As we grow older, it can be difficult to keep up with modern technology, but that doesn’t mean that we no longer want to enjoy our favourite music.
Elderly people may be used to CDs, rather than streaming from a smartphone, and it can be difficult to find a decent CD player now technology is moving away from physical discs.
I just got my 93 year-old father into audiobooks on CD, and he also likes using the same player for the radio in the morning, and his favourite music in the evening. It’s been great for him, and an alternative to watching TV.
I had some trouble finding a simple compact disc player, so if you’re also looking for a CD player for an elderly relative or friend, I’ve put together a list of the 3 best senior-friendly CD players and provided some tips, too.
Covered in this Article:
Groov-e CD Player Boombox
This is the one I got for dad, and he loves it.
This portable CD player by Groov-e supports all 3 CD functionalities (CD, CD-R and CD/RW) and also features both AM and FM radio stations, allowing your loved one to listen to their favourite station when they get up in the morning, whether that be a music station or the news.
It comes in 6 different colours and features a carry handle and telescopic antenna so you should get signal from anywhere.
The physical buttons are fairly large, meaning they’re easy to see and press and it also features an LED display, making it easy to see which track number is playing.
The player itself is 23 x 10 x 21cm, weighs 1.5kg and features a carry handle, so there’s no worry of being injured if an elderly relative was to move it.
The CD player also has a repeat function, allowing the user to put one song on repeat or to repeat the whole CD when it comes to an end, meaning there’s no faffing about trying to restart the disc – it does it automatically.
One of my favourite things about this boombox is that you can listen to it anywhere! It has a mains plug so you can plug it into the wall, but it can also be run off of batteries, meaning that it can be taken into the garden on a warm Summer evening.
If there’s a certain song they just need to listen to, but they don’t have it on CD, the player features an aux-in function allowing a smartphone mp3 player or tablet to be plugged in! And if listening in private is something they prefer, it has a headphone socket too.
Pros:
- Compact and light
- 6 colours
- Large buttons
- LED display
- Carry handle
- AM/FM Radio
- Supports all 3 CD functionalities
- Headphone jack
- Mains and battery powered
- Aux-in function
- Repeat function
Cons:
- Only supports CD and radio, no cassette tapes
Philips Portable CD Player
This portable CD player by Philips is compatible with all 3 CD functionalities. It allows you to listen to FM radio and features a dynamic bass boost, allowing you to customise the bass frequencies which may be helpful for those who are hard of hearing.
The big buttons are easy to understand and press and the screen is large and easy to see. The player also features a shuffle/repeat function – once your favourite CD is loaded in, pressing the shuffle button will play the tracks in a different order.
Something I absolutely love about this player is that it features a tape deck, which isn’t too common nowadays! All those cassette tapes that your elderly relative has stored away no longer have to stay collecting dust, they can actually be played!
This CD player also features an Audio-in function, which allows you to play music through the CD player’s speakers from another device, such as a smartphone or computer.
It’s 13.3 x 24 x 30cm and weighs 2kg, so it’s relatively compact and won’t take up much space. Reviewers have said that despite its small size, it has a clear and powerful sound and doesn’t sound ‘tinny’, even with the volume on low.
Pros:
- Good sound
- Compact and light
- Tape deck
- Radio
- Dynamic bass boost
- Easy to see buttons
- Shuffle/Repeat functions
- Audio-in function
Cons:
- No headphone port
- No carry handle
Roxel Portable Boombox
This portable boombox by Roxel comes in 7 different colours and has a variety of playback modes. It can play the radio, CDs, mp3 players connected by USB drive or aux-in and can even be used as a bluetooth speaker.
It can be mains powered or battery powered and the physical buttons are large, with contrasting colours which make them easy to see and press.
It also features an LCD screen that allows you to find and save your favourite radio stations so there’s no need to flick through the channels every time you want to find the correct station.
I think one of the best things about this boombox is that it comes with a remote that allows the user to change volume, skip tracks, and switch between CD, radio, USB and aux modes.
This means that this player would be suitable for someone who is bed-bound or cannot move around easily as they can listen to music and control it themselves, giving them that sense of independence.
This CD player also comes with a 1-year warranty, so if there’s a fault or it stops working for whatever reason then you’re covered.
Pros:
- 7 different colours
- Can play CD, USB, aux, and radio
- Mains or battery powered
- Large buttons with contrasting colours
- LCD display that’s easy to see
- Can save radio stations
- Comes with a remote
- Carry handle
- 21 x 27 x 13cm – 1.45kg so easy to move and carry
- 1 year warranty
Cons:
- No headphone jack
- Lid to CD compartment can be stiff
Playing Audiobooks For The Elderly
There’s nothing quite like an exciting story, but as we get older and our eyesight weakens it can be difficult to read a book.
However, that doesn’t mean that the elderly person can’t still enjoy a good story, audiobooks are becoming popular nowadays and you don’t need a strong understanding of modern technology to play them as audiobook CDs are still around!
Sites such as Audible, although known for their subscription service, also offer CD versions of many audio books.
Amazon itself also has a whole host of CD audiobooks, from a whole range of genres.
Most bookstores, such as Waterstones, also offer physical audio books, although if you don’t want to keep the audio book once you’ve listened to it – a library loan may be a better option.
Getting an audiobook from a library or bookstore also gives senior citizens the chance to get the book for themselves if they’re not computer literate as they can go into a shop and choose it, rather than having to rely on someone to order it for them.
After reading this article, I hope that you’ve found the information you’re looking for. Although, if you’re still unsure, charities such as ageuk always have plenty of advice on technology for senior citizens.
I’ve also written up the times I was buying my elderly father other items, like a microwave, toaster and exercise machine.