Before there were music apps, streaming services and smartphones, there was the Compact Disc, which was used to play music and teaching materials, among other things, in a CD player . This Dutch invention became incredibly popular in a short time and caused a revolution in the audio world. “The rest is history”.
16 million CDs sold
Since music is often listened to online and digitally and the CD has been pushed more into the background, fewer CDs are being made. Yet last year, 16 million worth of CDs were sold in the Netherlands.The sound is still popular, various music artists release their music on CD and education in various countries also offers education on CD.
This upward trend is also noticeable in the sales of CD players and Discmans . At first glance you might think of an 'old school' approach. However, with contemporary designs and sometimes even equipped with modern combinations and functionalities, the CD player remains a valuable addition to an audio collection.
The history of the CD
The journey of the Compact Disc began in the early 1970s, when a collaboration between Philips and Sony led to the development of this revolutionary technology. Launched in 1982, the CD was originally designed for storing and playing music, with the glossy discs offering a vast improvement in sound quality compared to the vinyl records and cassette tapes of the time. The ability to squeeze more than an hour of music onto one disc without sacrificing quality was unprecedented at the time.
This innovation ushered in a new era for the music industry, making albums and songs more accessible to the general public. Soon the use of CDs expanded into other areas, such as data storage for computers and as a medium for educational materials, establishing the CD as a versatile and indispensable technology of the late 20th century. The influence of the CD on the dissemination of music and information can hardly be overestimated, and although the technology has now been overtaken by many digital formats, its legacy remains forever preserved in the history of audio.
How does a CD work?
The operation of a CD relies on optical technology in which digital data is encoded in tiny pits on the surface of a glossy disc. When a CD is placed in a CD player, a laser beam shines on the disc as it spins. The reflection of the laser beam changes as it moves over the pits (the encoded data) and the flat areas between the pits (the uncoded areas). An optical sensor in the player detects these changes in reflection and converts them into electrical signals, which are then amplified and converted into audible sound or other forms of data. This advanced technology made it possible to achieve high-quality sound that was unaffected by physical wear and tear of the disc, a revolutionary step forward from the earlier vinyl records and cassette tapes.
CD players & Discmans from Lenco
If you want the best of both worlds – embracing modern conveniences without giving up your treasured CD collection – then you will find exactly what you are looking for at Lenco. Our extensive range of radio/CD players offers something for everyone, perfect for those who want to combine the nostalgic value of CDs with contemporary functionality.
