Get the weekly hi-fi digest — new gear, best reads, and deals.

km5 launches the limited-edition Instant Disk Audio-CP1 WICKED model on February 20, priced at ¥24,200, following earlier crowdfunding-based pre-sales success.
The wireless CD player emphasizes “music and jacket art enjoyment,” allowing CD cases to be displayed on the front for integrated visual and audio experiences.
Modern specifications include Bluetooth 5.1 wireless playback, a 3.5mm headphone jack, USB Type-C charging, and approximately 7–8 hours of continuous playback.
Beyond the obvious crossover appeal, the CP1 WICKED model reads as a quiet manifesto about how optical disc playback can coexist with contemporary listening habits. km5’s design philosophy leans less toward chasing ultimate resolution and more toward preserving the intentionality of the CD format. By separating the player from the traditional hi-fi stack and removing it from the visual noise of amplifiers and displays, the unit reframes the CD as a self-contained medium—disc, artwork, and narrative presented as a single object. This contrasts with the dominant streaming-first mindset, where metadata replaces liner notes and playback becomes frictionless to the point of invisibility.
From a technical standpoint, the CP1’s hybrid approach is notable. Wireless transmission is treated as a convenience layer rather than a sonic statement, while the physical disc mechanism remains central to the experience. The choice to keep the signal path simple aligns with a growing audiophile sentiment that minimizing UI complexity and processing can enhance engagement, even if it doesn’t chase benchmark measurements. Power management and portability also suggest a focus on stable clocking and consistent performance across sessions, rather than absolute output power or feature density. It’s a design that prioritizes predictability and repeatability—qualities often discussed in CD transport forums but rarely addressed in lifestyle-oriented players.
Where perspectives diverge is in how this product is categorized. Some see it as a design object with audio capability; others interpret it as a deliberate counterpoint to algorithm-driven consumption. km5 appears to side with the latter, positioning CD playback as an act that demands time and attention, particularly relevant for a musical like WICKED, where motifs and reprises carry narrative weight. In that sense, the CP1 isn’t attempting to modernize the CD—it’s attempting to preserve the ritual around it, using modern connectivity only insofar as it removes barriers without diluting the core experience.
New gear, best reads, and deals — every Friday.

* The Crossover EC Zero T, a portable CD player, is a collaboration between SHANLING and MOONDROP, limited to 2000 units globally.

* The bPower CryoFly by bFly-Audio uses cryogenic treatment to enhance conductor electrical properties, aimed at improving sound clarity and dynamics.

* Samsung Display introduces the Penta-Tandem technology for its QD-OLED panels, enhancing performance and durability significantly.

* The M3 Plus ASANO TANCH Edition DAP, a collaboration between SHANLING and TANCHJIM, launches globally on February 20, limited to 2,000 units.