How to Listen to CDs (Updated for 2026)
Note from 2026:
Since we originally wrote this in 2022, CDs have not experienced another year of '21% growth' (RIAA - US 2021 data). Despite this, we are finding a number of our existing (and many new) clients looking to rediscover their CD collection in many different forms - from new and compact home audio systems, the addition of a CD player or transport to an existing system, to completely digitising their collection.
We thought to update this post, adding recent newcomers to many that remain from our original list. A small testament to the longevity of quality hi-fi where planned obsolescence doesn't have to be the norm.
CD sales have been on the decline since early 2000 with the uptake of digital music. In its 2021 year end report, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) observed an unexpected 21% increase in CD revenue (vinyl increased by 69%). This was the first time both physical mediums have increased since 1996, and CDs’ first growth since 2004.
One of the main benefits of CDs is the physical ownership of the music. This removes your dependency on music streaming services for the music quality the service sends and the limited payout to artists. A capable CD player will bring a 'musical' experience that extracts the signal directly from the CD and gives you control over supporting artists you enjoy.
CDs can also bring you closer to the tactile experience of playing a vinyl record. With similar intentionality of actions to place the disc in the player (placing the vinyl record on the turntable), the physical play button (lowering the turntable's tonearm), and listening to the album in its entirety. Some manufacturers have gone a step further with top-loading CD players, like Rega and Exposure. Our personal favourite from the archives is Naim Audio's flagship CD555 (pictured below with Exposure and Rega)
We always recommend listening to the equipment before your final decision as your ears are always the best judge of whether a component is right for you.
Naim Uniti Core
Naim Audio - ND5 XS 2 (left); Uniti Core (right)
Uniti Core is an exceptional music management system that offers the ultimate music listening experience. With its advanced features, you can make high-quality copies of your favourite CDs and stream them seamlessly along with your digital music collection to any music player within your home. Whether you are an audiophile or a casual listener, Uniti Core ensures that you enjoy your music in the best possible quality. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to rip, catalogue, and organize your music collection, providing you with a hassle-free music management experience.
From Naim Audio / Uniti
Digitising your music collection blends the benefits of physical media with the convenience of music streaming.
The Uniti Core allows you to rip (copy) CDs into a hard drive or SSD in a lossless audio format - WAV or FLAC. One TB storage can hold over 3,000 CDs. For seamless access to your music, consider pairing with a Naim streamer or Uniti Range - the ideal system for enjoying your entire CD collection, music streaming and internet radio without standing up.
Alternatively, you can utilise the Core's digital output for direct connection or any other device that supports UPnP.
Advance Paris MyConnect 60
The MyConnect 60 is an audiophile all-in-one, featuring a 2x60W amplifier rated at 6 ohms, a wifi and ethernet network player, an FM tuner, a DAB+ tuner, a CD player, a USB player and a Bluetooth receiver.
From Advance Paris
All-in-one players continue to be a staple in music lovers’ homes with a 'just add speakers' approach to start enjoying their music.
For the first step into quality hi-fi (or to modernise an existing hi-fi system), the MyConnect 60 from Advance Paris comes feature packed to enjoy your CDs, vinyl (built-in moving magnet phonostage), FM tuner, DAB+ tuner, Internet Radio), Bluetooth, and music streaming. There are tech specs that set this apart from alternatives, including Class AB amplification (to judge, we always recommend auditioning the product over simply comparing specs).
Audiolab Omnia
Audiolab - Omnia
Blurring the lines that generally differentiate hi-fi and lifestyle, Omnia brings all of the pedigree that helps make Audiolab electronics the connoisseur's choice. Yet, indulgence in design, material aesthetics, and usability mean it has all of the functionality to make it a sleek, convenient and easy-to-use centrepiece, for an uncompromising home audio system.
From Audiolab
Audiolab's all-in-one, 'Omnia' is affordably priced with capabilities akin to their acclaimed 6000 series with a comprehensive feature set, including MM phono and streaming. For CDs, the Omnia uses its 6000CDT CD transport that can reduce disc-reading failures from scratched and damaged CDs.
Physical Memorabilia with CDs
While some turn to SACDs and CD formats said to provide a better signal, therefore a better listening experience, many 'traditional' CDs have additional collectables beyond only a CD in a jewelback case. We mentioned this in our post about Korea's vinyl stores - from posters stickers, keychains to even going as far as a portable CD player.
Do these inclusions enhance the emotional connection with the artist, thus a greater musical enjoyment and bring you closer to how the artist originally intended? Perhaps for some.
Exposure XM CD Player
Exposure - XM CD Player (Silver)
The XM Series of components may be small in size but they’re big on features and performance. With unmatched levels of sound quality and clarity, the XM Series conveys the art of music replay with outstanding realism.
Features:
PCM 1716 24 bit DAC fitted to provide very high resolution
Optimised as a transport using a top loading mechanism
CD display can be turned off using the remote for improved sound quality
Highly optimised audio output circuitry with multiple stages of supply regulation
Large toroidal power transformer with separate windings for CD transport mechanism and audio stages
Employment of a high-stability crystal clock reference and dedicated, power supply regulator for the transport and audio stages to ensure low jitter performance
High quality double-sided PCBs for optimum layout and screening
All aluminium casework and extruded front panel to control resonance and stray electro-magnetic fields
From Exposure
Exposure has been in the hi-fi industry since 1974. All products are manufactured in Britain and designed with the goal ‘to deliver music as accurately as possible’. The XM CD Player is the only top-loading product on this list. It uses a large toroidal power transformer exceptional at musical sound reproduction.
Listen to your music on these products - arrange an audition and bring your CDs.
Advance Paris ACD Apex
The CD player remains a reference audio source. Rediscover your collection with this CD player with analog tube output, designed for warm, detailed reproduction.
The sound magic of audio tubes
The ACD APEX is a CD player equipped with mini audio tubes, designed to reveal all the warmth and musicality of your CDs.
Every listening experience gains in harmonic richness and sonic emotion.
Numerous connectors
The ACD APEX is a highly versatile CD player, with numerous analog and digital outputs for optimum compatibility with any amplifier.
It combines technical performance and musicality to make the most of your CD collection.
Key Features:
Tube CD player
Numerous digital and analog outputs
From Advance Paris
The only CD player on this list with an analog tube output. The 'mini audio tubes' are designed to reveal all of the warmth and musicality of your CDs. Recently released, we had the Advance Paris ACD Apex on pre-order for one of our demo rooms.
Audiolab 6000CDT
From Audiolab
A CD transport can be an ideal pairing if using the digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) on your amplifier or other hi-fi component (for example, streamer). The 6000CDT will send the digital signal from the CDs directly to your component's DAC via optical or coaxial.
In practice, this is similar to other CD players that have both analogue and digital outputs. Using a digital output bypasses the built-in DAC to send the signal to be converted elsewhere. The flexibility for analogue and digital outputs is useful, however, consider a CD transport when you have no need for analogue outputs.
Uniti Star
Naim Audio - Uniti Star
The award-winning Uniti Star is a highly versatile entertainment system, offering a wide range of features. With the ability to play music from CDs, music-streaming services, and radio stations, as well as improve the sound of your TV, the Uniti Star has something for everyone. Its durable design ensures that it will last for years to come, providing you with endless entertainment.
From Naim Audio / Uniti
We think there are only a few all-in-one players or compact hi-fi systems that come close to the sound Naim's Uniti range will bring into your home, even fewer that bring the deep history that Naim has in quality hi-fi. The Uniti Star comes capable of streaming (both music and internet radio), CD playback, and even ripping (digitising) your CD collection with Naim's custom software.
Conclusion
CD remains an accessible physical format for music and we don't see this changing anytime soon.
We’ve listed only a few possible options for enjoying your CD collection and as mentioned multiple times, the best way to judge if the CD player is right for you and your hi-fi system is to audition for yourself. To help with this, we have a number of these CD players and all-in-ones set up in our demo rooms, contact us to arrange your own listening session.
Interested in another physical format, vinyl? We wrote a similar list of our favourite turntables here.