The easiest way to start is by upcycling a 1990s-era CD-ROM drive. Many older drives featured a physical and a headphone jack on the front, making them nearly standalone.
When you build a :
Modern CD players are expensive or cheaply made. Vintage CD-ROM drives (1995-2005) have excellent laser mechanisms, tray loading motors, and onboard audio DACs. This project gives them a second life as a dedicated, physical-button-controlled music player. cd player diy