While online streaming is no doubt convenient and affordable compared with physical media, many of us still prefer owning a physical object like CDs for our music collection. CDs are reliable, they're easy to store, they're much cheaper than vinyl records, and once you buy an album, it's yours to keep forever. CDs also come with the all-important booklet with lyrics and liner notes that offer a more tangible connection to your music than streaming.
CDs are also enjoying a resurgence for the first time in nearly 20 years. According to data from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), CD sales rose by 11 per cent to $537 million in 2023. Naturally, you'll want a good quality CD player if you want to enjoy your CDs (new and old) to the fullest degree, so we're here to help. What Hi-Fi? has been reviewing CD players and CD transports ever since 1983, and there are plenty of great options across the price spectrum today that we can recommend.
Every CD player on this list has been thoroughly tested by our in-house reviewing team in our dedicated listening rooms, so you can trust our advice and recommendations. You can read more about how we test CD players or scroll down to check out the top recommended players across all budgets.
The quick list
A tremendously entertaining and capable player that will give your CD collection a whole new lease of life.
A slimline, no-frills CD player that’s more than listenable at this budget price.
The latest in a long line of excellent Marantz CD players, the CD6007 might look familiar but it still sounds superb.
One of the best digital source components around, the Marantz SA-10 is built like a tank and the way it sounds will blow you away.
Much more than just a CD player, this brilliant just-add-speakers system can also stream from a variety of sources.
If you already own a decent DAC, the Cambridge Audio CXC is a well-built CD transport that sounds absolutely brilliant.
Recent updates
24th October 2024: The new What Hi-Fi? Awards 2024 winners are labelled, we've updated the Marantz CD6007 copy to reflect a DAC change, 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, including CD players. It may not be as popular or an abundant category, but many hi-fi brands are still manufacturing CD players with regularity for audiophiles and those of us who never managed to let go of our CD (and SACD) collections. When testing CD players, it is important to assess the build quality and the disc loading mechanism to ensure they're sturdy, and check it has the connectivity you require in your system. Of course, we also test how good the sound quality is for the money. I've listened to and tested the players on this list and every recommendation fits this brief – so you can be assured you're getting the best advice.
The best CD player overall
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, Award-winning Cyrus CDi. 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 budget CD player
The AX Series is Cambridge Audio’s most affordable range of separates, and while the AXC35 makes a couple of compromises to keep the price down, there are still plenty of reasons to recommend it.
For starters there’s the classy, understated design. The front panel is uncluttered, with just six buttons and a simple LED display under the disc drive, while the slimline build of the chassis gives it a contemporary feel and makes it look much more expensive than it is. The minimalist vibe carries through to the remote, which is perfectly functional but feels like an exercise in corner-cutting. Connections are also limited to just line outputs and a coax digital output – there’s no USB or optical here.
What it lacks in features, though, it makes up for with its very listenable performance that isn’t afraid to go big. The ACX35 is dynamically adept across the frequencies, keeping its cool with faster time signatures and delivering a sparkling, percussive rhythm through the treble. Instruments are easily distinguishable alongside textured voices in the mid-range.
At this price, it’s a perfectly capable player, but if you’re really counting the pennies the NAD C 538 is an even cheaper alternative.
Read the full Cambridge Audio AXC35 review
The best mid-range CD player
The Marantz CD6000 series has been a winning option for many years, in various versions, and while the CD6007 is business as usual on the outside (with typically excellent build quality, we're happy to report), it's on the inside where Marantz has made big improvements.
For starters, the CD6007 has a quieter power supply and improved HDAM amplifier modules. These are helped by a sprinkling of higher quality internal components, not least of which is the change of DAC chip. That chip allows the CD6007 to process high-resolution files through USB-A on the 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 CD6006 needn't rush to change their player, but the CD6007 is most definitely an excellent choice for first-time buyers at this end of the market.
Read the full Marantz CD6007 review
The best premium CD player
When Marantz launches a new premium CD spinner it tends to be worth paying attention – and six years after it was originally reviewed, this premium SA-10 still performs just as brilliantly as when it was first released.
Weighing in at 18kg, it’s pretty clear it means business before you even open the box, and that feeling of authority continues with the impressive casework. It’s immensely rigid, well damped and superbly finished, with buttons that are satisfying to press and a disc drawer that glides in and out with grace. Even the remote feels luxurious.
The sound is also suitably refined, with a wonderfully clean presentation, smooth tonality, and a stunning amount of detail that’s organized with care and composure. There’s plenty in the way of scale and authority, but it never sounds cluttered or stressed, and stereo imaging is also impressive.
Those who like to tweak will welcome the ability to adjust the amount of dither added to the signal during digital-to-analogue conversion, alter the type of noise shaping applied, and change the digital filter used, plus there are a wealth of connectivity options around the back, including balanced XLRs and USB.
It all adds up to yet another Marantz CD player that will meet the expectations of even the most demanding connoisseurs.
Read the full Marantz SA-10 review
The best CD streaming system
The Technics SA-C600 is an elegant all-in-one system with built-in amplifier, 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 CD as well as high-res files across our network.
It’s an expressive and punchy performer that builds its performance around a solid framework of surefooted rhythmic drive and expressive dynamics. Details 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 the audio basket. But if versatility is required and you want to stream your music services over wi-fi as well as spin records - and why not - then this Technics is worth your attention.
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 – leap up towards the Arcam CD5, for instance – to better the sound quality it offers.
Read the full Cambridge Audio CXC review
Also consider
Cyrus CDi: This long-running CD player has won a What Hi-Fi? Best Buy Award for ten years in a row – such is its talent that no other player has come close to toppling it from its perch. Its looks are dated and the disc loading mechanism whirrs noisily, but this half-width chassis player times brilliantly. Songs are relayed with a high level of detail and clarity, with an agility and accuracy to notes and rhythm that are undeniably exciting and faithful. Engaging dynamics and a neutral balance further cement this Cyrus player's legacy and unerring ability to play CDs with utmost talent.
TEAC VRDS-701: This premium TEAC player needs a similarly capable and partnering system to match, but give it the care it needs and it will deliver a stunningly authoritative sound. It is terrifically detailed, composed and controlled, and sounds as musical as it is informative. It's brilliantly engineered, too, with TEAC's proprietary VRDS transport mechanism that allows the disc to be read more accurately, and a build quality that's sturdy and long-lasting.
Audiolab Omnia: Another all-in-one system akin to the Technics SA-C600, the well-specified 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, and a price cut makes 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 hub, 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.
Or 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
At What Hi-Fi? we review hundreds of products every year at our state-of-the-art testing facilities in London and Reading, and some of those, inevitably, are CD players. We have complete control over our testing environment, and we test as a team of audio experts with a combined wealth of over a century of experience.
We are always impartial in our testing and ensure we hear every CD player at its optimum – connected to the appropriate kit and placed on a sturdy and level surface. We'll use them in their best use case with different partnering amplifiers and speakers, as well as play plenty of discs in different genres of music through them. Naturally, we also evaluate all the different features a player might support, and how easy it is to use.
It's important to us that we judge all products, including CD players, on a strict bang-for-buck basis, making sure to emphasize value and tell our readers how good something is for the money. Accordingly, we compare all products we review against similarly-priced class leaders to help us settle on the most accurate rating.
All review verdicts are agreed upon by the in-house review team as a whole rather than an individual reviewer to eliminate any personal preference and to make sure we're being as thorough, fair and consistent as possible. As a rule, there's no input from sales teams or PR companies ever in our reviews, with What Hi-Fi? enjoying a sterling reputation of delivering honest, unbiased feedback for nearly five 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 updated and checked through all products' availability.
April 2024: Updated our buying advice and testing processes, and added a new FAQ section.
November 2023: The latest Award-winning products are labelled following the announcement of the 2023 What Hi-Fi? Awards Best Buys.
October 2023: Added Arcam CD5 entry following its five-star review.
MORE:
Everyone is buying vinyl, but it isn't (and shouldn't be) the end for CDs
Compact Disc’s star has faded, but I like it anyway
Want the best of both worlds? This is the perfect digital hi-fi system for music streaming and CDs