The Need-to-Know

You don’t want to pick up a new player only to realise you can’t connect it to your speakers or that it needs batteries. So, before you buy, here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

Player Type

The most premium type is a component player that fits into a larger system and won’t come with built-in speakers. Alternatively, you may be after an all-in-one system with built-in speakers and extra connectivity options, a simple boombox that can run off mains power or batteries, or a battery-operated portable model.

We’ve included several convenient all-in-one systems in our list, but there's at least one model from each of these types in our roundup.

Outputs

You’ll want to take note of what outputs can connect to your player. All on this list have a jack for wired headphones, but some devices will also have analogue RCA outputs to connect to an amplifier or speakers. Some devices will have optical and coaxial outputs as well as the usual RCA, making them more versatile.

If you pick a player that is just a “transport” that means it only includes the CD mechanics and will need a separate DAC (digital/analogue converter) to produce sound. It’s also worth looking at whether the one you pick can play files from a USB drive or if it has wireless options like Bluetooth or wifi.

Are CDs Obselete?

Compact discs – invented a full 43 years ago – aren’t obsolete, but it’s fair to say that the “revivial” is more of a cultural than an economic resurgence. They fit into the zeitgeist, driven by Nineties nostalgia.

Even with the news that CD sales rose in 2021, it should be noted Adele’s latest album 30 alone is responsible for the increase with 898,000 units sold in the US, and you can’t call it a comeback if only one artist is the reason behind it.

Yes, we all know the vast majority of music consumption happens via streaming, but niche formats persist. CDs are far from gone if shoppers stateside bought 40.16 million of them in 2021, while UK disc lovers snapped up more than 14 million.

Why Do CDs Sound Better Than Streaming Music?

If you’re listening to all your music on streaming services, nine times out of ten it’s going to be a compressed digital file that has been made small enough to fling across the internet. Unless you’re on hi-res audio from Apple Music, Tidal or Amazon’s Music HD, your songs are packaged into more manageable files for easy streaming.

While they may be a bit less convenient than streaming, humble compact discs deliver uncompressed audio that can get louder without distortion and has more dynamic range and detail. We’d be the first to admit that you may not always notice the difference, though, especially if you’re not using high-quality speakers, a full-on home audio system, or a pair of the best wired headphones.

CDs vs Vinyl: Which is Better?

Here at Esquire, we value any physical media just that bit more than digital alternatives.

For all its convenience, you can never truly treasure that downloaded file stored somewhere in the cloud or think that your streaming subscription counts for as much as a proper music collection. With that said, there are a few differences between CDs and vinyl if you’re forced to pick between the two.

As the name suggests, CDs are more compact but they also lack a bit of the nostalgia factor and the analogue fullness of the vinyl sound. They’re less likely to pick up damage, don’t warp and won’t skip in the way that LPs can.

If you’re after perfect audio clarity without crackling or scratches, go with CDs. There’s also nothing wrong with owning both a CD and a record player. If you’ve got the space for both, why not?

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