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CDs are still alive and kicking. With Gen Z embracing physical media as a reaction against the algorithm-driven consumption of streaming services, it looks as if the humble compact disc may once again be on its way to some sort of relevance. The format will probably never become as popular vinyl disks, which topped $1 billion worth of sales in 2025, nor will it reach its 2000s peak, but an uptick in year-on-year revenues for 2026 shows that there may be a future for CDs after all.

Of course, buying CDs is of no use if you don’t have anything to play them on, but even that market is seeing something of a renaissance as of late. China-based manufacturers such as FiiO, Moondrop, and Shanling have released a range of compact, portable CD players that are easy to integrate into most lifestyles, relieving buyers of the cost and space requirements of traditional, full-size CD players. Those are the sorts of CD players we’ll focus on in this article.

Now, don’t get us wrong: Full-size players are great, and a valid option for those committed to the format. But for those who aren’t quite ready to step into the world of Hi-Fi, products from the aforementioned manufacturers offer great ways to get into the hobby and experience the joys of physical media without having to break the bank — although that’s an option, if you so desire.

FiiO is a veritable titan of the portable Hi-Fi (or “head-fi”) space, having a series of excellent audiophile-grade music players and other gadgets for digital audio fans under its belt. And so it was not at all a surprise when the company jumped on the CD player bandwagon in 2024 with the DM13 — and that it did good job, too.

The $160 FiiO DM13 is not the absolute cheapest CD player you can get, but it’s arguably one of the best places to start for those who want a portable setup. It has dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 digital-to-analog converter (DAC) chips paired with dual headphone amplifiers, and offers both single-ended and balanced headphone outputs, as well as Bluetooth. The rear panel has a balanced 4.4 mm line out jack, as well as a 3.5 mm combo jack that can output analog or digital audio, the latter over coaxial or optical. It runs on a 3,750mAh battery and has a battery bypass switch for desktop use. On top of this, the DM13 will also rip CDs to FAT32-formatted USB storage devices.

The DM13 has the sound quality to back up its solid features, too. No, it’s never going to be the final word in CD playback, but it offers a clean sound that should have you tapping your feet in no time. It may just be enjoyable and full-featured enough that some of you will never feel the need to upgrade.

FiiO’s $270 DM15 combines a now-retro format (the CD) with another old-school throwback in the form of the R2R tech it uses for digital-to-analog conversion. Without wishing to get too technical, R2R DACs use a network of resistors do to the conversion, instead of the Cirrus Logic, ESS, or AKM chips you’ll see advertised in other DACs.

Speaking from experience, R2R DACs tend to sound warmer and a bit more like analog media than conventional DACs. Is it a night-and-day difference? Probably not, but these DACs do impart a certain flavor. The DM15 lives up to this promise, with reviews praising the unit’s rich and warm sound. It’s not one for the treble-heads, but it’s an agreeable delivery that many should find enjoyable. Our Andy Zahn spent time with a DM15 and thoroughly liked how it sounded, as well as all the other perks, such as CD ripping and the 7-hour runtime from its 4,700mAh battery.

One big advantage of the DM15 over its cheaper sibling, the DM13, is that this model also functions as a DAC. Simply connect it to a PC over USB and it’ll happily decode your digital files, supporting up to 384 kHz and DSD256. Whether you’re playing digital files or a CD, the DM15 lets you pipe the music through its single-ended and balanced headphone and line outputs, coaxial and optical digital outs, or Bluetooth.

Portable CD players are definitely having a moment in the sun, but there are companies still flying the flag for home units. Some of these come in smaller, living room-friendly packages that don’t need a Hi-Fi rack, and one of our favorites is the SMSL PL200.

The $669 SMSL PL200 is a beautiful product with its sleek metal design, tactile piano key buttons, and top-mounted CD loading. The latter certainly offers a novel experience, especially since it means you can see the CD spinning — although it does mean you can’t stack any gear on top of it. It’s not just a good looker, though, and boasts a high-end AKM AK4499EX DAC under the hood. The PL200 has, somewhat contradictory, been described as both a clean, neutral-sounding CD player as well as one that sacrifices detail for a more emotive presentation.

This difference is probably due to the rest of your gear, as reviews have noted that the PL200 can sound a bit thin with the wrong headphones. We found it to be more toward the neutral side of the spectrum ourselves, but that may say more about the debatable meaning of “neutral” than anything else. Either way, as long as you buy from a retailer with a good returns policy, you’ll probably be fine. If you already have a standalone DAC — a must-have audiphile gadget, if you ask us — you can go for the PL200T CD transport instead.

There have been many stylish CD players over the years, but we’d argue that few modern units come close to the visual appeal of the Dunu Concept R. The $750 Concept R, is, as you’d hope given the price, a premium device that combines an eye-catching design with genuine audiophile chops.

The Concept R packs a high-end R2R DAC and an amplifier that can run in either Class A or Class AB mode, letting you choose the which best suits your preferences. The headphone outputs are impressive, too, with the 1.3W output level likely enough for all of the best wired headphones on the market. Sound-wise, the Concept R is reportedly on the warmer side of the spectrum, but not overly so; music still sounds clean and precise, with strong stereo width and depth. Dunu complements the Concept R’s sonic capabilities with USB DAC functionality and TOSLINK optical out, allowing you to integrate it into almost all setups. Its 12,000mAh battery means that it’s technically portable, too, but at around 2.5 pounds and eight inches long, “transportable” might be the better term.

And then there’s the look. We mentioned it earlier, but it bears repeating: The Concept R is a stunning example of product design. Machined out of a single block of aluminum, this premium CD player has a chunky but sleek retro-futuristic look that is a pleasure to look at, whether it’s playing CDs or just sitting there looking pretty. Some rugs may tie a room together, but the Concept R would do just as good of a job.

Moondrop is a fixture in the head-fi world, with a large catalog of headphones, in-ear monitors — including the Chu II, one of the best affordable wired earbuds you can get — and other gear on offer. The company released its first CD player, the DiscDream, in 2023, and quickly followed it up with the DiscDream 2 and DiscDream 2 Ultra in 2024.

All of Moondrop’s portable CD players are well worth considering, but the $350 Ultra is the one that has garnered the most attention — justifiably so, we reckon. Rocking dual Cirrus Logic DAC chips, a bevy of analog and digital outputs, support for up to 384kHz audio (and DSD256), and USB DAC functionality, the Ultra is as full-featured as any portable CD player can be. It also sounds good, with an uncolored and clear sound that will be faithful to whatever it is you’re listening to. In essence, it does what most want their CD players to do.

Now, there are some less-than-stellar design decisions to be aware of. There is only one cutout for extracting the CD, which is a bit awkward. The lid also doesn’t lock, which makes it perhaps less ideal for on-the-go use. If you’re more of an at-home listener, though, then that shouldn’t be an issue. If $350 is a bit rich for your blood, the $180 DiscDream 2 retains most of the functionality but drops down to a single DAC chip. It’s a downgrade on paper, but most — including us — won’t ever be able to tell the difference.

There’s no shortage of CD players on the market, so selecting just a handful of great products required quite a bit of filtering. The first criteria was that they had to be readily available and, ideally, easy to purchase; In other words, a prospective buyer should be able to just hop onto an online retailer like Amazon and order the unit.

Secondly, the units had to sound good, with a strong set of useful features. Audio quality is subjective, of course, so we relied on a combination of first-hand experience and reviews from trusted publications with a strong track record of reviewing Hi-Fi gear.

Mazda has become one of the most recognizable automotive brands in the United States, and the sales numbers back that up. In 2024, Mazda sold a record 424,382 vehicles in the U.S., a 16.8 percent increase over 2023. The brand sold more cars than brands such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz, but not as good as Subaru, Kia, or Nissan. 

Larger vehicles drove the overwhelming majority of that volume, accounting for 377,402 of those sales. The CX-5 led the charge as Mazda’s top-selling model, with the CX-30 and CX-50 also selling well — though Mazda deliberately tanked CX-30 SUV sales in 2025 to limit tariff exposure. But Mazda has never been just about crossovers. The  brand earned its reputation on driver-focused cars — most notably with the MX-5 Miata, the world’s best-selling two-seat roadster. That philosophy carries through to every model in the lineup.

Many Mazda vehicles earn praise for their balance of engaging dynamics, cool interiors, and daily practicality, often offering an experience akin to a more expensive badge. That combination of qualities has a natural side effect: strong resale value. Cars that are well-built, reliable, and broadly desirable tend to hold their value longer than average, and Mazda has made a habit of producing exactly that kind of vehicle. Here are five Mazda models that stand out for their ability to retain value over time.

As previously mentioned, the Mazda MX-5 Miata is the world’s best-selling two-seat sports car — a Guinness World Records first certified in May 2000 and that Mazda has continued to extend since. That sustained global demand shows up directly in resale data because the MX-5 retains it better than any other Mazda out there. According to iSeeCars, the MX-5 Miata retains 69.2 percent of its value after 5 years. The best part is, the Mazda MX-5 RF is ranked second at 67.9 percent. 

Low ownership costs are part of the equation. RepairPal gives the MX-5 Miata a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 and puts its average annual repair cost at $429, compared to $652 for all vehicle models. The Miata’s $429 annual maintenance cost is lower than that of the Nissan 370Z ($504), Toyota Supra ($561), and Subaru BRZ ($672) -– all notable Mazda MX-5 alternatives. The MX-5 is powered by a 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G four-cylinder producing 181 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque, with a standard six-speed manual or an optional six-speed automatic.

Then there is the cult status the MX-5 cultivated throughout the years. It is an enthusiast’s vehicle, not a family crossover SUV like the CX-5. This means that it is likely bought by someone who knows everything about it, and is likely to take decent care of it. All in all, the MX-5 is the Mazda to get if you want superior value retention.

The Mazda CX-5 is Mazda’s best-selling model and one of the most popular compact SUVs in the U.S. According to iSeeCars, the CX-5 depreciates 37.9% after 5 years, compared to 39.9 percent for the compact SUV category and 44.9 percent for all SUVs. CarEdge also places the CX-5’s 5-year depreciation rate at 39 percent. That said, it doesn’t lead its class; the Toyota RAV4 — the world’s best-selling car — depreciates just 28 percent after 5 years. Meanwhile, the Honda CR-V clocks in at at 29 percent, putting both vehicles ahead of the CX-5.

The CX-5 does, however, beat out the Hyundai Tucson (47 percent), Chevrolet Equinox (52 percent), and Ford Escape (55 percent). As is the case with most cars and value, reliability plays a pivotal role. RepairPal gives the CX-5 a reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5.0, ranking it 1st out of 26 midsize SUVs, with an average annual repair cost of $447. That figure compares favorably to $573 for midsize SUVs and $652 across all vehicle models.

The chance of the CX-5 suffering from a major reliability problem is just 8% for the CX-5, compared to 13percent for midsize SUVs and 12 percent for all vehicle models. Not long ago, Mazda announced that cumulative global sales of the CX-5 reached 5 million units as of the end of 2025 — only the third model in the automaker’s history to reach that milestone, after the Mazda 323 and the Mazda3.

The Mazda3 is available in two body styles — sedan and hatchback. Good news is that both hold their value reasonably well for the compact car segment. According to CarEdge, the Mazda3 Sedan depreciates 38 percent after 5 years, with a resale value of $19,620. The Hatchback depreciates slightly more at 41 percent after 5 years. For context, iSeeCars puts the Mazda3 Sedan’s 5-year depreciation at 34 percent, compared to 27.4 percent for the Toyota Corolla.

Reliability is consistently good, just like with the rest of Mazda’s lineup. RepairPal gives the Mazda3 a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0. This translates into it being ranked 9th out of 36 compact cars, with an average annual repair cost of $433. The average annual repair cost for compact cars in the same category is $526, while the average for all vehicles is $652.

The Mazda3 is also the cheapest 2026 Mazda you can buy, and its recent sales numbers have suggested that there is life for compact hatchbacks/sedans in the world of crossover SUVs. For those looking for a compact car footprint with enough space, amenities, and a dynamic driving experience at a budget, the Mazda3 truly is hard to beat.

The Mazda CX-30 sits between the Mazda3 and CX-5 in Mazda’s lineup. According to iSeeCars, the CX-30 depreciates 35.6 percent after 5years, compared to 38.4 percent for the subcompact SUV category and 44.9 percent for all SUVs. CarEdge puts the 5-year depreciation at a near-identical 36 percent, with a resale value of $21,764. When stacked against its rivals, the CX-30 holds its own.

The Subaru Crosstrek depreciates 34 percent after 5 years and the Honda HR-V depreciates 31 percent across the same period — both slightly ahead of the CX-30 on paper, though all three comfortably beat the segment average. On the maintenance side, estimates place the CX-30’s total maintenance and repair costs over its first 10 years at $7,837, beating the industry average for SUV models by $675.

The chances that the CX-30 is going to need a major repair during its first 10 years of ownership is 22.65 percent. Although it does fare slightly worse than its competitors in outright resale value, these repair cost projections are 1.32 percent better than similar vehicles in its segment. When we compared the Mazda CX-30 to the Mazda3, we noted that the CX-30 serves the more utilitarian buyer, thanks to its bigger size and AWD, but the Mazda3 is more fuel efficient.

The Mazda CX-50 is the newest model on this list, having launched for the 2022 model year. According to iSeeCars, the CX-50 depreciates 39.3 percent after 5 years, compared to 39.9 percent for the compact SUV category and 44.9 percent for all SUVs. CarEdge puts the 5-year resale value at a slightly less favorable 37 percent, or in other words, $25,035 on an average new price of $39,979. After 3 years on the market, the CX-50 depreciates 25.9 percent, with a resale value of $22,145.

Maintaining a CX-50 costs $506 per year on average through the first 5 years of ownership. Across all Mazda models, the 10-year maintenance and repair brand average is at $7,381, which is $1,590 less than the industry. However, the CX-50 is still a fairly new model, meaning that long-term cost projections are merely estimates, and that we will have to wait to check whether they are correct.

Still, the market perception of the Mazda CX-50 remains fairly positive. Existing owners deem the Mazda CX-50 a good car, with the hybrid powertrain, the styling, comfort, and driving feel all getting lots of praise. Long-term reliability data remains limited, though some owner reports have mentioned issues not typically associated with Mazda’s reputation for dependability. 

Every model on this list was selected based on depreciation data from iSeeCars and CarEdge and then cross-referenced with reliability data from RepairPal. iSeeCars analyzes over 15 million vehicles to calculate 5-year depreciation rates from MSRP, while CarEdge builds its depreciation curves from historical pricing data. RepairPal’s reliability ratings are based on the cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs across all model years.

The 5-year window is the industry standard for depreciation comparisons, which is why it is the primary metric used throughout. Models were selected where the data consistently showed depreciation rates below the segment average, combined with low annual maintenance costs. Sales data referenced throughout comes from Mazda’s official press releases and Good Car Bad Car.

Maintenance cost projections from CarEdge assume vehicles in good condition averaging 13,500 miles per year. It is worth noting that depreciation figures represent trends, not guarantees for individual vehicles. A car’s real-world resale value depends on a ton of factors, including mileage, condition, trim, history, and regional demand at the time of sale.