GoKawiilPS Audio and Naim end CD player production as optical drive components disappear
PS Audio and Naim have both discontinued flagship CD-playing products, the PMG Super Audio CD Transport and Uniti Star, after their optical drive suppliers stopped making key mechanisms. The trouble traces back to D&M Holdings, owner of Denon and Marantz, which in mid-2024 announced it would stop taking orders for its SACD/CD mechanism, prompting a scramble among audio brands that doubled component prices before supply ran out entirely.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Since mainstream computing has moved almost entirely away from optical drives, the specialized components high-end audio manufacturers rely on were essentially piggybacking on a shrinking commodity market that no longer supports them. With niche audio brands lacking the scale or expertise to manufacture their own disc mechanisms, this signals that physical CD and SACD playback hardware may become increasingly rare or expensive even as demand for physical media grows among audiophiles.
- PS Audio and Naim have discontinued CD/SACD players due to vanishing optical drive component supply.
- D&M Holdings (Denon/Marantz) ending its SACD/CD mechanism orders in 2024 triggered a supply crunch and price doubling.
- Neither company can easily manufacture replacement drives in-house, threatening future high-end physical media playback devices.
Denon DCD-900NE CD Player — As high-end CD transports vanish due to the optical drive shortage, Denon's DCD-900NE remains a solid, currently available option for audiophiles who still want to spin physical discs. It's a great way to keep enjoying your CD collection while the supply chain for premium transports sorts itself out.
See Denon DCD-900NE CD Player on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: tomshardware.com — Jowi Morales, 2026-09-20
Published there as: “Collapse of mainstream optical drive supply kills high-end CD players — PS Audio and Naim halt production as component costs double”
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