Compact disc players are experiencing a resurgence, with John Lewis reporting a 96% increase in searches for the devices since July. This rise is possibly linked to students purchasing systems for their university rooms.
Two popular models, the £79 Crosley Voyager and the £129 Pure Classic C-D6, are currently sold out online. The Crosley Voyager is expected to be back in stock in October. Portable CD players are also seeing increased popularity.
This trend aligns with an increase in CD sales. A report this year indicated a 16% growth in CD sales, surpassing vinyl's 2.4%. HMV has seen a 10% year-on-year increase in CD sales, attributed to artists offering unique content on the format. Phil Halliday, managing director at HMV, noted that K-pop, particularly artists like BTS, has been a significant driver, alongside demand for artists such as Olivia Rodrigo and Ariana Grande.
Cost appears to be a factor in the CD revival, with vinyl records typically priced around £35 compared to £12 for a CD. Richard Farnell, who runs Vinyl Exchange in Manchester, observed that younger people are now buying CDs, partly due to the rising price of vinyl.
Katrina Mills, category buying lead for audio and imaging at John Lewis, confirmed that the vinyl revival has renewed interest in analogue, and this broader appreciation for physical music is now driving a surge in CD players.