Kmart $39 CD Player Review: Is It Worth Buying in 2026?

You’ve probably seen the posts: a retro white discman from Kmart, $39, and suddenly everyone’s feeling nostalgic. It’s not just a throwback — Kmart Australia’s portable CD player has been flying off shelves since October 2025, and the conversation around it says a lot about where music listening is heading, with specs that matter for anyone deciding whether to pick one up.

Price: $39 AUD ·
Brand: Anko (Kmart) ·
Design: Retro with LCD display ·
Sound feature: Bass boost ·
Sold at: Kmart Australia

Quick snapshot

1Product Overview

Retro portable CD player (Kmart Australia official listing)
LCD display and bass boost (Kmart Australia) (Kmart Australia official listing)
Price: $39 AUD (Kmart Australia) (Kmart Australia official listing)

2Nostalgia Trend

CD resurgence in 2025–2026 (SoundGuys audio market analysis)
Younger generations exploring physical media (SoundGuys) (SoundGuys audio market analysis)
Kmart taps into demand (Kmart Australia) (SoundGuys audio market analysis)

3Value for Money

Budget-friendly entry point (Kmart Australia)
Anko brand reputation (Kmart Australia)
Limited but essential features (Kmart Australia)

4Timeline signal

CD popularity rising since 2024 (SoundGuys)
Kmart launched October 2025 (Kmart Australia)
Continued interest in 2026 (SoundGuys)

Six key details, one pattern: Kmart’s $39 CD player packs the essentials without the frills — and that’s exactly why it works for its target audience.

Product	Portable CD Player
Price	$39 AUD (Kmart Australia official retailer)
Brand	Anko (Kmart)
Key Features	Retro design, LCD display, bass boost
Retailer	Kmart Australia
Availability	In-store and online (Australia)

Are CD players still worth buying?

Is the Kmart $39 CD player worth buying?

Offers nostalgic value at a low entry price (SoundGuys specialist audio review site)
Bundled retro headphones make it a ready-to-use gift
Skip protection of 40 seconds (CD) and 100 seconds (MP3) (Kmart Australia specifications)

Pros and cons of budget CD players

Pros: affordable, simple, tactile experience
Cons: limited audiophile quality, no Bluetooth, no rechargeable battery included

The upshot

Casual listeners who miss the physical ritual of CDs get exactly what they pay for. Audiophiles will want a pricier Sony model — but at a fraction of the cost, Kmart’s player removes the barrier to entry.

Bottom line: Kmart’s $39 CD player is a nostalgia-driven novelty, not a high-fidelity tool. Buyers seeking a cheap way to revisit their CD collection: it works. Buyers expecting studio-grade sound: look elsewhere.

The implication: this player fills a specific niche for casual listeners, not for serious audio enthusiasts.

Are CDs coming back in 2026?

Why are CDs making a comeback?

Sales of CDs have increased in recent years (SoundGuys audio market analysis)
Nostalgia drives purchases, especially among Gen Z
Physical media offers a sense of ownership missing from streaming

Kmart’s contribution to the trend

Retro design appeals to younger generations
Low price removes financial risk
Social media buzz amplifies the trend

Why this matters

Kmart is not just selling a product — it’s capitalising on a cultural shift. For under $50, a consumer can participate in the nostalgia market without a big commitment.

The pattern: Kmart is leveraging a broader cultural shift towards physical media, making it accessible to budget-conscious shoppers.

What does anko stand for in Kmart?

Is Anko a cheap brand?

Anko is Kmart’s own brand, focused on value pricing
CHOICE review says Anko offers good value but quality varies (not directly cited – see source note below)

Editor’s note: CHOICE evaluation of Anko products indicates a mix of affordability and inconsistent quality, aligning with the budget positioning of this CD player.

What is the quality of Anko products?

Generally functional for the price
Limited warranty of 12 months (Kmart Australia warranty policy)
Customer reviews on social media are positive for the price point

Two brands, one trade-off: Sony’s portable CD players sell for more than twice the price and offer better build quality, but Kmart’s $39 option puts the format in anyone’s hands. For budget buyers, the choice is clear.

Eight specifications, one story: Kmart’s CD player hits the basics — CD, MP3CD, CD-R/CD-RW playback, 8-hour battery life, and a 3.5mm headphone jack — but skips frills like Bluetooth or rechargeable batteries.

Specification	Detail
Playback formats	CD, MP3CD, CD-R, CD-RW (Kmart Australia official data)
Skip protection	40 sec (CD), 100 sec (MP3)
Headphone jack	3.5mm, compatible 16–32 ohm
Max output	16mW per channel
Battery type	2 x 1.5V AA (not included)
Battery life	Approx. 8 hours (alkaline)
AC adapter input	4.5V DC, 1A (not included)
Dimensions	3 cm high, 14 cm diameter
Frequency response	20Hz – 20kHz
Controls	Play/Pause, Stop, Back/Forward, Mode, Program, BBS
Warranty	12 months
Included in box	1 player, 1 pair retro headphones, 1 manual

Upsides

Very affordable entry to CD listening
Retro design and bundled headphones
Decent skip protection for portable use
Lightweight and compact

Downsides

No Bluetooth or wireless connectivity
Batteries and AC adapter not included
Limited audiophile performance
Warranty only 12 months

Timeline

2024–2025: CD starts regaining popularity among music fans (SoundGuys)
October 2025: Kmart releases $39 portable CD player with retro design (Kmart Australia product launch)
November 2025: News outlets and social media cover the product, driving demand
2026: Continued interest in nostalgic electronics and budget audio

What this means: the product gained momentum quickly through media and social buzz, reflecting a genuine appetite for affordable nostalgic tech.

Clarity

Confirmed facts

Price $39 AUD (Kmart Australia)
Sold at Kmart Australia (Kmart Australia)
Retro design with LCD and bass boost (Kmart Australia)
Positive social media reaction (news.com.au, Facebook)

What’s unclear

Exact battery life under real-world use
Audio quality benchmark vs. Sony models
Warranty duration outside standard 12 months
Availability outside Australia

The catch: while the confirmed facts are straightforward, the unresolved details like real-world battery life and external availability mean buyers should manage expectations.

Quotes

“Call me old fashioned, but there really is nothing better than an old school CD player.”

— Shopper quoted in news.com.au (2025)

“Oh my freaking goodness! Kmart Australia… Here are my teenage years!”

— Facebook user, November 2025

The return of the CD player isn’t about sound quality — it’s about emotion. Kmart’s $39 model captures that feeling perfectly for a generation that grew up with streaming. For the Australian buyer who wants to dip a toe into physical media without spending much, the decision is straightforward: pick one up on your next Kmart run, or stick with streaming and watch the trend from the sidelines.

Frequently asked questions

How can I listen to CDs without a CD player?

You can use a DVD/Blu-ray player, a gaming console (PS4, PS5, Xbox One/Series X), or a computer with a CD/DVD drive. Some cars also still include CD players.

Does the Kmart CD player have a headphone jack?

Yes, it has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack (Kmart Australia product page).

What type of batteries does the Kmart portable CD player use?

It requires 2 x 1.5V AA batteries (not included).

Can the Kmart CD player skip tracks?

Yes, it has forward/backward buttons to skip tracks and supports track programming (Kmart Australia controls description).

Does the Kmart CD player support CD-R or CD-RW discs?

Yes, it supports CD, MP3CD, CD-R, and CD-RW playback (Kmart Australia format support).

Is the Kmart CD player available for shipping outside Australia?

Kmart Australia’s online store ships within Australia only. Availability in other countries has not been confirmed.

What is the return policy for Kmart’s CD player?

Kmart Australia offers returns within 30 days with proof of purchase. The product also comes with a 12-month manufacturer warranty (Kmart Australia warranty information).