Car Stereos Leave CDs in the Dust

The saga of audio playback media reads like Roman history. The record was toppled by the eight-track tape, which was overthrown by the cassette, only to be later slain by the compact disc (CD). And, despite fending off attempted coups by the likes of the MiniDisc, it appears as though the CD’s reign may finally be coming to an end – usurped by new digital music technologies. While plummeting CD sales and increased iTunes downloads have provided an indication of the transference of power, a new trend in car stereos is making it official.

More than any other place, the car is where people listen to music. Cruising around with the latest summer jams blaring is a tradition that spans nearly the entire life of the automobile. This is why getting phased out of car stereos is the kiss of death for any audio media (just look at cassettes and eight-track tapes). And, now, that kiss of death is being planted on the CD. In the past year, major car-stereo producers – including Clarion and Alpine – have introduced decks with ports for connecting digital media players in place of traditional CD players. While previous stereos featured both media ports and CD players, newer models have done away with the CD component altogether.

People want the convenience of having a single source for all their music needs, and, as a result, nearly every device, from alarm clocks to running shoes, has become "iPod compatible". Several car-stereo makers have responded to the demand by dropping the CD player to provide enhanced portable media data transmission and sound quality. Clarion rolled out a $199 stereo in 2007 that plays music from MP3 players or SD cards instead of CD players. The company used the CD-free stereo as a test to gauge market interest and they’ve said it hit expectations. Meanwhile, Alpine released four new CD-free receivers in the beginning of the year (priced between $200 and $450) designed specifically for use with iPods.

However, despite these models (and a few others by stereo makers like Blaupunkt), the overwhelming majority of decks on the market still have CD players. And most makers believe it’s too early to drop the CD player. For one thing, a lot of people – particularly older drivers – are still more likely to get the majority of their music from CDs. Another major factor is that CD sound quality is better than the quality of compressed audio files – though only music aficionados can really tell the difference (and most of them say that sound quality on CDs is a drop from vinyl anyway). Of course, the major advantage these new players offer is that they eliminate all the bulky CD cases and books littering vehicle interiors everywhere. That, and the fact that downloads won’t skip even if a driver rides for twenty miles on rumble strips.

Still, for now, the CD retains its place atop the audio media hierarchy. But it’s on borrowed time, awaiting the inevitable overthrow already in the works. And, if history is any indication, CD-free car stereos suggest the end is drawing near.