The decline of the optical drive supply chain has forced high-end audio manufacturers Naim and PS Audio to discontinue specific CD player models. Naim has ceased production of its Uniti Star, while PS Audio has halted its PMG Super Audio CD transport.
The crisis for PS Audio began in June 2024 when D&M Holdings, the parent company of Denon and Marantz, announced it would stop accepting orders for SACD/CD mechanisms. As D&M was the sole supplier, PS Audio purchased the remaining stock before the deadline, noting that component prices doubled due to industry-wide panic buying.
CEO Paul McGowan stated that developing proprietary optical drives is outside PS Audio's expertise in circuit and software design. Naim faced similar challenges, as the company relies on assembling products from third-party components rather than manufacturing them in-house.
Integrating alternative optical drives proved technically unfeasible for both companies. Replacing a drive requires significant modifications to control software and mechanical structures. Naim attempted to find a secondary supplier for the Uniti Star, but that vendor also discontinued its relevant product line during the integration process.
While new units of these specific models are no longer available, both manufacturers have secured enough spare parts to support existing customers. This ensures that current owners of these high-end audio systems can still receive repairs if their optical drives fail.
