Better to insert a USB stick, or your phone, with FLACs of all your CD's anyway.

 

I had a CD player on my older vehicle but never used it. I go for a thumb drive.

 

The tape deck is missing as well. 😁

 

Our 2019 Limited is missing the 8 Track and I think it's ridiculous.

 

Actually - it IS an option to get. 2023 Subaru Outback CD Player | Subaru Online Parts

 

I wish more vehicles still had CD players. I miss not having the ability to pop in what I want to listen to with the best possible sound. I used to subscribe to both Spotify premium and Apple Music. Spotify sound sucks with its overly compressed music. And Apple is just too annoying to navigate. Though set to lossless it sounds so much better than Spotify. And as far as ripping my CDs I just don’t have the time and patience for that.

Sadly the days of in dash CD in any vehicle are just about over. Just like analog gauges and physical audio and climate controls.

 

Oh, god, the wailing and gnashing of teeth in the CRV forums over the fact that it didn't come with a CD player. So many comments about the Cracker Barrel and truck stop CDs.

I would say that lossless in a car really doesn't make a lot of sense as it's an imperfect listening environment anyways.

I haven't used a CD player in 20 years.
I put a head unit with usb and auxiliary inputs in a truck I had back then and never went back. (It had CD too, just never used it anymore.) Bluetooth became available, and that made it easier to manage. If and when I do listen to music while driving, I play from my pre made playlists.

Agreed. The only thing I use a cd player for is ripping to lossless. I love having my entire collection at my fingertips and not having to decide ahead of time what I want to listen to.

 

I haven't used a CD player in 20 years.
I put a head unit with usb and auxiliary inputs in a truck I had back then and never went back. (It had CD too, just never used it anymore.) Bluetooth became available, and that made it easier to manage. If and when I do listen to music while driving, I play from my pre made playlists.

 

I haven't used a CD player in 20 years.

Yeah, my 2011 had a CD player, I think I used it to try it, but I much prefer not having those things cluttering the interior of the car especially with the lack of storage in the cockpit of the 2021.

 

We have a 2021 Touring, which we purchased just under two years ago. We have yet to use the CD player. . .

 

I'm sure if a CD player is still wanted, one can be installed. My first car CD player was a portable "Discman" type, except I think it was made by Fisher and sold by Sears. It had what I think if I remember correctly was a 30 second pre sampling mode, that I stuck to my dash with some Velcro tape, plugged into the cigarette lighter, and ran a tape cassette adapter to the Pioneer head unit in a '74 Dodge.
Those were the days!🔊🎶😎
I'm sure there are other options available.
Edit: Oh, and I never went back to tapes either!😆

 

I'm sure if a CD player is still wanted, one can be installed.

One can be, I even linked to the accessory for purchase in my first reply in the thread...

 

If the current Subaru CD players are similar to the one in my 2018 Limited, you are better off using a USB stick. My CD player inserts a slight pause between every track, including those tracks that are supposed to seamlessly flow together. I ripped all the music I want to a USB stick at the highest quality AAC format, and it sounds fine in a mobile environment. I have gapless playback or random playback, along with album cover art and track information on the screen. Sometimes the voice control even works!

 

it's an option. even on the website you can add it to the build and price section. The touring comes with the accessory included in the price.

You can buy one now and install it yourself, or have it installed. It's not a part of the headunit - it's a separate piece of hardware that installs in the center console armrest area.

 

But the last time I found an 8 track player every tape I tried to play broke! Evidently storing them in the attic for a couple decades is not a good idea. At least south of the Mason-Dixon line where 90 degree + days are not unusual.

 

They store celluloid films in underground salt mines from what I understand.

 

In the 6 months we owned our 19 Outback, we never used the CD player other than the test drive when we verified it worked. We haven't missed not having it in our 20, and none of the new Hondas, Toyotas, Subarus, or GMs we've been looking at have a CD player. Old technology, wonder what will disappear next?

One thing we're looking for in the new vehicles we're shopping is the new version of USB port, whatever that's called. I think all the 23 Subarus have it.

 

Old technology, wonder what will disappear next?

That slow info processing thing sitting behind the steering wheel.

 

I wonder if CDs will be the last form of music storage and portability that will have a nostalgia factor? There are always fond memories about 8-tracks, cassettes, and vinyl. Vinyl has even made a little bit of a comeback lately. After USB sticks become obsolete in favor of some other technology I just can't picture the same emotional connection that past music media left behind.

I use the CD player in my Outback at times even though it is a bit inconvenient.

 

There are always fond memories about 8-tracks, cassettes, and vinyl. Vinyl has even made a little bit of a comeback lately.

Vinyl has made a HUGE comeback. The number of turntables available now, from reputable companies, has exploded. And new the availabiliyt of new vinyl has also exploded--and has exploded in price, as have used records. I have been into vinyl since I first purchased a stereo system in 1988 and have purchased most of my vinyl used with excellent playback results. Most of my record purchases haven't exceeded $7 and most were under $4. But that was in the late 1980s through the 1990s. Now used records are mostly at least between $12 and $20 depending on the artist and the title. Huge resurgent interest in the medium.

 

well my 2014 Legacy has one, never used by me. 2010 Outback had one, removed in favor of a tesla style tablet radio

 

Oddly enough, I just bought a ‘23 Touring XT and did not know I had a CD player until reading this!

 

Use an appropriate app on your PC to convert your CDs to MP3 files. Most apps will allow you to choose the level of compression. A good MP3 is indistinguishable from the original CD audio.
Copy the MP3s to a thumb drive, and use that in your car. You can put a whole bunch of CDs on a 64GB thumb drive, and then you don't have to worry about summer heat damaging your originals.

 

I have done this but it is very time consuming and no way am I going to spend the time ripping all my CDs that way.

 

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This works for me. I use the LINE output plugged in to the AUX stereo connection. Runs on two AA batteries. Here’s one for $17.

 

Please don't encourage the OP. It reminds me of people that hate anti-lock brakes because "they have more control" without it.

 

I ordered and got installed the CD Player. I still believe in them. Also, search for the instructions, it's not a weekend warrior job. Tons of stuff come off including the infotainment panel I believe. Best leave it to dealer.

 

Not even an option? That bites!

 

Reading further in the thread before replying is helpful, within 5 posts a link to the dealer-installed (or self-installed if the owner is adventurous) accessory CD player was provided.

 

Libraries have shelves of audio book CD's and even cassettes, and I think most are still buying the former. For someone who listens to audio books in the car, as I do, a CD player at least is required. Swapping out the factory head unit for an Eclipse, plus their 6 disc CD player, was among the first things I did with my '99 OB. And that, along with the acoustical lining I had put in almost everywhere, is a big part of what makes me hold onto it, even though the second engine is burning oil badly.

 

Forget about CD's. I'm upset about where I'm going to play my "Get Your Wings" Aerosmith 8Track?

 

Just bought a 2023 Subaru Outback Touring 3 weeks ago. Love it! BTW-the CD player is in the center console and quite awkward to use (but I don't use it anyway) I Play tunes through my iPhone.

 

I just ordered a '23 outback with a cd player.

 

Happy was the day I traded my '20 Outback Limited for a '23 Crosstrek Premium w/6 speed manual AND a CD player. The bonus is I am no longer a member of the windshield-a-month club and the climate controls are NOT on a touchy touch screen. My Crosstrek's infotainment screen has yet to reboot itself after the black screen of death, which was a near weekly occurrence with my Outback.

 

Now that there is Sirius radio, Pandora, and your phone if you have music on it, plus IPODS, most manufacturers have done away with CD players.

 

It's a $400.00 OPTION for a SINGLE PLAY CD a total RIPOFF on Subaru's behalf.................It does come in the the Forester thought