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The compact disc player - 'CD' player for short - has been on sale to consumers for over twenty years. It's still the 'source' unit of choice for most hifi systems. While there was an expectation that multi-channel DVD-A and SACD source units would spell the doom of two channel CD players, to-date, this belief has not come to fruition. However, the future for compact discs still looks uncertain, in part, due to the popularity of digital online downloads, and new media formats like HD-DVD and Bluray. On the plus side, record shops are still predominantly stocking CDs, with efforts made to remaster previous CD prints. The price of CDs has become increasingly competitive, with recently released albums costing as little as £6.99, compared to around £12.99 in the 1990's. This site hopes to provide a guide to standalone compact disc units, which are designed to fit within a system of hifi separates. Therefore, it will not cover CD players integrated into car audio systems, integrated hifi systems, or home computers. Budget CD players can cost as little as £30, but £140 will
buy a decent quality unit. If you are willing to outlay some additional
funds, then you can buy a machine with a finely detailed sound. CD players
which cost over £300 tend to handle the midrange delivery with improved
realism and additional weight, and overall, produce a superior soundstage.
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CD Players
