Portable CD Players Are Becoming Popular Again: Discover the Main Models on the Market!

The first portable CD player was released by Sony in 1984, the “Discman D-50.” Until the popularization of “MP3 players” (Digital Audio Players, or DAPs), which occurred with the launch of the iPod in the early 2000s, “Discmans,” as they are known in Brazil, were widely popular. Driven by the Chinese market, several portable audio companies began releasing CD players again in 2024. Below are the main models currently available.

The Main Portable CD Players Sold in 2026

Below is a list of the leading portable CD player models sold in 2026.

1 – Cayin CP6

Price: Not available at the moment.

Release date: Not announced.

The Cayin CP6 was showcased at the end of September 2025 during an event in Guangzhou, China. According to the manufacturer, its portable CD player will be launched soon. As some people were able to audition the CD player, a number of early impressions are already available.

According to Eddie, from the Facebook page “Eddie’s HiFi Audio World,” the sound of the Cayin CP6 follows a different approach from that of the Dunu Concept R, focusing on a highly resolving presentation that highlights musical details. Eddie stated:

“Its analytical power and dynamic performance stand out remarkably.”

According to the user Alpaca, on his profile on the Chinese social network Weibo, the tuning of Cayin’s CD player has already been finalized, and he describes the sound as “very pleasant,” characterizing it as “extremely smooth, full, and expansive, with good extension and body in both the bass and the treble.”

2 – Dunu Concept R

Price: US$ 749.99

Release date: September 2025

The Dunu Concept R was revealed in 2024, although it was not sold in that same year. In 2025, Dunu’s portable CD player was displayed at several events across Asia. It is now available for purchase on the manufacturer’s website.

At CanJam Singapore 2025, organized by the Head-Fi forum, Eddie tested the Dunu Concept R. He reports that the “design and operational logic are extremely intuitive” and states that “the lever-style volume control and the CD lid mechanism provide such a strong ritualistic feeling that almost everyone who tried it asked, ‘What brand is this device? Can I buy one?’”

In terms of sound quality, Eddie states:

“The Concept R adopts an R2R DAC and allows switching between Class A and Class AB modes. It delivers that typical analog feeling of R2R DACs, with full mids and smooth, natural harmonics, offering an engaging experience without the coldness or dryness commonly found in digital decoding, but rather with greater body and musicality.”

Eddie adds:

“I have always believed that when a piece of equipment makes someone forget about analysis and criticism and simply listen to an entire album in silence, that is proof of its success. For me, the Concept R is exactly that.”

3 – FiiO DM13

Price: US$ 152.53

Release date: October 2024

The FiiO DM13 was one of the first high-quality portable CD players to be released in China in the last two years. It is among the most affordable options on this list, with a highlight being a version that features a transparent lid, allowing the user to see the disc spinning during playback. There are also models with and without Bluetooth, enabling the use of wireless headphones.

A user from the Chinese social network Weibo had his review of the DM13 published on FiiO’s website. According to him, the treble is “slightly bright, with a touch of coloration, but with good density, texture, and extension, along with a certain smoothness and delicacy, making violins somewhat bright but pleasant.”

Regarding vocals, the review states that “the vocals are forward and smooth, with slight grain. Male voices have body, while female voices sound delicate and emotional, performing even better with female vocals.”

The review also mentions that the bass has “a moderate quantity, good texture and sub-bass, with elastic impact and a sense of ambience. Balanced, never excessive or thin.”

4 – FiiO DM15

Price: US$ 263,30

Release date: December 2025

The FiiO DM15 sits one level above the DM13 and was showcased in the second week of August 2025 at the SIAS (Shenzhen International Audio Show). According to James Chung, founder of the company, the FiiO DM15 is the world’s first CD player to support Bluetooth transmission using the aptX Lossless codec.

Its highlights include switches for bass boost, source selection, and output mode switching between pre-amp and optical. There are also buttons for playback control, power on/off, and equalization, in addition to a knob used for volume control and navigation.

5 – Moondrop DiscDream 2

Price: US$ 179.99

Release date: September 2024

The Moondrop DiscDream2 was released almost at the same time as the FiiO DM13 but is US$ 40 more expensive. However, its large front-mounted buttons make handling easier during music playback. In addition, it also features a transparent lid that allows the user to see the disc spinning.

Note that the headphone outputs of the DiscDream2 are located on the side rather than on the front of the player, as is commonly seen in other CD players.

6 – Moondrop DiscDream 2 Ultra

Price: US$ 349.99

Release date: September 2024

The DiscDream2 Ultra shares the same button layout and display style as the DiscDream2, but its chassis is entirely made of metal. In addition, its hardware offers superior performance compared to its smaller sibling, delivering higher output power and improved power supply quality.

7 – Shanling EC Zero AKM

Price: US$ 319

Release date: September 2025

The EC Zero AKM was released in September 2025 and is positioned in the mid-price segment, in the same range as the Moondrop DiscDream2 Ultra. It features the AKM AK4493S DAC and two SGM8262-2 op-amps, delivering up to 832 mW of output power at 32 ohms. In addition, it supports Bluetooth with the SBC, aptX, and aptX Adaptive codecs.

Like the FiiO DM13 and the Moondrop DiscDream2 (not the Ultra), the EC Zero AKM also has a transparent lid that allows viewing the CD while it is spinning.

8 – Shanling EC Zero T

Price: US$ 589

Release date: May 2025

The EC Zero T stands out for its use of an R2R DAC and tube amplification with JAN6418 vacuum tubes. In addition, if the user wishes, it is also possible to use transistor-based amplification, allowing switching between a tube amplifier and a solid-state (SS) amplifier.

The output power of the EC Zero T reaches up to 1,220 mW at 32 ohms. It is also noteworthy that volume control is performed via a physical sliding knob, giving the portable CD player a distinctive “retro” touch.