Best Portable CD and Cassette Players of 2026 (Plus Vinyl)

Updated 2026-11-10 · By the Touch Grass editors

Quick answer

The best portable CD player is the FiiO DM13 (about $165), a modern Discman with audiophile DACs that can also rip CDs to a USB drive. For tapes, get the FiiO CP13 (about $100), a new Walkman-style player with about 13 hours of battery. For vinyl, the Crosley Cruiser Plus (about $89, often on sale) is an easy first turntable.

Physical media is back for a simple reason: you put on an album and it plays. No autoplay, no algorithm deciding what's next, no phone in your hand. CDs, tapes and records also give you something to hold, lend and find at a thrift store.

New, well-made players are easier to find than they were a few years ago. Here are our picks for CDs, cassettes and, if you'd rather stay home, vinyl.

Player	Price	Plays	Battery	Outputs	Best for
FiiO DM13	About $165	CDs	About 10 hours	3.5mm, 4.4mm, optical, coaxial	A CD collection on the go
FiiO CP13	About $100	Cassettes	About 13 hours, USB-C	3.5mm headphone	Tapes, old and new
Crosley Cruiser Plus	About $89, often on sale	Records at 33, 45 and 78 rpm	No battery listed	Built-in speakers, Bluetooth out, RCA, headphone	Starting a record collection

Why play CDs or tapes instead of streaming?

Because you listen to a whole album you chose, start to finish, without a phone in your hand. There's nothing to skip to and no feed waiting behind the music.

You also end up owning things. Gear Patrol called the FiiO DM13 a stunning way to revisit your CD collection, and What Hi-Fi has followed FiiO's cassette player as the tape revival continues.

Best portable CD player: FiiO DM13

The FiiO DM13 is the best portable CD player because it plays CDs well and also rips them. Plug in a USB drive and it saves your discs as WAV files, ready to copy onto an MP3 player.

It has dual CS43198 DACs, 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone outputs, and optical and coaxial digital outputs for hooking it up to a home stereo. Battery life is about 10 hours. A Bluetooth (aptX) version is available, so check which one you're buying. It's about $165.

Not for: people with no CDs and no plans to buy any. A dedicated MP3 player is cheaper.

FiiO

FiiO DM13 Portable CD Player

A modern Discman that rips CDs too $164.99

Best cassette player: FiiO CP13

The FiiO CP13 is the best cassette player you can buy new, because it's built to modern standards. It uses a JRC5532 op-amp and has low wow and flutter, the wobble in pitch that cheap players are known for.

The 1,800mAh battery gives about 13 hours and charges over USB-C. It comes in several colors, including a transparent finish. It's about $100.

Not for: recording mixtapes. The CP13 is playback only, with a single 3.5mm headphone output, so you'll need headphones or a powered speaker.

FiiO

FiiO CP13 Cassette Player

A brand-new Walkman-style tape player $99.99

Best for vinyl: Crosley Cruiser Plus

The Crosley Cruiser Plus is the easiest way to start playing records, at about $89 and often less on sale. It dropped to about $47 in June 2026. It's a suitcase-style turntable with built-in speakers, so you can open it and play a record right away.

It handles 33, 45 and 78 rpm records with pitch control. Bluetooth works both ways: it can play from your phone, or send the record out to better Bluetooth speakers. There's also RCA out, an aux input and a headphone jack. Colors vary by stock.

Not for: listening on the move. It's a carry-between-rooms player. If you already know you want a separate turntable and speakers, you'll likely outgrow it.

Crosley

Crosley Cruiser Plus

The suitcase turntable that starts a record collection $89often on sale

CD, cassette or vinyl: which should you start with?

Start with whatever you can already get your hands on. Then think about where you'll listen.

CDs: good sound on the go, and easy to rip so your music works on other players too.
Cassettes: small, pocketable and nostalgic, with a more lo-fi sound. Good if you like the ritual of flipping a side.
Vinyl: the at-home pick. Big artwork, a reason to sit down, and records that make good gifts.

Where do you find CDs, tapes and records?

Thrift stores, used record shops and garage sales are the cheapest places to start. Many public libraries also lend CDs, so you can try albums before buying.

Artists still sell CDs, cassettes and vinyl at shows and on their own stores, and buying direct sometimes comes with a download too. Ask family members: plenty of people have a box of CDs or tapes in a closet they'd be happy to hand over.

Can you rip CDs with the FiiO DM13?

Yes. The DM13 rips CDs to WAV files on a USB drive, with no computer needed. That makes it a good partner for a phone-free music setup: play the disc at home, rip it, and carry the files on an Innioasis Y1 or Snowsky Echo Mini. Browse more players in Music, Offline.

Frequently asked questions

Are portable CD players still made?

Yes. The FiiO DM13 is a current model with audiophile DACs, digital outputs and CD ripping to a USB drive. It's about $165.

Can the FiiO CP13 record cassettes?

No. The CP13 is playback only. It has one 3.5mm headphone output and about 13 hours of battery.

Does the FiiO DM13 have Bluetooth?

There's a Bluetooth (aptX) version available. Check the listing to make sure you're getting the version you want.

Can the Crosley Cruiser Plus play through other speakers?

Yes. It has Bluetooth out, so it can send music to Bluetooth speakers, plus RCA out for wired speakers. It also has built-in speakers.

What does 78 rpm mean on a turntable?

It's the playback speed for older 78 records. The Crosley plays 33, 45 and 78 rpm, so it covers modern LPs, singles and older records.

Is a new cassette player better than a vintage Walkman?

A new player like the FiiO CP13 avoids worn-out belts and old batteries, and charges over USB-C. A well-kept vintage player can sound great too, but condition varies a lot.

Sources

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