Optical Drive Shortage Forces Hi-Fi Makers to Kill CD Player Lines
PS Audio and Naim have discontinued flagship CD players after suppliers stopped manufacturing the optical drives these devices require, with component costs doubling as manufacturers scrambled for remaining inventory.
A dwindling supply of optical drives designed for consumer electronics has forced two prominent audio equipment makers to pull the plug on their CD player lines. Despite a recent surge in physical media sales, the collapse of mainstream optical drive manufacturing has severed the supply chain for critical components that high-end audio brands depend on.
Naim's Uniti Star and PS Audio's PMG Super Audio CD Transport have both ceased production, according to reporting by Headphonesty. The underlying cause: suppliers no longer manufacture the optical hardware these units require, and neither company can readily source replacements.
PS Audio CEO Paul McGowan explained the company's predicament in a forum post: "The drives appropriate for a PMG are no longer available." He further noted that PS Audio lacks the internal capability to design and build its own optical disc reader, as the company's expertise centers on electronics and software rather than mechanical component manufacturing. Naim faces a similar constraint—the company assembles finished products from purchased components rather than manufacturing parts from raw materials.
The crisis accelerated in June 2024 when D&M Holdings, the parent company of Denon and Marantz, announced it would halt orders for its SACD/CD mechanism by month's end. As the apparent sole supplier of that particular component to third parties, D&M's exit forced competing brands into a scramble to stockpile inventory before the deadline. The rush drove component costs to double their previous levels. PS Audio responded by purchasing D&M's entire remaining inventory after Marantz itself ended production of SACD/CD drives.
Naim explored sourcing optical drives from an alternative supplier for the Uniti Star Streaming Amplifier, but the transition proved complicated. Optical media readers typically arrive as integrated assemblies, meaning a substitution requires new control codes and mechanical modifications to fit inside the existing product design. Before Naim could complete the integration work, the alternative supplier also ceased production.
While consumers can still purchase CD players and transports from other manufacturers, the Naim and PS Audio models are no longer available as new units. Both companies maintain component stocks for warranty repairs, ensuring that owners of existing systems can still service their devices if optical readers fail.