Modern CD Players Miss A Basic Feature
United States of Analog | February 24, 2026
🎙️ Early Video Analysis
What is this video about?
The video is about the resurgence of CD players and reviews two modern models. The host (Bob) discusses how CDs are making a comeback and examines whether new CD players are addressing users’ needs properly. He promises to reveal a common flaw or “Achilles heel” that modern CD players share.
What gear, products, or brands are discussed?
- Cool Geek M1 Functional Art CD player [00:01:20]: Picture frame-style CD player, priced $150-$250, battery-powered with 8 hours playtime, includes minimal remote control, can be wall-mounted or laid flat, has digital display, aimed at Bluetooth users
- SMSL PL20 [00:01:24]: Described as a CD player, CD ripper, and multimedia machine (detailed review not yet covered in this portion)
- Cambridge audio streamers and CD players [00:03:13]: Mentioned as comparison equipment in his room
- Klipsch speakers [00:03:13]: Referenced as “giant clip speakers” in his setup
- Tube amps [00:03:13]: Part of his reference system
What are the host’s main opinions or takes so far?
- Claims he was the first YouTuber to declare that “CDs are back” about a year ago [00:00:47]
- Feels other influencers copied his discovery without credit [00:00:53]
- CDs are nostalgic despite being digital format, inexpensive, reliable, and sound good [00:01:43]
- Critical of CD jewel boxes as “kind of a big mistake” [00:02:11]
- The Cool Geek M1 gets more guest attention than his expensive audiophile equipment [00:03:07]
- Believes the M1 is targeted at Bluetooth users rather than serious audiophiles [00:03:43]
Were there any funny moments, strong opinions, or memorable quotes?
- “It’s a harsh game, this YouTube game, and I try not to take it personally, but come on, guys. I had the information first.” [00:00:59]
- Jokes about finding CDs for 25 cents: “Sure, it’s going to be Engelbert Humperdinck, but every once in a while you might find gold in those CD hills.” [00:02:00]
- Sarcastically mentions dreaming about a picture frame CD player: “I don’t know if you’re like me, but I’ve often, often dreamed about having a CD player in the form of a picture frame. I mean, it’s been a long aspirational thing.” [00:02:37]
Summary
Bob opens this video by declaring that CDs are experiencing a resurgence and positions himself as the first YouTuber to identify this trend, expressing some frustration that other content creators have since adopted his observation without acknowledgment. He sets up the video as a comparison between two modern CD players while teasing that both share a common flaw he’ll reveal later.
The host begins his review with the Cool Geek M1, a unique picture frame-style CD player priced between $150-$250. He explains why CDs are making a comeback: they’re nostalgic despite being digital, inexpensive and easy to find (mentioning 25-cent sidewalk sales in Austin), reliable, and sound good. He’s critical of jewel boxes but generally positive about the format’s accessibility and fun factor.
The Cool Geek M1 clearly fascinates Bob, particularly because it draws more attention from his weekend guests than his expensive audiophile equipment. He describes it as battery-powered with 8 hours of playtime, wall-mountable, and seemingly designed for Bluetooth users rather than serious audiophiles. While he finds it entertaining and conversation-starting, he appears to view it more as a novelty item than a serious piece of audio equipment, setting up anticipation for his promised revelation about modern CD players’ shortcomings.
⏱️ Mid-Video Analysis
What gear, products, or brands are discussed in this portion?
- [00:04:25] CoolDeak M1 CD player – discussed with physical description including screw-on pedestal feet for angled positioning, plexiglass front and back plates
- [00:06:32] CoolDeak M1 specifications: next-gen laser technology, high-resolution coding, supports 48kHz at 320kbps, CD/CDDA/CDR/CDRW/MP3/WMA file support, Bluetooth 5.0, 3.5mm auxiliary jack
- [00:08:52] SMSL PL-20 CD player – described as compact with solid metal case construction, from “Funfi company” SMSL
What are the host’s key findings, verdicts, or opinions?
- [00:07:52] CoolDeak M1 “works pretty well” with easy Bluetooth connectivity and intuitive controls
- [00:08:14] Both players have an “Achilles heel” that he’ll reveal later in the video
- [00:09:04] SMSL PL-20 has “nice construction”
- [00:06:47] Plexiglass front “can be a little annoying” due to dust and scratch concerns
Any audiophile tips, advice, or how-to content?
- [00:06:01] Host’s DIY tip: placing red electrical tape on top of plexiglass to avoid fingerprints when opening the player
- [00:07:20] Notes the 3.5mm jack isn’t easily accessible with the plexi in place but useful for home use
Any memorable quotes or strong takes?
- [00:06:14] “Yeah, that’s the United States of Analog Engineering Department at work” – referring to his electrical tape fingerprint solution
- [00:08:25] “Many of you in the CD game at this price point can probably figure out what that is” – teasing the common flaw he’ll reveal later
Summary:
This portion focuses on the host’s detailed examination of the CoolDeak M1 portable CD player, though he gets sidetracked with humorous anecdotes about his wife hiding his audio gear and accessories when company visits. He describes the M1’s physical design, including its distinctive angled positioning capability and plexiglass construction, while sharing his clever solution of using red electrical tape to avoid fingerprints when opening the unit.
The host covers the M1’s technical specifications, noting its standard CD player capabilities along with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and support for various disc formats and file types. He observes that most users will likely use it primarily as a Bluetooth device, though it includes a 3.5mm auxiliary output for wired connections. The controls are described as basic but functional, covering essential playback functions.
The segment concludes with the introduction of the SMSL PL-20, which he describes as having superior build quality with its metal construction. Throughout, the host hints at a significant flaw common to budget CD players that he plans to reveal later in the video, creating suspense for viewers familiar with affordable CD player limitations.
🏁 Final Thoughts & Verdict
What gear, products, or brands are discussed in this final portion?
- [09:15-11:43] A $200 CD player with car-loading mechanism (slot-loading)
- [10:53] DNA Alpha headphone amp (mentioned as upcoming review)
- [11:03] Dual CS43131 DAC chips (inside the CD player)
- [12:10-13:42] Reference to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, Beatles’ Sergeant Peppers, and classical music (Rachmaninoff) as examples for gapless playback testing
- [13:13-13:19] 1980s CD players and Sony Discman (as comparison examples)
What is the host’s final verdict or conclusion?
[11:43-11:49] The host “actually quite enjoyed using this unit” and thinks “the price is spot on for $200”
[11:49-13:34] However, he identifies a critical flaw: lack of gapless playback, calling it “the fatal, well, not fatal, to that Achilles heel”
[13:43-13:55] Final assessment: “these are fun machines. This is fun-fi stuff. It’s not gonna knock it out of the park. It’s not completely audiophile, but they’re just fun products at an affordable price”
Were there any final recommendations — buy, skip, or consider?
[13:36-13:43] Conditional recommendation: “If you’re a big fan of Pink Floyd, The Beatles, or Rachmaninoff, you know, you might want to look elsewhere. Otherwise, these are fun machines.”
Any final tips, caveats, or advice for viewers?
[12:03-12:48] Detailed explanation of what gapless playback is and why it matters for certain types of music
[12:48-13:34] Strong caveat about the gapless playback limitation affecting musical enjoyment on albums with connected tracks
How did the video wrap up?
[13:55-14:21] Standard YouTube outro encouraging viewers to watch another video, with the host mentioning YouTube’s algorithm will suggest the next video
[14:21-14:26] Casual sign-off with “Cheers!” followed by a humorous comment about looking for his headphones
Any memorable closing quotes or strong final opinions?
[12:53-13:06] “it begs the question as to why in 2026, we still, in some machines, don’t have gapless playback? I mean, I thought we figured that out in the 80s.”
[13:25-13:34] “I just don’t understand why in 2026, many machines still don’t have that basic, very necessary feature for musical enjoyment, gapless playback.”
Summary
In this final portion, the host provides a detailed review of a $200 CD player featuring car-style slot loading, multiple connection options including headphone jacks, and CD ripping capabilities. The device includes dual CS43131 DAC chips and supports various formats including high-resolution files, Bluetooth streaming, and USB playback. He praises the build quality, form factor, and value proposition, stating he enjoyed testing the unit and considers the price appropriate.
However, the host identifies a significant limitation that he considers an “Achilles heel” – the lack of gapless playback. He explains this feature’s importance using examples like Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon and Beatles’ Sergeant Peppers, where tracks flow seamlessly into each other. The absence of this feature means listeners will experience small hiccups or pauses between connected tracks, which disrupts the intended musical experience.
The host expresses frustration that this basic feature, which was standard in 1980s CD players including portable Discmans, is still missing from modern devices in 2026. His final recommendation is conditional: while these are enjoyable “fun-fi” products at an affordable price, listeners who frequently play albums with connected tracks should look elsewhere. He concludes that while not completely audiophile-grade, these devices offer good value for casual listening.
Analysis generated from archived transcripts. Channel: United States of Analog — hi-fi gear reviews, vinyl, and audiophile culture.
