Sony CDP-101 CD Player & First Compact Disc (1982-1984)

✅ Sony CDP-101

🥇First Commercially-Released Compact Disc Player 

The Sony CDP-101, launched on October 1, 1982, was the "Genesis" of the digital audio age—the world's first commercially available compact disc player. Developed at a time when vinyl records and cassette tapes ruled the market, the machine retailed for a steep $730 (around $2,400 today). While its development partner Philips favored a top-loading design, the CDP-101 introduced the motorized, slide-out horizontal tray that became the global industry standard for disc players. Technologically, it was a beast of its time, packing a custom 16-bit digital-to-analog converter and three independent microprocessors, though it famously lacked a standard "Stop" button—using a "Reset" button instead to return the internal laser to its home position. It stands as a highly coveted pioneer that single-handedly proved digital audio was the undisputed future of music.

Source: Online Auction

Curators Note: At Westport Tech & Nostalgia Museum, the CDP-101 still plays! We play the original "Simon and Garfunkel" 35DP 13 Japanese pressing CD on the original Sony CDP-101 to give our visitors the experience of what hearing a CD for the first time would have been like on the CD launch day on October 1st, 1982 in Tokyo. We also play Dire Straits' "Brothers in Arms", to tell the story of how CD ultimately killed vinyl. Watch the attached video to hear the original 35DP 13 CD on the original, launch day hardware! 

✅ The Simon & Garfunkel Collection on Compact Disc

🥇One of the First 13 Albums Released on Compact Disc 

The Simon & Garfunkel Collection compact disc, released in early 1983, is a cornerstone of first-generation digital audio and a legendary prize for music purists. This Japanese first pressing was manufactured by CBS/Sony at a specialized plant that, at the time, was one of the only facilities on Earth capable of manufacturing CDs. Unlike modern remasters that artificially boost volume and crush the music's dynamics, this early release is celebrated for its completely unaltered transfer, taken directly from the original studio analog master tapes. Released well before the music industry standardized things like barcode placement or jewel case designs, these early discs featured smooth-sided plastic cases and extra-thick paper booklets. It is widely considered the absolute definitive digital representation of the duo’s iconic vocal harmonies, capturing their music exactly as it sounded in the recording studio.

Source: Online Auction