March 2023

Home Audio CD Players: MetaRanking

This page highlights the aggregate summary of CD Player rankings posted by key online experts, as of March 2023.

Summary

Between 4 Mar 2023 and 7 Mar 2023, ReviewFinder team examined a total of 71 CD Player endorsements from 10 reputable publishers.

57 Home Audio CD Players were endorsed in total, only 10 made it into this month's ranking (ReviewFinder requires a minimum of 2 endorsements to be included).

As of 7 Mar 2023, Onkyo DXC390 takes the cake as the most critically-acclaimed cd player with 4 expert endorsements. 1 expert out of 4 recommended it as the '#1 cd player' this month. It is followed by Bose Wave Music System IV and Marantz CD6007 , with 3 and 2 expert endorsements respectively.

Brand breakdown
Show all brands

Price breakdown
As can be seen in the chart below, lowest high-ranking home audio CD players start at $29.99 (Coby Compact Anti-Skip) and go up to $7499 (Marantz SA 10). Median cd player costs $218.99 (KeiiD CD Player).
$29.99
$7499

At a glance - March 2023 Ranking

Scroll horizontally to browse this ranking table
Rank Change Price CD Player
What Hi-Fi
history-computer.com
BestCovery
MUO
AlphaTopList
Crutchfield
Lifewire
iMore
BestReviews
Idsesmedia
1
- $289
Onkyo DXC390
-
4
1
2
-
-
-
4
-
-
2
- $438
Bose Wave Music System IV
-
1
-
-
-
-
1
-
5
-
3
- $799
Marantz CD6007
1
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
-
4
- $599
Cambridge Audio CXC
5
-
4
-
-
-
-
-
3
-
5
- $380
Yamaha CD-S303
-
-
-
6
-
1
-
-
-
-
6
- Check price
Teac PD 301 CD Player
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
5
-
-
11
- $429
Denon DCD-600NE
-
-
-
8
-
-
-
-
2
-
12
- Check price
Cambridge Audio AXC35
6
-
-
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
13
- $1400
Marantz ND8006
-
6
-
-
-
-
-
6
-
-
14
- $150
Toshiba CWU700
-
7
-
-
6
-
-
-
-
-

Sorted by price:

Position in ranking Price CD Player
#14 $149.95 Toshiba CWU700 [buy] [more info]
#1 $289.38 Onkyo DXC390 [buy] [more info]
#5 $379.95 Yamaha CD-S303 [buy] [more info]
#11 $429 Denon DCD-600NE [buy] [more info]
#2 $438 Bose Wave Music System IV [buy] [more info]
#4 $599 Cambridge Audio CXC [buy] [more info]
#3 $799 Marantz CD6007 [buy] [more info]
#6 $991.39 Teac PD 301 CD Player [buy] [more info]
#13 $1399.98 Marantz ND8006 [buy] [more info]

We ranked Onkyo DXC390 #1 in March 2023 because:

  • 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Home Audio CD Players” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Onkyo DXC390 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
history-computer.com

Best Multi-Disc

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BestCovery

Best CD Player Overall

Go to ranking

MUO

Editors Choice

Pros
Heavily shielded construction
Six-disc capability
Delivers crystal-clear playback

Cons
A bit heavy

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iMore

Best CD Changer

Pros
Multiple CD slots
Continuous playback options
Plays different types of CDs

Cons
No wireless options
No app

Go to ranking

We ranked Bose Wave Music System IV #2 in March 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Home Audio CD Players” rankings.
  • Out of those, 2 experts ranked Bose Wave Music System IV as #1.
Critic endorsements:
history-computer.com

Best Overall CD Player

Go to ranking

Lifewire

Best Overall

Pros
Fantastic audio quality
Good voice recognition
Handy remote and dedicated app for unit control

Cons
Wi-Fi connectivity can be problematic
Setup process can take longer than average thanks to frequent updates

Go to ranking

BestReviews

Most Comprehensive

Pros
Using Bose’s “Waveguide” technology, sound is able to permeate throughout the listener’s room making for an immersive music experience.
Able to play radio, MP3, CD, and Bluetooth.

Cons
You will need an adapter to utilize the Bluetooth technology.

Go to ranking

Methodology: combine opinions of key experts

Identify Experts

We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend Home Audio CD Players.

Capture Rankings

For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of Home Audio CD Players, it must be updated in the last 9 months.

Aggregate Rankings

We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking

Experts chosen for March 2023 ranking

We ranked Marantz CD6007 #3 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Home Audio CD Players” rankings.
  • Out of those, 2 experts ranked Marantz CD6007 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
What Hi-Fi

With detail, dynamics and a beautifully clear sound, the CD6007 is the best CD player you can buy at this price point.

Pros
Class-leading insight
More dramatic presentation
Excellent build and finish

Cons
Looks like previous models

Go to ranking

MUO

Premium Pick

Pros
Stylish
Excellent build quality
Versatile

Cons
Not much design change from previous models

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We ranked Cambridge Audio CXC #4 in March 2023 because:

  • 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Home Audio CD Players” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
What Hi-Fi

If you already own a DAC, you can buy this CD transport instead of a standalone player. Trust us, its sound will impress.

Pros
Musicality and muscle
Well-built
Good remote control

Cons
Requires an external DAC
Getting older now
Minimal for some

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BestCovery

Best looking cd player

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BestReviews

Unrivaled Sound

Pros
Will sound great day one which allows users to hear “crisper” versions of each instrument.
Boasts a straightforward setup with an easy-to-use remote and sensible button display.

Cons
No radio or Bluetooth capabilities.

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We ranked Yamaha CD-S303 #5 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Home Audio CD Players” rankings.
  • Out of those, 1 expert ranked Yamaha CD-S303 as #1.
Critic endorsements:
MUO

Pros
Handy features to combat noise and interference
Convenient playback functions
Dimmable display
Remote control

Cons
Not for compact setups

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Crutchfield

Best budget CD player

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We ranked Teac PD 301 CD Player #6 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Home Audio CD Players” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
Lifewire

Best for Compact Spaces

Pros
User-friendly controls
Beautiful, compact design
TEAC tray-loader included
Low signal-to-noise ratio for an exceptional hi-fi experience

Cons
Display is difficult to read at times

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iMore

Best for Small Spaces

Pros
Tiny
Playback of multiple file types
Offers digital to analog audio converters

Cons
High price
Doesn't include speakers

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We ranked Denon DCD-600NE #7 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Home Audio CD Players” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
MUO

Pros
Incredible audio quality
Solid and reliable
Reduced vibration

Cons
Not many features

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BestReviews

Best bang for the buck

Pros
Includes a “pure direct mode” which allows the listener to hear the music as initially intended.
Comes in a vibration-resistant case that will stop CDs from getting scratched if bumped.

Cons
Does not come with a digital output which may discourage use in some sound systems.

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We ranked Cambridge Audio AXC35 #8 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Home Audio CD Players” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
What Hi-Fi

Slimline, no-frills CD player, a capable contender

Pros
Good detail resolution
Fits well within AX series
Minimalist design

Cons
Can be beaten for sound
Functional build
No optical output

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MUO

Pros
Sturdy metal chassis
High-performing DAC for precise conversions
Minimalist design

Cons
No quality controls

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We ranked Marantz ND8006 #9 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Home Audio CD Players” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
history-computer.com

Best Sound

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iMore

Best Premium

Pros
Supports AirPlay 2, Alexa, Google Assistant
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and USB Connectivity
High-quality audio conversion

Cons
Yes, the price
Overkill for most
Just one CD slot

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We ranked Toshiba CWU700 #10 in March 2023 because:

  • 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Home Audio CD Players” rankings.
Critic endorsements:
history-computer.com

Best Vintage Style

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AlphaTopList

Pros
Balanced, full audio
Perfect for home or office
Bluetooth enabled
AM/FM function

Cons
Does not support gapless playback
Difficult to program clock/alarm

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