10 CD players (& transports) for your consideration in 2026

Forget music streaming for a moment. While the hi-fi press was obsessing over touchscreens, Spotify Lossless and Qobuz Connect in 2025, something rather unexpected happened: CD players staged a comeback.

Today, we’re looking at ten newcomers: a mix of CD transports (digital output only, requiring an external DAC) and CD players (with built-in DACs and analogue outputs) that started shipping in the last 14 months. I’ve reviewed two already (the Moondrop and the Rotel), and I’ve got three more in the works (the Marantz, the Dunu and the Pro-Ject). I wish I had time to review them all! Self-evidently, this list is not exhaustive, but it has been built in order of ascending price.

Let us begin…

• Type: Portable CD player (with R2R DAC)
• Loading mechanism: Top-loader
• Digital outputs: 3.5mm combo (TOSLINK/coaxial), Bluetooth
• Digital inputs: USB-C
• DAC: R2R ladder DAC
• Screen: 1″ LCD display
• Tube output stage: No
• Portable: Yes, 8 hours battery life
• Weight: 471.5g
• Special features: Desktop mode, balanced and single-ended headphone outputs, CD ripping to USB drive
• SACD playback: No
• Made in: China
• Price: €269

At €269, the FiiO DM15 R2R packs an R2R ladder DAC into a 471.5g chassis. The modest 1″ LCD display keeps things simple while the battery delivers a solid 8 hours of playback time. Digital outputs are cleverly consolidated into a single 3.5mm combo socket that handles both mini-TOSLINK and coaxial connections, plus there’s Bluetooth transmission for wireless headphones. The USB-C input means external sources can tap into the R2R DAC, and the USB-C output handles real-time ripping to directly connected storage devices. Desktop mode provides extra headphone output power when you’re plugged into mains, and gain-adjustable balanced and single-ended headphone outputs ensure compatibility with whatever cans you prefer.

• Type: Portable CD player (with delta-sigma DAC)
• Loading mechanism: Top-loader
• Digital outputs: 3.5mm combo (TOSLINK/analogue)
• Digital inputs: USB-C
• DAC: Dual Cirrus Logic CS43131
• Screen: 1.2″ OLED display
• Tube output stage: No
• Portable: Yes, 8 hours battery life
• Weight: 500g
• Special features: Retro-futuristic design, balanced and single-ended headphone outputs
• SACD playback: No
• Made in: China
• Price: €349

The €349 Moondrop DiscDream 2 Ultra brings delta-sigma DAC technology to portable CD playback, employing dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 chips in its 500g retro-futuristic chassis. That 1.2″ OLED display adds a modern touch to the vintage-inspired design. The 3.5mm combo socket pulls double duty, handling mini-TOSLINK and analogue line-out. Headphone hookups are catered for with separate 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced sockets. USB-C input cleverly enables the unit to moonlight as a DAC for your streaming devices, making the most of those Cirrus Logic chips. Battery life is rated by Moondrop at 8 hours, but there’s no CD ripping, Bluetooth transmission or desktop mode – this is more of a purist’s portable CD player that sounds just as good connected to a static hifi system as a pair of headphones.

• Type: CD transport
• Loading mechanism: Top-loader with magnetic puck
• Digital outputs: Dual AES/EBU, coaxial, TOSLINK, I2S (HDMI), USB (16/44.1 only)
• Digital inputs: Bluetooth (LDAC, aptX HD, aptX)
• DAC: N/A (transport only)
• Screen: 4.8″ colour display
• Tube output stage: N/A (transport only)
• Portable: No (mains powered)
• Weight: Approximately 5kg
• Special features: Optional upsampling to PCM 768kHz or DSD512 (I2S), word clock input
• SACD playback: No
• Made in: China
• Price: US$899

At US$899, the Shanling CT90 arrives as the ET3’s successor – a mains-powered CD transport with serious upsampling capabilities. The approximately 5kg unit features a top-loader with magnetic puck and a tilting lid design, while the 4.8″ colour display provides visual feedback. Under the hood, it runs a Philips DA11 mechanism paired with a Sanyo SAA7824 servo.

Where things get interesting is the connectivity. Digital outputs include dual AES/EBU (remarkably unusual at this price point), plus the expected coaxial and TOSLINK, and I2S via HDMI with 10 different pin configurations for maximum compatibility. The optional upsampling engine can push signals all the way to PCM 768kHz or DSD512 over I2S, although coaxial and TOSLINK max out at PCM 192kHz or DSD64 via DoP and the USB output stays basic at 16-bit/44.1kHz only. Word clock input enables synchronisation with external master clocks. Bluetooth (with LDAC, aptX HD and aptX) is the only streaming function here (the ET3’s AirPlay has gone bye-bye), while the USB-A socket allows playback from flash drives via Shanling’s less-than-agreeable Eddict app.

• Type: CD transport
• Loading mechanism: Slide-out drawer
• Digital outputs: TOSLINK, coaxial
• Digital inputs: None
• DAC: N/A (transport only)
• Screen: Simple LED display
• Tube output stage: N/A (transport only)
• Portable: No (mains powered)
• Weight: 5.37kg
• Special features: Vintage-styled to match Quad 3 integrated amplifier (with internal DAC)
• SACD playback: No
• Made in: China
• Price: £599

The Quad 3CDT at £599 takes a deliberately minimalist approach, designed specifically to partner with the (but vintage-styled) Quad 3 integrated amplifier and its internal DAC (or any other DAC). This 5.37kg transport keeps things refreshingly simple with a traditional slide-out drawer mechanism and an uncomplicated LED display. TOSLINK and coaxial outputs handle the digital duties – that’s it.

• Type: Transportable CD player (with R2R DAC)
• Loading mechanism: Top-loader
• Digital outputs: TOSLINK
• Digital inputs: USB-C
• DAC: R2R ladder DAC
• Screen: Small display window
• Tube output stage: No
• Portable: Yes, 6-8 hours battery life
• Weight: 1.165kg
• Special features: Built like a tank, retro-futuristic design, balanced 4.4mm output, switchable Class A or Class A/B operation, balanced and single-ended headphone outputs
• SACD playback: No
• Made in: China
• Price: €749

At €749, the Dunu Concept R makes no compromises on build quality – this 1.165kg portable is genuinely built like a tank, and comes complete with R2R ladder DAC technology. Not only. This retro-futuristic design houses a headphone amplifier with switchable Class A or Class A/B operational modes, letting you choose between sonic purity or extended battery life (6-8 hours depending on mode). The top-loader includes a small but functional display window. Digital outputs are limited to TOSLINK, but the USB-C input allows network streamers to leverage the internal R2R DAC. Analogue output options are more comprehensive: a balanced line-level 4.4mm output sits on the back panel, with 4.4mm balanced and single-ended headphone sockets on the front.

• Type: CD transport
• Loading mechanism: Slide-out drawer
• Digital outputs: TOSLINK, coaxial
• Digital inputs: None
• DAC: N/A (transport only)
• Screen: FL (fluorescent) display
• Tube output stage: N/A (transport only)
• Portable: No (mains powered)
• Weight: 4.0kg
• Special features: “Semi-Floating Drive Mount”, TEAC-HCLD laser pickup, BNC word clock sync
• SACD playback: No
• Made in: China (with engineering in Japan)
• Price: €1299

The TEAC PD-507T at €1299 brings Japanese engineering precision to CD transport design, even if final assembly happens in China. Weighing in at 4.0kg, it employs TEAC’s intriguing “Semi-Floating Drive Mount” for mechanical isolation, paired with their proprietary HCLD (High-precision Coupling Laser Detector) pickup system – the kind of technical attention that TEAC built its reputation on. The slide-out drawer mechanism is complemented by a fluorescent display on the front panel. TOSLINK and coaxial outputs handle standard digital duties, but the BNC word clock input reveals this transport’s serious intentions, enabling synchronisation with compatible DACs for those pursuing ultimate time-domain accuracy.

• Type: ‘CD transport’ / CD player (with delta-sigma DAC and tubes)
• Loading mechanism: Top-loader with magnetic puck
• Digital outputs: TOSLINK, coaxial
• Digital inputs: None
• DAC: Texas Instruments PCM1796
• Screen: 3.5″ LCD display
• Tube output stage: Yes (non-defeatable)
• Portable: No (mains powered)
• Weight: 3.2kg (unit only, excludes external power supply)
• Special features: SUOS DM-3381 Red Book drive, aluminium chassis, balanced XLR analogue outputs
• SACD playback: No
• Made in: Slovakia
• Price: €1900

Pro-Ject’s CD Box RS2 Tube at €1900 represents an evolution in the company’s thinking – where its predecessor was transport-only, this model adds an internal Texas Instruments PCM1796 DAC with dual triode tubes in the output stage – both balanced XLRs and single-ended RCAs are on tap. The top-loading mechanism with magnetic puck is underpinned by a SUOS DM-3381 Red Book drive, while the 3.2kg unit (plus external power supply) keeps vibrations at bay with its aluminium chassis. A 3.5″ LCD display provides clear feedback on what’s playing. TOSLINK and coaxial outputs are for those who choose to see this latest iteration as a CD transport.

• Type: CD/SACD player (with R2R DAC and tubes)
• Loading mechanism: Top-loader with magnetic puck
• Digital outputs: TOSLINK, coaxial, AES/EBU, I2S (HDMI)
• Digital inputs: USB-B, coaxial
• DAC: R2R ladder DAC
• Screen: 4.3″ colour touchscreen
• Tube output stage: Yes (defeatable)
• Portable: No (mains powered)
• Weight: 10kg
• Special features: Defeatable tube buffer stage, balanced XLR analogue outputs
• SACD playback: Yes
• Made in: China
• Price: US$3899

At almost four grand, the Shanling SCD3.3 refuses to pick just one audiophile flavour – it combines SACD playback with both R2R ladder DAC architecture and a defeatable tube buffer, letting you season the sound to taste. Your choice of balanced XLR or single-ended RCA analogue outputs.

This substantial 10kg player features a top-loader with magnetic puck and a modern 4.3″ colour touchscreen that wouldn’t look out of place on a network streamer. Digital outputs are comprehensive: TOSLINK, coaxial, AES/EBU and I2S are all present and correct. The USB-B and coaxial inputs mean external streamers can take advantage of that R2R DAC, with or without the tube circuits engaged – your choice.

• Type: CD player (with delta-sigma DAC)
• Loading mechanism: Top-loader with heavy puck
• Digital outputs: Coaxial, TOSLINK
• Digital inputs: USB-B, coaxial, TOSLINK
• DAC: ESS Labs ES9028PRO
• Screen: 5.25″ colour screen
• Tube output stage: No
• Portable: No (mains powered)
• Weight: 23.5kg
• Special features: Internet connectivity for cover art and metadata retrieval, balanced XLR analogue outputs
• SACD playback: No
• Made in: China
• Price: €5999

The Rotel Michi Q5 at €5999 brings CD playback into the streaming age with a clever party trick – internet connectivity that retrieves and displays cover art and metadata on its 5.25″ colour screen. This hefty 23.5kg player makes browsing your CD collection feel almost as visual as streaming. The heavy puck that keeps the CD in place ensures smooth, stable disc reading. Balanced XLR and single-ended RCA analogue outputs hand off analogue signals downstream while coaxial and TOSLINK outputs cater to those using external DACs. USB-B, coaxial and TOSLINK inputs let the ESS Labs ES9028PRO DAC talk to third-party network streamers.

• Type: CD/SACD player (with MMM DAC)
• Loading mechanism: Slide-out drawer
• Digital outputs: TOSLINK, coaxial
• Digital inputs: USB-B, TOSLINK, coaxial
• DAC: Marantz Musical Mastering (MMM) conversion technology
• Screen: Rectangular low-noise OLED display
• Tube output stage: No
• Portable: No (mains powered)
• Weight: 33.0kg
• Special features: User-selectable filter, dither and noise shaper options, quarter-inch headphone output, copper-plated internal chassis, balanced XLR analogue outputs
• SACD playback: Yes
• Made in: Japan
• Price: €11,999

The Marantz SACD 10 at €11,999 is a statement piece in every sense: 33.0kg of Japanese-built precision that takes optical disc playback extremely seriously. CD and SACD capability comes paired with Marantz’s proprietary Musical Mastering (MMM) conversion technology that upsamples everything to DSD before decoding, while user-selectable filter, dither and noise shaper options let us fine-tune the sound signature to match our system or mood. The expected balanced XLR and single-ended RCA connections live around back. This player’s super-smooth slide-out drawer mechanism exudes quality and is paired with a low-noise OLED display that keeps things elegantly simple. The copper-plated compartmentalised internal chassis shows Marantz hasn’t forgotten about EMI and isolation. USB-B, TOSLINK and coaxial inputs transform the MMM-enhanced DAC into a streaming companion, while TOSLINK and coaxial outputs keep the transport crowd happy. The quarter-inch headphone output isn’t as common as you’d expect at this level.

Additional thoughts

Modern CD players have diversified their approaches significantly:

One notable trend is the adoption of R2R ladder DACs – three models here use this technology: the FiiO, the Dunu and the bigger Shanling SCD3.3.

Perhaps hi-fi manufacturers have reached a point where it’s more cost-effective to design an R2R ladder in-house than implement third-party DAC chips?

Some manufacturers – Pro-Ject and Shanling – use tubes for additional sonic flavouring.

Others have made CDs properly portable with serious headphone amplification and usable battery life: the FiiO, the Moondrop and the Dunu.

It’s also worth noting the rise in popularity of the CD transport, to which we must add our own DAC. Four on this list of ten are CD transports: the Quad, the smaller Shanling, the TEAC and the Pro-Ject (which retains transport status because of its predecessor).

However, the standout trend for 2025 is that many CD players now include digital inputs, allowing them to serve as DACs for our streaming devices. In this list, that’s the bigger Shanling, the Rotel, the Marantz, the Dunu, the FiiO and the Moondrop.

Lastly, anyone with an allergy to products made in China must stick to the Pro-Ject or the Marantz.

These ten machines demonstrate varied approaches to CD playback through tubes, R2R conversion, portability or hybrid functionality, proving that CD playback hardware continues to evolve rather than simply survive.