Bodily media and on-device music are making a comeback. Just a few situations of artists pulling their catalog from music streaming providers may be all it takes to push individuals to try owning their music again. Along with streaming, I play music on vinyl data, CDs, cassettes, and MP3 gamers. I get requested a easy query each time somebody expresses an curiosity on the planet of bodily media: The place do you even discover music to purchase today?
Consider it or not, digital marketplaces like iTunes and Amazon Music are nonetheless round, they usually’re nice choices for buying digital information. However there’s a greater means—CDs. They’re reasonably priced, simple to seek out, and you may rip lossless digital audio information from them. Now that computer systems with optical drives are all however extinct, the easiest way to show your CD collection into lossless digital media is with a standalone, transportable CD participant.
Why {hardware} is easier for CD ripping than software program
No want to fret about dongles, apps, or copy safety
Utilizing your laptop to tear CDs and burn new ones was simple with software program within the early days of MP3 gamers. Almost each machine, whether or not a laptop computer or desktop, had an optical drive that might learn and write to compact discs. Furthermore, most individuals thinking about CD ripping already had iTunes put in on their computer systems. iPods held greater than three-quarters of the MP3 participant market within the U.S. at their peak, and iTunes was the official software program used to sync music to them.
Leaping again to 2025, the scenario could not be extra completely different now. Optical drives aren’t frequent on laptops or desktops, and even exterior USB optical drives are arduous to seek out. By way of software program, you are extra more likely to have your favourite streaming service’s app put in in your Mac and PC than a CD-ripping software. That features mainstream choices like iTunes (or the Music/Finder apps on trendy macOS variations).
In lots of jurisdictions, copying or “ripping” music from CDs you personal for private use is usually thought of to be acceptable. Nonetheless, it may be a authorized grey space, so verify the principles on your area earlier than continuing.
For example you could have the {hardware} wanted to tear CDs to your laptop. It in all probability features a few dongles and third-party software, like Precise Audio Copy or dbPoweramp. There are nonetheless ache factors, like operating into pesky copy-protection software program on sure discs that forestalls ripping, or having to pay for a service like dbPoweramp.
That is why, as an alternative of utilizing dongles, buying an exterior optical drive, and downloading software, you can purchase a standalone CD participant that handles all of it by itself.
All of the methods you may rip CDs with Fiio’s DM13
It is a transportable participant, standalone CD ripper, and rather more
I stumbled upon Fiio’s DM13 transportable CD participant practically a yr in the past whereas searching for a contemporary, feature-rich solution to play my rising CD assortment. It has been my go-to participant ever since. Nonetheless, after getting bored with having to maintain an outdated iMac round for CD ripping, I made a decision it was time to place the Fiio DM13 to the take a look at. Think about my shock once I realized this participant can rip lossless audio information straight to a USB drive — no laptop or app vital.
The way in which it really works is straightforward. There are two USB-C ports on the again, labeled USB REC and POWER IN. To begin ripping a CD, load it into the tray, join your flash drive to the POWER IN port, and join a 5W USB-C charger to the USB REC port. That sounds the other of what it must be, however within the context of the Fiio DM13, CD ripping is completely different than CD recording.
After utilizing the menu buttons to change the participant to the USB OUT mode, you can begin ripping your CD into particular person lossless WAV information for every observe, full with metadata. When completed, unplug the flash drive, and the rip is full. You’ll be able to plug it into a pc to switch the album’s contents to your music library, or plug it straight right into a cellphone or music participant to start out listening instantly.
It is vital to notice that the Fiio DM13 additionally helps observe recording. This implies you may hook the participant as much as a pc with software program like iTunes or Precise Audio Copy for a extra superior rip, however you do not have to. It is a full transportable CD participant with a built-in rechargeable battery as properly, so it could possibly deal with all of your CD playback wants.
Why it is best to (and should not) rip with this accent
There are notable limitations, however I believe the advantages outweigh them
There are a number of drawbacks to utilizing the Fiio DM13 as a standalone audio ripper. For starters, it could possibly solely rip in actual time, so a 55-minute CD will take 55 minutes to tear. That may very well be a dealbreaker for some, since stable optical drives can rip CDs at as much as 10x velocity with relative ease. For bulk assortment rips, this sort of accent may gradual you down.
It is also value noting you can’t take heed to your CD whereas ripping—the Fiio DM13 helps recording and playback, however not on the similar time.
With these compromises in thoughts, the Fiio DM13 nonetheless stands out as the best solution to rip CDs in 2025. This accent handles all of the sophisticated components for you, recording straight to a easy USB stick, with out forcing you to re-learn how to rip on macOS and Windows. Retailing for between $100 and $200, relying on the mannequin, it is properly well worth the worth in order for you a flexible, multi-function CD participant and ripper.
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