Audio equipment manufacturers are removing CD players because optical drives are no longer being produced
The collapse of optical disc drive manufacturing has hit hard the few companies still making premium CD players.
American PS Audio has completely stopped production of its flagship transport, while British Naim removed the disc mechanism from the latest version of its streaming amplifier. Both cases share the same root cause – finding suitable drive mechanisms on the market has become nearly impossible.
In January 2026, PS Audio sent customers an email announcing the end of production for its PMG Signature Audio CD Transport. The company cited the unavailability of optical disc drives used in the model, without naming the specific mechanism or its supplier.
On the brand official forum, customers asked whether PS Audio planned to release new CD player models. Founder and CEO Paul McGowan replied that building a disc mechanism from scratch was far beyond the company capabilities.
Building the disc-playing mechanism from scratch is "waaaaaay beyond our skills," and we'd ideally continue working with "transistors, tubes, capacitors and code."
Still, McGowan left room for hope, suggesting a new model could arrive in 2027 – though not in the flagship line.
It won't be a PMG. It'll likely be a Stellar.
PMG occupies PS Audio uncompromising top-tier segment, while Stellar and Stellar Gold sit in the mid-range with noticeably more affordable price tags. So even if the format returns, it'll be a cheaper solution rather than a direct replacement for the discontinued model.
Naim took a different route, simply cutting the drive from its updated product. Last month saw the release of the Uniti Star Lite, which unlike the original Uniti Star, lacks a built-in CD drive. The company explained that the mechanism it had previously used is no longer manufactured.
Naim also didn't disclose the drive model, but company representative Neil S. wrote on a forum back in 2023 that the UnitiServe ripper used a Teac DV516GB – a standard DVD-ROM once common in desktop PCs. That reliance on computer parts explains well why the shutdown of optical drive production lines is hitting audio gear worth thousands of dollars too.
Some customers weren't thrilled with Naim decision, but the company framed the drive removal as an improvement. According to Naim, cutting the disc mechanism reduced internal electrical noise, resulting in a cleaner signal path and greater audio transparency.
There are practical upsides too. The Uniti Star Lite is about a kilogram lighter than the original and costs nearly $400 less than the disc-equipped version.
The trend fits a broader pattern, optical drives are disappearing from laptops, consoles and desktop PCs, and dedicated audio mechanisms are following suit. Hi-Fi manufacturers are left with two options: buy up remaining warehouse stock or shift to streaming and local file libraries.
