The best CD players and CD changers should support a high signal-to-noise ratio for excellent sound quality, include a good DAC for digital-to-analog conversion, and they should have a strong, durable chassis that reduces vibration, as vibration is always the enemy of great sound quality. We’ve rounded up the best CD players and changers. Whether you’re looking for a standalone CD player or you need something more robust, we’ve got you covered. While its initial setup can take a while thanks to many devices updates, it’s worth the wait. Capable of emitting rich highs and deep, bass-y lows with that signature Bose sound without distortion, the Bose Wave SoundTouch Music System IV is a great CD player and in-home audio unit. The Wave SoundTouch IV supports CDs and MP3 files on CDs and CD-RW discs in addition to wireless streaming via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This is great for streaming connected apps, such as Pandora and Spotify, and it can play music directly from your smartphone or connected computer. For CD aficionados, there is one important pain point regarding the suite of included wireless features—CDs cannot be streamed to wireless speakers due to technical limitations as compared to wireless playback of other media, which can be streamed across connected wireless speakers from room-to-room. Because of this, we recommend taking care to position the Wave SoundTouch IV to be best for in-room CD listening. One other important note is that the Wave SoundTouch IV also has a supporting app: Bose SoundTouch. Unfortunately, difficulty with the app and maintaining connections to wireless speakers is common. Recent updates may have led to some performance improvements, however to get around this we’d recommend using the included remote control whenever possible. Wireless: Yes (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) | Supported Audio Formats: MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, Apple Lossless | Inputs/Outputs: AUX, FM antenna, headphone jack, USB, ethernet | Number of Supported Discs: 1 Its compact construction, available only in black with polished metal sides, brings a distinguished presence to wherever you decide to place it—be it alongside a full stereo system or a more discrete placement alongside bookshelf speakers. Thanks to its plug-and-play nature, you’re up and running quickly out of the box. Once set up, you’re able to take advantage of its quick-loading slot-in drive to smoothly and easily change discs. The TEAC PD 301 supports both MP3 and WMA content on CD, CD-R, and CD-RW discs. Not only can you play CDs using the PD 301, but it also includes a USB port for WAV, MP3, WMA, and AAC files. The PD 301 supports digital and analog outputs, and TEAC has focused hard on refining its supporting hardware to deliver an exceptional product by narrowing the signal-to-noise ratio down to an impressive 105 dB. This ensures you’ve got phenomenal sound quality right from the source for an exceptional hi-fi experience. Wireless: No | Supported Audio Formats: MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV | Inputs/Outputs: FM antenna, USB | Number of Supported Discs: 1 It’s no surprise, then, that the CD-200BT has a durable black metal case free of a showy digital interface. Instead, the model features large, plastic buttons and an easy-to-use remote control. It supports only a single CD slot, and mounting equipment stands out on either side so you can be certain it is extra secure in its placement. The CD-200BT comes with a litany of easy-to-use, built-in features. One favorite is the 10-second playback shock protection, which stores 10 seconds of song data to ensure an accidental bump won’t lead to an interruption in playback. Another is this CD player’s ability to connect up to eight Bluetooth-enabled devices at once while supporting smooth transitions between them, as-needed. Four playback modes are included: single, program, continuous, and shuffle. The CD-200BT’s signal-to-noise ratio is 90 dB, which is good but it doesn’t quite stand out in the crowd compared to the competition. If you’re looking for an exceptional and durable CD player that supports WAV or MP3 files, then you’ll find this is an excellent choice. Wireless: Yes (Bluetooth) | Supported Audio Formats: MP2, MP3, WAV | Inputs/Outputs: AUX, headphone jack | Number of Supported Discs: 1 Tracks are easy to set on the fly, or erase if you’d prefer to overwrite mistakes and recycle CD space in favor of a second take. The included AK4528VM is an older but high-performing chipset for AD/DA conversion in the recording system, which ensures high dynamic range without degradation or noise. Manually set tracks simply by pressing the record key. You can rely on your own time-based track division and pre-program your track recording times in advance. You can also decide to let the Automatic Track Creation feature take over, during which the RW900MKII listens for your sound levels to drop below a certain level and, when it does, tags the recording to indicate the start of a new track without breaking the ongoing recording session. It’s an easy-to-use, built-in gapless recording method that makes the RW900MKII a reliable, user-friendly CD player and recording machine. The RW9000MKII chassis is a durable metal case, and it’s on par with what we’d expect rack mount gear to use for long-lasting durability. It arrives with a remote control, so you’ll always have an easy way of accessing the recording unit whenever you need it. The RW9000MKII also supports a headphone output alongside a volume control. Four different playback modes are supported: continuous, single, shuffle, and program. Wireless: No | Supported Audio Formats: MP3 | Inputs/Outputs: Headphone jack | Number of Supported Discs: 1
What to Look for in CD Players and CD Changers
DACs
One of the most aspects of your CD player is its included DAC. Simply put, a DAC is a computer chip that transforms digital signals into physical sound—the more impressive the DAC, the more impressive a performance your player will offer.
Speakers
If you’re seeking a small player to stick in your kitchen, then you probably won’t want to deal with purchasing an additional receiver and pair of stereo speakers. Be sure to check whether your CD player includes speakers—and if it does, note how large they are.
Bluetooth
While the primary function of purchasing a CD player is to listen to your favorite physical music, you may want a device that also has the ability to play your favorite digital playlists. Devices with Bluetooth can easily connect to your smartphone, tablet, or computer to stream music and other entertainment.
