BEAMS Records’ Portable CD Player Is a Flashback to the Analog Era

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Summary

  • BEAMS Records has released a nostalgic, clear orange portable CD player that emphasizes a retro, Y2K-inspired aesthetic.
  • Diverging from modern Bluetooth versions, this “old-school” device features a traditional headphone jack and transparent shell, catering to the recent surge in physical media and transparent tech design.

Japanese fashion brand BEAMS is bringing back a classic with its new clear orange Portable CD Player. It’s a nostalgic nod to the past for music lovers.

Now available in a vibrant orange, this new version has an even stronger retro feel than the original blue model. Its transparent design lets you see all the internal components, and even the CD spinning as it plays. To get started, you’ll need just a couple of AA batteries, wired headphones, and a CD.

This year, BEAMS collaborated with Japanese audio company km5 to release a transparent version of the Instant Disk CP1 CD player. This model features Bluetooth 5.1 and offers 7-8 hours of playtime on a single charge. BEAMS Records also introduced a new, even more retro Portable CD Player – this one skips Bluetooth and relies on a classic headphone jack.

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Recent data from Hypemind shows a surprising comeback for CDs, with sales increasing by over 10% in 2024. The report suggests this revival is linked to a desire for authenticity and a trend of showcasing the internal workings of devices, like with km5’s CD players which are becoming collector’s items. This nostalgia for the early 2000s (Y2K) is now influencing tech design, with companies like BEAMS, Nothing, DJI, Korg, and SHARGE releasing clear gadgets. This clear aesthetic, popular in fashion, is now extending into the tech world.

The BEAMS Records Portable CD Player is available now at the official BEAMS webstore.

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2026-05-14 19:25