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Your Personal Daily Intelligence
Edition 2026-09-21

TECHNOLOGY

High-end CD player makers halt production amid optical drive shortage

A shortage of optical drive components has forced two premium audio manufacturers to discontinue their CD-based products.

By tomshardware · 32d ago · Source: tomshardware

Full article

A shortage of optical drive components has forced two premium audio manufacturers to discontinue their CD-based products. Headphonesty reported that Naim Audio has ended production of its Uniti Star streaming amplifier and PS Audio has suspended manufacturing of its PMG Super Audio CD Transport. Both companies cited the unavailability of key optical hardware as the primary reason for the shutdowns. The move reflects a broader industry shift away from physical media, even as niche demand for high-fidelity CD and vinyl playback persists among audiophiles who value ownership and analog sound quality. Industry analysts note that the decline in optical drive production for consumer electronics has ripple effects across specialized audio equipment, where dedicated transport mechanisms remain in limited supply.

Source transparency

Publisher
tomshardware
Reliability
high
Published
9/21/2026, 10:00:30 AM
Retrieved
9/21/2026, 10:00:30 AM
Relevance
80%
Confidence
85%
Read original at tomshardware

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