High-End Audio Brands Halted CD Player Production
PS Audio and Naim discontinued specific disc player models due to a global scarcity of specialized optical drive components.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Auto Parts
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PS Audio and Naim have ended production of their high-end CD player models, including the PMG Super Audio CD Transport and the Uniti Star. The decision follows a supply chain collapse for the optical drive hardware necessary for these devices.
Why it matters
The manufacturing of high-fidelity audio equipment relies on aging mechanical components that suppliers are no longer producing. As these specialized parts vanish, boutique audio firms face technical barriers that make continued production of physical disc players unsustainable.
D&M Holdings stopped accepting orders for SACD/CD mechanisms in July 2024 after a period where component costs doubled. PS Audio secured remaining inventory from the supplier to ensure current owners retain access to repair services.
The players
PS Audio
This high-end audio company is known for engineering professional-grade music playback systems and components.
Naim
Based in the United Kingdom, this manufacturer specializes in premium high-fidelity audio electronics and streaming systems.
D&M Holdings
This company functions as a key supplier of complex electronic and mechanical components used in consumer and professional audio hardware.
The details
Audio manufacturers integrate optical drives as complete mechanical assemblies that require precise control codes and hardware adjustments to function. Because building proprietary optical disc readers from scratch is beyond their internal technical capabilities, firms must cease production once existing supplies are exhausted.
Timeline
D&M Holdings announced the discontinuation of their SACD/CD mechanisms in June 2024.
The final deadline for companies to place orders for optical mechanisms was in July 2024.
Production halts at Naim and PS Audio were reported in September 2026.
Roadmap
The reliance on the D&M Holdings SACD/CD optical mechanism represents a critical vulnerability in the niche market for physical high-fidelity media. As these specific mechanical assemblies exit the supply chain, the industry must either shift exclusively toward streaming or develop entirely new playback architectures.
Consumers looking for these specific models may find them unavailable in retail markets as manufacturers clear out remaining inventory for service repairs. Future buyers should expect shifts in product availability as high-end brands move away from hardware that requires discontinued mechanical drives.
The takeaway
The end of these high-end CD players highlights the fragility of modern hardware that depends on specialized, legacy mechanical components. Investors and enthusiasts should monitor how boutique brands reorient their product roadmaps as the supply of classic playback hardware inevitably dries up.
Further reading
For broader context on manufacturing supply chain constraints, visit Auto Parts.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tom's Hardware.
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