The CD's comeback in high-end audio is real: new players are reaching the market in numbers, with prices starting just under $90. Behind the revival, though, lies a problem about how long these devices will last. Some of the suppliers that make optical mechanisms, the part that physically reads the disc, have stopped production, and the manufacturers that relied on them are left without spare parts.
According to Headphonesty, of eight new CD player models, four are from Musical Fidelity, two from Marantz, one from Arcam and one from NAD. Musical Fidelity sources from SUOS-HiFi: three of its new models use SUOS disc mechanisms, while the fourth uses a SUOS servo but a tray-loading mechanism from an unnamed maker. Marantz develops its drives in-house, though it is unclear whether it also outsources production. The other two manufacturers have not disclosed who makes their optical drives.
Image: t3.com — https://www.t3.com/tech/audio/3-best-cd-players-expert-rated-for-all-budgets
The clearest cases involve PS Audio and Naim. PS Audio had to end production of the PMG Super Audio CD Transport because D&M, Marantz's parent company, stopped accepting external orders for its optical drives. The company bought all the remaining stock, but it was not enough to keep production going. Naim faced the same problem with the Uniti Star: its supplier stopped, and while the company was evaluating a replacement, that manufacturer also stopped making the components. Both companies keep some drives in inventory, but only for repairs and replacements.
The core issue is reliance on a single supplier for such a critical part. The reading mechanism is a niche product that very few companies know how to build, even as demand has grown. The safest option is to design it in-house, as Marantz does: if a supplier disappears, another can be found or the part built directly. Not everyone can afford that. PS Audio's CEO, Paul McGowan, has said that building its own optical reader is beyond the company's capabilities.
Image: amazon.co.uk — https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gueray-Bluetooth-Portable-Speakers-Headphone/dp/B0BQVVP3GP
How long a player lasts if it cannot be repaired
The practical point for buyers is this: a CD player has moving mechanical parts, and its life depends on being able to replace the mechanism when it fails. If that mechanism is no longer available, the player becomes unrepairable even when the rest of its electronics still work. The CD's return is good news for fans of physical media, but its durability depends on a supply chain that is narrowing.
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