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I've still got a ridiculous number of CDs that I don't have on MP3 or similar, and since my old laptop with CD drive died, nowhere to play them!
I imagined there must be a market for a wee portable CD drive that could, e.g. transfer to a USB stick or something.
I've found one device on the market for £140 which seems to be aimed at audiophiles but as a throwaway feature can apparently rip to WAV although I don't know if that's compatible with MP3 devices.
Anything obvious I'm missing?
Anything obvious I'm missing?
A PC? 😉 but seriously you really just want an external drive, and do the ripping in windows.
Spotify?
A USB CD drive will set you back about ten quid. Why does it need to be portable, are you planning on ripping a ridiculous number of CDs whilst camping?
"Portable CD ripper" sounds like a spy gadget from 2003. Unless you’re digitizing albums in the woods, just grab a cheap USB drive and you’re golden.
A USB CD drive will set you back about ten quid. Why does it need to be portable, are you planning on ripping a ridiculous number of CDs whilst camping?
Ha, yes, fair point, I meant 'portable' as opposed to, e.g. a hi-fi separate (my god, I'm only 42 and I'm already feeling like Mel Smith in the Not the Nine O'clock News Gramophone Shop sketch 😂).
I was looking for something that could also play CDs independently so I could plug in to the speakers on my desk or my headphones.
Guess I should check out Spotify but just assumed A) Adverts and B) lack of more obscure tunes?
You can get pricey, audiophile level solutions e.g. Brennan B3 - https://brennan.co.uk/pages/b3-overview - which has a built-in amp. In reality though you would save a lot of money going with a USB external CD / DVD / Blu Ray drive with ripping software on your PC and a phone with a big memory card to put those ripped CDs on linked to a powered speaker.
If I'm reading the OP right, he hasn't got a PC any more, hence the request for a standalone ripper.
eBay Sony diskman for ultimate retro desk kudos ?
For those saying Spotify.....I guarantee 13thfloormonk has music not on Spotify.
Get a USB-A (or C) CD drive and plug it into your laptop. Then you can rip them all to format of choice, then transfer to a USB stick. Not sure you'll find anything cheap/reasonable that'll output an audio signal to your stereo though. Unless you have digital input of some description?
On your desk you could just plug the drive into the laptop and the laptop into your speakers?
TBH, there isn't really that much that isn't available on one of the streaming services somewhere. Unless you've got a load of live/limited/studio/early recordings. Out of my entire CD collection (something like 1000-1200 discs i think), there's probably less than 20% that i can't get *exactly* what i have. So i can only get the official album version of a track instead of the live concert/gig or "raw" studio version that i have. And probably less than 1% that i can't get at all (every time i look the number gets smaller).
If you already own the CDs, then (I believe) there is an ethical case for downloading them "from the internet" in a different format, so that you can continue to listen to them - as you have already paid. Just make sure you have a VPN installed before you start doing anything like that though.
I certainly wouldn't be buying a CD player in 2025
eBay Sony diskman for ultimate retro desk kudos ?
It was my old student era discman covered in 'Dirt' and 'Shred' and 'Brooklyn Machine Works' stickers that my son eventually killed from mucking about with it too much 😭
That was one of the reasons I wanted a player as well as a 'ripper' because I was enjoying seeing him go through my collection and experimenting with CDs he liked the look of (with occasional, last minute interventions from me when he picked up 'Fat of the Land' or something equally inappropriate for 7 year olds...).
Will use my wife's old built in player/speakers for him and will just get a USB burner I guess 👍
TBH, can you even get a CD drive anymore?
If you already own the CDs, then (I believe) there is an ethical case for downloading them "from the internet" in a different format,
Yes, if you have already bought the CDs, just download the MP3 files and save yourself the hassle of ripping them all.
I was looking for something that could also play CDs independently so I could plug in to the speakers on my desk or my headphones.
Your phone or an MP3 player recommendations
I would get about 3 CDs before realising i would soon abandon.
If ots not good enough to make it onto spotify... Would I really miss it...
Obvs joking but what an almighty faff.
I may not actually use CDs all that much any more but this is the first time I've heard them described as "retro".
I'm getting old 😓
Reminds me of this meme:
I still pick up CD's and rip them, they can be dirt cheap in charity shops.
If you have a PC then a stand alone CD drive is the way to go. iTunes copying to ALAC format seems to be the quickest way to make a high res file but ALAC is not supported by some of the cheaper MP3 players. Most of the good ones or an Android phone with an SD card will support ALAC.
I use a Fiio player and a Motorola G picked up for about £60 new on EBay for play back. I spend a lot of time in a caravan or camper in remote places so I always have the ability to play whatever music I want. Also no monthly fees
TBH, can you even get a CD drive anymore?
They are getting rare brand new.
Hence why I suggested a dvd writer as some mainstream retailers still carry them, they also cover CDS and you can get branded ones.
An internal CD writer is basically e-waste now though as there's just no demand for them...
As cougar said above though you can pick them up for about a tenner on ebay etc.
Infact I have an internal 3.5" DVD/CD writer the OP can have for free if they want ..I think it's a panasonic or samsung or something like that.
Yeah, i got a 12 or 16x BD player/ripper/writer for about £60-70 before COVID times.
Was only about 20 more than a DVD drive. Then bought another smaller form factor BD for even less about 3-4 years ago.
I'm getting old 😓
I didn't drive a car for a fair few years as I was commuting by train, so when I ended up with my late grans car, it had a CD player but I didn't have any CDs!
So I bought a few to keep in the car, and fancied some dance/techno so I found a ministy of sound album that had a good mixure of classic dance stuff.. the name of the compilation album? "Throwback trance" 😕
EDIT...I got it from here, quite a lot of obsure stuff if you are into that sort of thing:
https://www.discogs.com/release/14502830-Various-Throwback-Trance
Guess I should check out Spotify but just assumed A) Adverts and B) lack of more obscure tunes?
Correct on both counts. A free account has adverts, a paid subscription does not. Not everything is on there but it's close. I distilled a ton of discs down to a single shelf of a Billy bookcase. Half of that is either signed stuff I don't want to part with or otherwise has sentimental value, or things like my mate's band's album.
If you already own the CDs, then (I believe) there is an ethical case for downloading them "from the internet" in a different format
The legality changes with the wind, but I see no issue ethically here. Whether I put a disc which I've paid for into a drive, rip it so that I don't have to bugger about with jewel cases, or scrump it from the Internet, the net result is the same - I'm listening to music which I've bought. Taking 17 copies and giving them to mates is further down on the morality scale.
Of course, anything downloaded from torrent sites may come with unfavourable bonus extras...
I imagined there must be a market for a wee portable CD drive that could, e.g. transfer to a USB stick or something.
I don't think so, it would be really niche. Pretty much everyone just uses some kind of streaming service (paid or suffer the ads if they're tight!). Only one person I know still does the whole CD-ripping thing (only because he's fairly computer illiterate and doesn't know about torrents I think 🤣 )
You can easily get an external DVD or even Blu-Ray drive that will read CDs. It will need plugging into a computer for ripping. From about £25 + a cable.
you can often pick up ‘Brennan’ devices at pawn shops. I have never understood why anyone would have bought one when there are computers that will do that job and others
I'm considering getting a external Blueray/DVD/CD as my local public library has a huge media collection available to borrow.
My TV has a spare HDMI connection so I'm assuming I could just plug it in to that. Correct?
(Otherwise, it can be plugged into the laptop which, generally, sits under the TV)
Yeah, I guess just ripping to my work laptop and transferring to SD is the way to go, I don't know why I thought a dedicated device would make it any easier but it just appealed to me.
I like the idea of converting my own CD collection as much for the process, reminding myself what CDs I actually own etc. etc. If I just depended on Spotify I would probably end up overwhelmed with choice and just listening to the same 5 albums over and over, kind of like I do with YouTube!
"Shuffle" is a thing.
As an alternative to Spotify, try Radio France. Download the app or listen via Chrome.
My favourite station is Fip : Rock
No ads, just a lovely variety of non-stop music.
Yeah, I guess just ripping to my work laptop and transferring to SD is the way to go,
I did my CD collection many many years ago, it doesn't take 'that' long, as it's reading the music CD's as data, and not playing each song. Also it will retrieve the CD song information off the internet, so you don't even need to type that in
Yeah... check them carefully. Really carefully.Also it will retrieve the CD song information off the internet, so you don't even need to type that in
I'm considering getting a external Blueray/DVD/CD as my local public library has a huge media collection available to borrow.
My TV has a spare HDMI connection so I'm assuming I could just plug it in to that. Correct?
An actual (media) player; or a (computer) drive? The former can be plugged into your TV; the latter will need to be attached to a computer and either played through that, or ripped to a digital format that you can then play on other devices
Check out the cheap £30 cd portables on aliexpress or pay around £100 - £200 for the new breed of players from Fiio, Moondrop etc.
https://www.richersounds.com/fiio-dm13-bt-black/
https://shenzhenaudio.com/products/moondrop-discdream-2-portable-cd-player
Or go full retro with this expensive @ £700 Dunu player below, 😳 , it’s very nicely built…but £700 nice?.
I certainly wouldn't be buying a CD player in 2025
Funnily enough CD player sales are on the up as are CD sales since 2023. I was a very early adopter of digital music and converted my CD collection years ago (ogg vorbis anyone!) before moving to FLAC and now I've got bored of the whole digital shebang and moved back to CDs. They consistently sound better than almost all streaming services bar Tidal and you can easily listen to a whole album and then just stop without other rubbish following on - I love selecting an album from the rack and looking at the sleeve notes whilst its playing. Vinyl is great and I play that a lot too but records are expensive and CDs are cheap.
I still stream (Deezer) when out and about or when sampling new music but if I like something I'll almost always buy it on CD unless I really really like it and then I'll get vinyl.
I have two CD players and two turntables....I'm looking at getting a third CD player.
Funnily enough CD player sales are on the up as are CD sales since 2023.
I couldn't give most of my collection away to a charity shop.
if I like something I'll almost always buy it on CD unless I really really like it and then I'll get vinyl.
Vinyl is a Nice Thing but if you're choosing it over a CD (or 21st Century options) because of audio quality reasons then your ears are faulty.
so when I ended up with my late grans car, it had a CD player but I didn't have any CDs!
Our older car has a cassette player. We still have a few cassettes to play in it. Better than a cd player as you can get a dummy cassette to plug in which takes input from a phone. Or mp3 player, to carry on the retro theme. Sound is a bit iffy tbh.
My desktop computer has a cd/dvd reader/writer. I used it a few months ago to rip some cds I hadn't got round to ripping before.
I like the idea of charity shop cds, I will see what our local places have.
Oh, as for the op, you wouldn't need a laptop of power to rip from a USB cd drive, a really cheap refurbished one would do. I don't know what the budget is though.
I couldn't give most of my collection away to a charity shop.
As always, it depends on content! A charity shop wouldn't have a clue about CD value either - Just last week I picked up a mint G'N'R Appetite for Destruction CD with the uncensored cover and a promo postcard for 50p. Probably worth about £25 but will be worth a lot more in a few years. Lol, it was two for one on CDs and the guy couldn't see why I wasn't taking another out of the remaining selection of Celine Dion and Phil Collins.....
Vinyl is a Nice Thing but if you're choosing it over a CD (or 21st Century options) because of audio quality reasons then your ears are faulty.
Vinyl sounds better to me because I like the deep warm sound with the odd crackle. Also, a lot of my records are quite old and recorded from the original analogue masters (as are many of my CDs). These have in general (not always) a better dynamic range and better tone than modern digital masters and that makes far more difference to enjoyable listening than anything else in my opinion.
Just had a couple of CDs delivered this week actually - John Holt best of and a Propellerheads EP I didn't know existed. I still have a stash of hundreds of CDs - and regret a few that I sold for buttons over the years. Most of it's probably on streaming (for now), but that can change, like when Neil Young's entire catalogue was unavailable on Spotify for a while. This way I've always got my own collection available whenever I want, in whatever quality I want
These have in general (not always) a better dynamic range and better tone than modern digital masters and that makes far more difference to enjoyable listening than anything else in my opinion.
This is nonsense, but at the end of the day if you enjoy it then you enjoy it.
I used to like records - I've just uplifted a pile of them from my dead parents' house that I don't know what to do with - but it was always all about the ceremony. It was the focus of attention, listening to an album was an event. Take it out of the sleeve, take it out of the inner sleeve, put it on the deck, give it a bit of a polish, drop the needle carefully down, open up the special edition gatefold packaging to admire the artwork which was two foot across, then sit down and actually listen to music rather than it being background noise... I miss that. I genuinely do.
But to argue that it sounds "better," you're kidding yourself. If you want a "warm" sound then get an amp with a tone control or two. If you miss the crackle (which is just undesirable noise) then put a pan of chips on. My dad's old hifi had controls for Wow and Flutter to compensate for problems inherent in vinyl.
Lossless audio exists now on both shinydisc and streaming, it literally cannot be better because it's what's fallen directly out of the instruments.
I've got bored of the whole digital shebang and moved back to CDs. They consistently sound better than almost all streaming services bar Tidal and you can easily listen to a whole album and then just stop without other rubbish following on
I've been slowly backing away from the thread I started as I realised I was in over my head, but also because I couldn't be bothered trying to explain why I enjoyed the simplicity of having a CD player on my desk, connected directly to speakers. The USB/ripping part was just for convenience so I could sort of rip-as-I-go when listening to my CDs anyway. The fewer cables or connections to my laptop the better (especially since whilst I'm working anyway I don't have any free ports due to still using wired mouse and keyboard! 😆
Thanks all for contributions, glad to see Richer Sounds sell those Fiio players, next time I'm in Edinburgh I might pop in for a look
Bin the lot and either buy a record player or get. Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, YouTube etc
Look, clearly if you're going to do this right, you must bin all your CDs and then just get yourself a tape player and a bunch of C90s. They clearly sound better, and it's just the apogee of audio niches.
🤣
If you want a "warm" sound then get an amp with a tone control or two.
I have one - its also got tubes in it so you'd probably hate that too. Anyways, the dynamic range differences between older recordings and many new remasters is so obviously proven by measurement and basically anyone with ears who A / B s two versions of the same album that its not worth arguing about - its got nothing to do with sound quality.
Look, clearly if you're going to do this right, you must bin all your CDs and then just get yourself a tape player and a bunch of C90s. They clearly sound better, and it's just the apogee of audio niches.
Hmmmm yes, unfortunately this is also a thing. And yes, they are rubbish in every way!
https://www.strata-gee.com/analog-cassette-tape-is-mounting-a-comeback/
I couldn't be bothered trying to explain why I enjoyed the simplicity of having a CD player on my desk
It doesn't get much simpler than "Alexa, play [album]" - it's far simpler than buggering about with physical media. I've got two brand new CDs on the shelf here, unplayed because I can't be arsed when I've got almost my entire back catalogue on two Spotify playlists.
I have one - its also got tubes in it so you'd probably hate that too. Anyways, the dynamic range differences between older recordings and many new remasters is so obviously proven by measurement and basically anyone with ears who A / B s two versions of the same album that its not worth arguing about - its got nothing to do with sound quality.
I don't hate it. Rather I reject the notion of when vinyl snobs claim that it's higher quality. It plainly isn't, it's impossible. What you've got there is rose-tinted nostalgia. Which is fine of course, as I said enjoy what you enjoy, but don't pick up a duck and then hit the Internet to tell everyone about your swan when the truth is that you just like ducks.
How has remastering got "nothing to do with sound quality"? Isn't that the point of it? (Well, no, the point is to increase sales, but still.)
I couldn't be bothered trying to explain why I enjoyed the simplicity of having a CD player on my desk
It doesn't get much simpler than "Alexa, play [album]" - it's far simpler than buggering about with physical media.
Not always, and how is your Alexa connected to a stereo setup?, perhaps you have a few different versions/masterings to choose from and having a visual reminder is how I usually navigate my roon/tidal library.
And alexa stuff is creepy (imho……with my tin foil cap on)
Tinfoil silliness aside,
I have stereo Echos in most rooms. Is it hi-fi quality, of course not (though they do make a 'Studio' range which is allegedly so, Dolby Atmos and all that). But all my old actual hifi gear is rammed into a cupboard so it's better than something that's not plugged in.
Is it good enough? To my 50-year old ears, sure. The days of shaking the windows and rattling out fillings are behind me.
Tinfoil silliness aside,
I have stereo Echos in most rooms. Is it hi-fi quality, of course not (though they do make a 'Studio' range which is allegedly so, Dolby Atmos and all that). But all my old actual hifi gear is rammed into a cupboard so it's better than something that's not plugged in.
Is it good enough? To my 50-year old ears, sure. The days of shaking the windows and rattling out fillings are behind me.
My 50yr old ears can happily listen to my stereo HomePod Minis in the bathroom, bedroom or kitchen for radio/podcasts but I need my Dynaudio setup in living room for the immersive musical experience, and yeah……….i live alone 😀