The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The first commercially released CD player, Sony’s CDP-101, launched in Japan in 1982 for ¥168,000. At a contemporary exchange rate, that was about $685; adjusted for U.S. inflation, it is roughly $2,350 in 2026 dollars. The modern-dollar figure estimates U.S. purchasing power—it is not a conversion of the original yen price at today’s exchange rate.
What was the first CD player, and what did it cost?
Sony’s CDP-101 was the first commercially released compact disc player. Sony and Japan’s National Museum of Nature and Science place its debut in 1982. Its Japanese launch list price was ¥168,000.
The yen price is the clearest record of what the player cost at launch. A U.S. dollar equivalent depends on the exchange rate chosen: a contemporary Billboard report put it at about $685, using ¥245 per U.S. dollar. That is an approximate historical conversion, not a U.S. retail price.
How does that compare with 2026 dollars?
Using the approximately $685 historical equivalent and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ CPI-U purchasing-power method, the CDP-101’s price works out to about $2,350 in 2026 dollars. This is a rounded estimate, not a figure published by the BLS for this player. The result varies somewhat with the selected historical exchange rate and CPI endpoint.
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The BLS inflation calculator uses the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) to compare the purchasing power of money over time. The estimate here applies that approach to the historical dollar equivalent; it does not inflate ¥168,000 directly.
Why not convert ¥168,000 at today’s exchange rate?
Converting the original ¥168,000 using a current exchange rate would answer a different question: what that amount of yen converts to at a particular moment. That value changes with currency markets and does not measure how much U.S. purchasing power the 1982 price represented. For an inflation-adjusted U.S. comparison, the relevant calculation starts with the approximate 1982 dollar equivalent and then adjusts it using CPI-U.
Quick Recap
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- Remove and replace 5 CDs as one continues to play. Dimensions (W x H x D):17 1/8 inch x 5 3/16 inch x 17 1/16 inch.Operating conditions Temperature/Humidity : 41–95 F (5–23 ̊C) / 25–28%
- Plays Audio CDs, MP3-Encoded CDs, CD-R/RWs, Digital filter 352.8 kHz
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- Brushed Hairline Aluminum Front Panel and RI (Remote Interactive) Remote Control
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- Easy & Convenient to Use with Customizable Sound: A simple interface with a Bass and Treble button, as well as "My Sound" presets, let you tailor your sound to how you like it; included Remote lets you control PM270 from wherever you are
- Sleek, Minimalist Design: Stylish, matte textured front panel complements any style of décor
Rank #2
- Enjoy Blu-ray Disc movies in Full HD as well as DVD discs
- Upscale your DVDs to near HD quality
- Easy set-up with included HDMI cord
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At a glance
| Measure | Amount | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese launch list price | ¥168,000 | The CDP-101’s listed price in Japan in 1982. |
| Approximate contemporary U.S. equivalent | About $685 | Billboard’s conversion using ¥245 per U.S. dollar. |
| Approximate 2026 U.S. dollars | Roughly $2,350 | A rounded CPI-U purchasing-power estimate based on the $685 historical equivalent. |
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
