge how it compares to the best-in-class competition. We keep long-standing What Hi-Fi? Award winners in our stockroom (such as the Cyrus and Marantz CD players) so we can always compare new products against ones we know and love at their relative price point.
All tests and review verdicts are agreed upon by the team as a whole rather than an individual reviewer. This eliminates any personal preference and makes sure we're being as thorough and consistent as possible. There's no input from PR companies, brands or our sales team when it comes to the verdict, and What Hi-Fi? is proud of having delivered honest, unbiased reviews for over four decades.
You can read more about how we test and review products on What Hi-Fi? here.
FAQ
Are older CD players better than new ones?
This depends on the build quality and reputation of that original CD player. An older CD player that was built and engineered carefully will likely perform better than any cheaply-made player, although there is more chance of something not working if the player hasn't been used regularly or in a very long while. Any old player would benefit from servicing, while newer models tend to be in tip-top working order, and come with newer, more technically capable DACs.
While the CD technology hasn't changed drastically over the decades, some manufacturers use their own proprietary technology and mechanisms that are designed to read the CD disc more accurately (and therefore result in better sound overall). More premium or high-end players that are built to this high standard can last longer than cheaply made options (both old and new), where you might find issues with the disc-loading mechanism or errors in the laser that reads the disc or the laser mechanism simply stops working.
Are CD players being phased out?
The advent of streaming and digital music files has meant that CD's popularity has nose-dived in the last couple of decades, and that decrease of demand has meant that fewer CD players are being manufactured compared to its hey-day in the '80s and '90s. We imagine plenty of you went ahead and ripped your CDs into WAV or FLAC files to create a more efficient, space-saving system; but there are still plenty of us that held on to our physical CD collection, and musicians today are still bringing out CDs of new albums (alongside vinyl records).
While CD player production isn't as widespread as before, many hi-fi companies (such as Marantz, Cambridge Audio, Arcam, Naim, TEAC and more) are still manufacturing CD players to cater to audiophiles and music fans to whom CDs (and even SACDs) are still one of their main ways of listening to music.
Recent updates
October 2024: The new What Hi-Fi? Awards 2024 winners are labelled following this year's announcement; updated Marantz CD6007 copy to reflect new DAC; Audiolab Omnia is included in Also Consider.
August 2024: No new entries, but have checked all products are still ongoing.
April 2024: Updates to our advice and testing processes, and added FAQ section.
November 2023: Award-winning products labelled following the announcement of the 2023 What Hi-Fi? Awards Best Buys.
October 2023: Added Arcam CD5 entry following five-star review.
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