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For less than $10, you could probably find some decent ones. I've got a couple sony boombox style cassette radio CD players that I got a few years ago for $5 each. Great sound!
Dec 19, 2024
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📼I got a CD player this year and have really enjoyed being able to throw on an album sans phone when hanging out with friends or cooking. If you're just getting into it, start with a shittier CD player and see if you actually use it before investing in a nice one. My CD player also has a bluetooth feature for the moments I feel the urge to play something off of streaming.
In terms of where to buy, thrift thrift thrift. CDs are like $1 at Goodwill and they usually have decent selection (got my fav Cranberries CD from a Goodwill). Also!!! used bookstores are a great place to look for CDs. Also it's fun to grab CDs by artists you recognize but maybe albums you're unfamiliar with- great way to find new stuff
In terms of where to buy, thrift thrift thrift. CDs are like $1 at Goodwill and they usually have decent selection (got my fav Cranberries CD from a Goodwill). Also!!! used bookstores are a great place to look for CDs. Also it's fun to grab CDs by artists you recognize but maybe albums you're unfamiliar with- great way to find new stuff
Jul 16, 2025
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📼Portables:
Used 80s-90s players are probably the best bet for reliability, quality, and repairability. Regardless of brand, if a working one pops up on FB Marketplace or in a shop ~$20, it's worth picking it up and giving it a quick cleaning to see if it works for you. If you want to spend a bit more, Sony Walkmans are definitely the standard. Techmoan's Sony Walkman Buyer's Guide is a good reference, and he goes over which ones can be easily fixed and which ones are doomed to break. There are some newer products like WeAreRewind that even support Bluetooth, but I don't have experience with them (if anyone does, I'm very curious!)
Stereo Decks:
Tape decks can be pretty affordable if you come across them at yard sales or Marketplace. Here's a primer guide on those. Most would say to stay away from the dual-cassette decks (the ones used for dubbing from one tape to another) because they were all made pretty cheaply. Nakamichis vary widely from affordable to expensive, but they're all really great.
Used 80s-90s players are probably the best bet for reliability, quality, and repairability. Regardless of brand, if a working one pops up on FB Marketplace or in a shop ~$20, it's worth picking it up and giving it a quick cleaning to see if it works for you. If you want to spend a bit more, Sony Walkmans are definitely the standard. Techmoan's Sony Walkman Buyer's Guide is a good reference, and he goes over which ones can be easily fixed and which ones are doomed to break. There are some newer products like WeAreRewind that even support Bluetooth, but I don't have experience with them (if anyone does, I'm very curious!)
Stereo Decks:
Tape decks can be pretty affordable if you come across them at yard sales or Marketplace. Here's a primer guide on those. Most would say to stay away from the dual-cassette decks (the ones used for dubbing from one tape to another) because they were all made pretty cheaply. Nakamichis vary widely from affordable to expensive, but they're all really great.
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