Intro
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Who still remembers the Discman? This CD version of the Walkman is starting to reappear, both in shops and online. Fosi has launched the Merak and asked if we’d like to test it. But of course, we’re only too happy to do so!
Following the revival of vinyl, the CD is making a comeback. Sales and production figures are rising every year. This is presumably because vinyl prices are skyrocketing. A new release can easily cost 30 euros, and when Taylor Swift releases many different versions of the same album in various colours, it can really add up for Swifties. Then there are CDs, which are plentiful in charity shops and often very reasonably priced. And, just like LPs, they meet music lovers’ need for physical audio formats complete with a booklet, photos and context.
Fosi Audio
The brand, an acronym for Foresight, Openness, Sincerity and Innovation, was launched in 2017. The product range in 2026 is very comprehensive. Amplifiers, DACs, a turntable, planar headphones, in-ear monitors and speakers.
Merak CD player
Although its appearance might suggest that this is a portable CD player, that is not the case. It does not contain a built-in battery. On-the-go use is possible with an external battery which, just like a mobile phone, connects to the USB-C power input. The CD player is beautifully designed and well finished. And the Merak has plenty of connections: a headphone output with volume control, a line-out (3.5mm), and a digital optical output (S/PDIF). A USB port for a USB drive, allowing music to be ripped from the CD. And a USB-C port for the power supply.
On the front, there’s an easy-to-read OLED display; buttons for CD control and output selection. Fosi also includes an infrared remote control. A somewhat curious feature is the ESP function, which allows the player to create a 60-second buffer. This function dates back to the days when people used to go jogging with their portable CD players (complete with headband and leg warmers – can you picture it?). As this Fosi Audio Merak isn’t portable, we are somewhat missing the point of this function.
We tried the CD-ripping function. Pop in a CD, plug in a USB stick and press a button. Unfortunately, an error message kept appearing after a while (even with other USB drives), so we weren’t able to test this function properly.