used CD-ROM drives find new life inside modular aluminum audio player
Upcycled Computer Hardware Forms a DIY CD Player
CD-ROM PLAYER 01 by das_POD is a DIY audio project that repurposes used computer CD-ROM drives as the basis for a functional CD player. The project combines upcycling, user assembly, and long-life product design, allowing each player to be built around a separately sourced drive and a laser-cut aluminum enclosure.
The project began with a DIY tutorial demonstrating how an old CD-ROM drive could be converted into a functional CD player. This approach led das_POD to explore a new interpretation based on the reuse of existing computer hardware instead of manufacturing a completely new CD mechanism. The sourcing process forms part of the project. Used CD-ROM drives are selected through platforms such as eBay, with different models compared according to their production year, manufacturer, mechanical construction, and appearance. The selection of the drive therefore becomes one of the variables that distinguishes each finished player. The approach draws on a broader culture of upcycling in which existing objects are given new functions while retaining traces of their previous use. References include vintage mountain bikes, classic cars, military surplus, the original Air Jordan 1, and brands such as Freitag, where the history and continued use of an object contribute to its value.
all images ©das_POD
Three Aluminum Finishes Define the DIY Player’s Exterior
CD-ROM PLAYER 01 is supplied as a kit instead of a completed product. Users select their own CD-ROM drive before assembling the player, allowing the final object to reflect the characteristics of the chosen hardware. The kit contains laser-cut aluminum panels and electronic components. Users bend and assemble the panels, install the selected CD-ROM drive, connect the electronics, and construct the player themselves. The process exposes the internal structure and operation of the device, providing a practical understanding of its components and making future maintenance and repair more accessible. This construction method also makes the reused drive an integral part of the design. Instead of concealing the origins of the hardware, the system is built around the differences between individual CD-ROM models.
The enclosure is manufactured from laser-cut aluminum panels designed by das_POD studio to be assembled into the final structure. The flat components are transformed through bending and assembly into a functional housing for the drive and electronics. The enclosure is available in three finishes: Natural Anodized, Orange Powder Coat, and Matte Black Powder Coat. The anodized version retains the appearance of aluminum while using shot blasting and anodizing to increase surface durability. The powder-coated versions use a baked coating that produces a more opaque and robust surface treatment. The three finishes provide different visual treatments while maintaining the same underlying construction system. Their final forms were refined through repeated prototyping and adjustments to the enclosure and assembly process.
CD-ROM PLAYER 01 repurposes a used computer drive into a functional CD player
CD-ROM PLAYER 01 combines the reuse of obsolete computer hardware with a product architecture designed for user participation. The selected CD-ROM drive remains replaceable, while the accessible construction allows the internal components to be understood, maintained, and repaired. The project therefore shifts the CD player from a finished consumer electronic device toward an assembly system in which sourcing, construction, use, and maintenance form part of the product’s design. Its emphasis is on extending the usefulness of existing technology while giving users a direct role in constructing the object they use.
the DIY audio project combines upcycling, assembly, and long-life product design
different drive models introduce variations into each finished player
the project gives obsolete computer hardware a new role as an audio device
CD-ROM PLAYER 01 is supplied as a kit instead of a finished product
flat aluminum components are bent and assembled into the final housing
the reused CD-ROM drive remains an integral part of the product’s design
the aluminum enclosure is available in Natural Anodized, Orange Powder Coat, and Matte Black
powder-coated surfaces introduce matte black treatments to the enclosure
the three finishes share the same underlying construction system
the Natural Anodized finish retains the material character of the aluminum
the replaceable drive allows the product to adapt to different computer hardware
the project turns the CD player into an assembly system for reuse, repair, and continued use
project info:
name: CD-ROM PLAYER 01
designer: das_POD – Seong Heum Na | @das_pod
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. See more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: Christina Vergopoulou | designboom
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