An Affordable Hi-Fi Brand Wants to Breathe New Life Into Your Old CD Collection

The desktop audio component looks pretty darn cool, as well.

Silver portable CD player with a spinning disc inside and a USB flash drive plugged in.

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By Tucker Bowe

Published April 10, 2026

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Updated April 10, 2026

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Fosi Audio is continuing its streak of bringing high-performing audio components to your desktop at reasonable prices.

So far this year, this fast-growing audio brand has introduced the BT20A Max integrated amplifier, for those who want to integrate passive bookshelf speakers into the desktop audio setup, as well as the S3, its first foray into high-resolution streaming.

With its latest audio component, it’s now catering to audiophiles looking for an easy way to add a CD player (with the ability to rip their CDs) to their desktop setup.

Fosi Audio Merak CD Player

Silver portable CD player with a clear lid, silver wired earphones, white over-ear headphones, and a wooden box with stacked CD cases on a wooden surface. — The Merak is CD player and transport designed for desktop use. It also functions as an external DAC and headphone amplifier.

More than just a CD player

The Merak is the company’s first venture into CD players. And despite looking like a new-age portable CD player (which seems to be quite the rage right now), the Merak is very much designed as a fixed desktop component. It lacks a built-in battery and must be continuously powered.

In addition to working like a desktop CD player, the Merak also functions as an all-in-one digital transport, DAC and headphone amplifier. According to the brand, it offers “a versatile and high-performance solution for both casual listeners and dedicated hi-fi enthusiasts.”

Clear acrylic two-tier audio equipment stand holding a silver CD player and a black audio amplifier with orange knobs. — The Merak is shown being used as a CD transport, paired with Fosi Audio’s ZH3 DAC and headphone amplifier.

Silver compact disc player with digital display on a wooden desk next to a laptop and black headphones. — Despite looking like a portable Discman, the Merak is a desktop component that requires constant power.

The Merak’s architecture is built around a high-quality DAC (CS43131) and headphone amplifier (TPA6120). Together, it supports high-resolution playback up to 16-bit/96kHz.

And, thanks to a signal-to-noise ratio of up to 124dB and ultra-low distortion, Fosi claims the system is able to deliver “clean, detailed sound across headphones, amplifiers and active speakers.”

Silver rectangular electronic device with multiple round buttons and a black display screen on the front panel. — The front panel features an OLED display and buttons for playback controls.

Silver electronic device with USB, optical, line out, 12V trigger, and DC power ports on a white surface. — With optical and line outputs, the Merak can connect easily to external DACs, amplifiers or active speakers.

Archive your music library

As a CD player and transport, the Merak is engineered for accurate playback. It features a professional-grade CD mechanism and servo system. It also has ESP (Electronic Shock Protection) as an extra preventative measure against vibrations and distortion.

When used as a CD transport, the Merak can be paired with an external DAC via an optical output that features a low-jitter clock.

And when connected to your computer via USB-A, it can rip your CDs and archive your music library in lossless WAV format.

Silver compact turntable with buttons and display on a wooden shelf next to black audio equipment and a remote control. — The Merak also comes with a remote,

Silver portable CD player with black display screen and orange volume knob on a white surface. — The transparent lid provides a nice visual of the spinning CDs while playing.

Rounding out the features, the Merak has a transparent top-loading design that lets you see the CD as it’s spinning, which is neat. The OLED display on the front panel shows playback information. And the buttons on the front control playback and various modes (such as Repeat and Shuffle).

Silver portable CD player with a CD inside, silver CD disc, white wired earphones, beige over-ear headphones, and a white clock on a light surface. — The Merak features a single 3.5mm headphone jack. Despite the image showing wireless headphones, the Merak doesn’t have built-in Bluetooth.

Availability and pricing

The Fosi Audio Merak CD Player is available now through the company’s website. It costs $140 and comes in one finish: silver.

Silver Fosi Audio CD player with black display screen, control buttons, and an orange volume knob.

Fosi Audio Merak CD Player

$140 at Fosi Audio

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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