Best Portable CD Player You Can Buy Today

I’m sure you remember portable CD players if you were born in the ’80s and early ’90s. In fact, The first portable audio player released was the Discman D-50 by Sony in 1984. If you are young enough not to remember the CDs, ask your mom, dad, and uncles. They likely have a CD collection somewhere at home or your grandparents’ home. This article will show you the 7 best CD players to enjoy that old vintage music.

A modern portable CD player could be a great way to remember the good old days or a lovely gift to someone you know who has a great CD collection.

How different is a portable CD player in 2021 from the ’80s & ’90s?

The newer portable CD players are packed with features that will come in handy—some of those we wished to enjoy in the ’80s and ’90s.

• Built-in rechargeable batteries: No need to spend on AA batteries. Furthermore, you can use a power adapter, power bank, or any computer to charge it.
• Bluetooth: You can use your portable CD player with BT headphones, BT speakers, soundbars, some home theater, and even your car.

Some other features used to be included only in high-end portable CD players, like LCD with backlight, FM transmitter, anti-skip, and MP3/WAV support. Those features can be easily found in plenty of modern portable CD players.

How do we choose our runner-ups?

First of all, availability. There are hundreds of portable CD players, but many are unavailable now; others have been discontinued.

Secondly, price. We have set a maximum price of 50 dollars since you can get excellent features in that price range. Of course, you could spend more if you wish, but that product will land in diminishing return territory.

Finally, user reviews with four stars or more. When hundreds or even thousands of people review one product very positively.

One final note, please consider that the following list is from the cheapest (~30 USD) to the most expensive (~50 USD) portable CD player.

The runner ups

#1- Coby Portable Compact Anti-Skip CD Player

The Coby Portable CD player is ideal for listening to your CD collection. Very affordable and will do the job. Don’t expect fancy features since this is the cheapest on the list.

• What we like: Price and straightforward controls.
• What we don’t like: Operates only with two AA batteries.

#2- GPX PC807BMP3U Portable Personal CD Player

The GPX PC807BMP3U comes with a more youthful design, even sporty. This model adds additional features like using AA batteries or a 12V power adapter and up to 200 seconds of anti-skip protection.

GPX offers a 90-day warranty to cover manufacturing defects and DOA CD players. 

• What we like: Rubberized exterior for easy grip and 200-second anti-skip.
• What we don’t like: No built-in battery.

#3- ARAFUNA CD5188B Portable CD Player

ARAFUNA CD5188B features a modern look of a portable CD player. Furthermore, it includes some exciting features like Bass Boost and a program button to customize the order of CD tracks.

The first portable CD player on the list has a built-in battery. Unfortunately, a rechargeable battery requires buying a separate charger. This product comes with a 1-year warranty and 30 days refund guarantee.

• What we like: Bass boost and 1-year warranty.
• What we don’t like: Rechargeable battery requires a separate charger, not included.

#4- Naviskauto Rechargeable Portable CD Player

The NAVISKAUTO is compact and still packs a punch with a built-in battery (that can be charged) for up to 12 hours. Backlight design for LED display and buttons, very convenient for use when the sun goes down.

• What we like: Built-in battery, display, and buttons with backlight.
• What we don’t like: Do not support Bluetooth, and warranty is not specified.

#5- Hernido Rechargeable Portable CD Player

The Hernido Rechargeable CD Player is a beautiful model with a built-in 2000mAh rechargeable battery and supports up to 20 hours of working time. This CD player is lightweight, with only 0.5 lb.

Few reviews mention that portable CD players had distorted music and low-volume audio. Most customers haven’t had this problem, so it doesn’t appear universal.

• We like 20-hour battery life, an FM transmitter, and 18 month warranty.
• What we don’t like: some reviews report low-volume and distorted music.

#6- Oakcastle CD100 Portable CD Player with Bluetooth

The Oakcastle CD100 is the first model on the list that features Bluetooth 5.0, so you can enjoy extensive flexibility with BT headphones, BT speakers, soundbars, etc. This model is very compact, and the button layout is very friendly.

Even though It includes a rechargeable battery, the 12 hours battery life means you must charge it more often.

• What we like: Bluetooth 5.0, compact design, and rechargeable battery
• What we don’t like: 12 hr battery life

#7- HOTT CD204 Portable CD Player

HOTT was established in 1999 and is committed to providing high-quality service with a 30-day return policy, a 1-year warranty, lifetime support, and a Toll-free call center.

The HOTT CD204 Portable CD Player has a very discrete design with five sound effects and five play modes. It uses HIFI decoding technology for a high bit rate and sampling rate, which could delight the most strict users.

Being the most expensive product on this list is a shame that it doesn’t include a built-in rechargeable battery. Only the display has a backlight and doesn’t include Bluetooth.

• What we like: Lifetime support and support HIFI decoding
• What we don’t like: No built-in battery, no Bluetooth, and 45 seconds anti-skip for CDs.

Final thoughts

Like any other audio equipment, there is a balance between price, sound quality, and features. All the options in this list will provide you with a great listening experience. Maybe it’s time to dust off your CD collection and listen to the greatest hits of the past.