Hot CD204 portable CD player review

Key Takeaways

• Retro tech lovers are experimenting with CDs as well — so, you’ll need a CD player to participate.
• EQ presets such as jazz and rock enhance the modern features of the Hott CD204, but the bass boost option is not recommended.
• Priced at $70 on Amazon, it’s a reliable choice for those looking for a simple, portable CD player with skip protection.

Audiophiles have long known that CDs are timeless and deliver great sound at an affordable price. In the age of broadcasting, CDs fell by the wayside, but with the resurgence of interest in retro technology, many people are trying CDs again. There are several CD players on the market, and among them is the Hott CD204.

This portable CD player is simple and unpretentious, but then again, you don’t really need anything fancy from a CD player. I tried out the Hott CD204 to see how well it performs and whether it should be your next portable listening base.

Pricing, specifications, and availability

It’s portable, light, and easy

The Hott CD204 is available for purchase on Amazon for $70. The sleek black CD player is about the size of any standard of its kind, weighing 8.4 ounces — with AA batteries inside — and measuring 5.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches.

The device uses two AA batteries, which are not included, or can be powered by connecting it to a power source via the USB-C cable, which is included in the box. It only requires wired earbuds or headphones, and it doesn’t have wireless connectivity like Bluetooth, so you’ll need to make sure you have wired headphones to use with the device. The CD player comes with a 3.5mm aux cable, so you can connect it to a speaker system in your home or car.

Although the Hott CD204 is a very simple CD player that looks and acts like the ones you could buy 20 years ago, it has a few extra features that make it more modern. Namely, it has several EQ presets to choose from, and it has anti-skip protection, so moving it around won’t interfere with your listening experience.

What I liked about the Hott CD204 CD player

The device mixes the modern and the tried-and-true very well

For those who want to embrace more retro technology, the Hott CD204 has a vibe similar to a CD player from the early 2000s. There’s nothing overly modern about it, except for the fact that it has a few extra features like EQ, overclocking protection, and it can be powered by USB-C. This machine is indistinguishable at first glance from the CD player you might find in your parents’ basement.

All that being said, I really enjoy the modern features — the EQ settings are great. Presets include bass boost, pop, jazz, rock, and classic. I particularly enjoyed the jazz and rock presets, as the jazz preset brightens the highs in a way that makes the horns and percussion sound lovely without overpowering the bass frequencies, and the rock option boosts the bass in a way that doesn’t interfere with some of the highs. waves. The pop and classical presets don’t do much for me, as both are exactly the same as the default sound profile, with classical having a slight bass boost, and pop sounding flat. The bass boost EQ preset is particularly brutal, however, with loud and muddy bass drowning out other frequencies.

This machine is indistinguishable at first glance from the CD player you might find in your parents’ basement.

As I mentioned above, this CD player has anti-skip protection, which ensures that your music does not skip or buffer when you move. I found that it worked really well, and I had no problems while walking with the CD player in my hands or in my bag, and I had no problems when I moved the CD player, just to test its limits. .

Finally, the fact that the Hott CD204 is so lightweight makes it truly portable, at least in one respect. CD players are inherently bulky, as they are always larger than CDs and therefore cannot fit into any pockets, but at least, the fact that it is light makes it easy to carry or throw in my pocket. a bag. That’s more than I can say for the CD player I used growing up, which was bulky and heavy in comparison.

This mix of simplicity, retro appeal, and a bit of modernity has made the Hott CD204 a delightful device to use.

This combination of simplicity, retro appeal, and a bit of modernity made the Hott CD204 a lovely device to use. I listened to an array of CDs from my teenage years, and I used the CD player with a variety of different headphones, from Sony MDR-EX15AP earbuds to Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, and I always enjoyed playing CD. player. There were no hiccups or malfunctions along the way, making it a very reliable option in my opinion.

What I didn’t like about the Hott CD204 CD player

While the CD player is great, there are a few minor caveats

The biggest problem I have with the Hott CD204 is that it is expensive for what it is. There are many other CD players available online that are more affordable, or at similar prices with more features. One example is the Arafuna CD player I reviewed earlier, which is $5 cheaper and has built-in speakers and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. For $70, I would expect some extra features, or at least better build quality than cheap plastic housings.

Another minor issue I would point out is that the earbuds that come with the device have very little quality to them, with little consistent sound as well. The earbuds come with attached ear tips and there are no other sizes, so they don’t fit in my ears well, and they make a nasty clicking sound when I try to fit them in my ear.

For $70, I would expect some extra features, or at least better build quality than cheap plastic housings.

Finally, as mentioned when I went through the EQ reset options, the bass boost reset sounds awful. It goes beyond boosted bass to extreme bass and heavy sub-bass, until the level of bass frequencies is reduced to match the volume, resulting in a muddy sound with no clarity. It’s so loud that it blocks out the high frequencies in the middle of the walking range, making any song I listen to it unpleasant. Thankfully, this preset is only optional, so you can easily avoid using it.

Should you get the Hott CD204 CD player?

Anyone looking for a reliably good, simple, and lightweight CD player will be able to enjoy the Hott CD204. During my time using it, I didn’t face any major issues, the only caveats being the earbuds — which aren’t a problem if you have other wired headphones — and the price. But if you can find it at auction, I would say it is the best option. It can be sold for as low as $38, and if so, I would recommend it without hesitation.

Otherwise, the Hott CD204 is a great device for listening to CDs at home or on the go. It satisfies my love of retro tech without being too dated. It’s much lighter than my old CD player from my childhood, makes it more portable, and I like that it’s matte black, as matte black goes with everything.