TechRadar picks nine coolest CD players of 2026, from a $55,000 B&O masterpiece to a transparent Kickstarter
As physical media makes a comeback, TechRadar highlights nine standout CD players, including a limited-run Bang & Olufsen reissue at $55,000 and a Kickstarter transparent model.
The standout among the list is the Bang & Olufsen Beosound 9000, a limited-run reimagining of the company's classic 1996 CD player. TechRadar describes it as a labor of love, built using actual components sourced from original units found at house sales, warehouses, and auctions. The components were painstakingly disassembled, re-engineered, and given new life in an updated chassis. Each unit costs $55,000, a price TechRadar notes reflects the craftsmanship involved.
Other notable entries include a 2-in-1 CD player and turntable that TechRadar dubbed "the turducken of hi-fi," as well as a Yamaha 5-disc CD changer that evokes the early 2000s. The publication also features a Kickstarter campaign for a transparent CD player designed to display discs like pieces of art.
TechRadar emphasizes that older portable CD players from past decades may not deliver the quality listeners expect, and encourages readers to check the full list, vote for their favorite, and suggest any overlooked models.