As the crow flies, I went to college only about 60 miles from where I was born; By car it was almost 100 miles to the point. It was a windy two-hour drive in good traffic, but I measured it more often by album running time. The day’s CD, filled to the brim, contained 74 minutes of uncompressed audio. I know, I know; Americans will do anything to avoid using the metric system. But I bet if you commuted regularly in the days of physical media, you could probably set a frequent route to the single track that would play when you reached your destination. When I left my college apartment to the opening bars of “One Spotlight” from The Wallflowers’ “Bringing Down the Horse,” I knew I would hear the click of the CD changer about 45 minutes from home.
One of my must-have features back then was a six-disc setup. If you often read reviews of new cars, you already know that this technology is practically extinct. But if you’re really into it, there are still some automakers that will sell you optical drives in some form. Subaru is one of them, but instead of the fancy, super-shuffling, multi-disc mechanical nightmares I once coveted, our long-term 2023 WRX only offers a single-disc setup hidden in the center console. And while it’s included in Subaru’s build and pricing tool, it’s actually not a factory-installed option, but rather a dealer-installed accessory.
There are really only two reasons to use a car CD player in 2024. Either you have an extensive collection that you simply do not want to digitize out of stubbornness, laziness or simple disinterest; or you are an audio fan who wants near-perfect reproduction of the source material. Subaru’s solution primarily takes the former into account for one simple reason: whether the source material is perfect to some degree or not, the WRX simply isn’t the place to experience that level of immersion. Even with the Harman Kardon system, the WRX is just a lively, booming little thing. The lows are blurred by road noise (especially with the Blizzaks) and the highs seem to be washed away by the air swirling around the A-pillars. The volume helps the highs, but the bass and mids just don’t come through properly no matter what you do. If you’re a true audiophile, you’ll probably be looking for upgrade options before your WRX is even broken in. I know that.
At the time of publication, the CD player cost between $375 and $450, depending on which audio system you purchase. That’s a lot for a single-disc device that’s only vaguely integrated into the WRX’s infotainment system. Can you put a price on nostalgia? I would say, yes, although it is a bit high, but I’m glad it exists anyway. Check back soon for another update on our ’23 WRX after we switch it back to its warm-weather rubber.
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