Sony's first compact disc player, introduced in Japan in 1982, was the CDP-101.
Sony developed the player for the new compact disc format in partnership with Philips. The CDP-101 went on sale on October 1, 1982, the same day that the first commercial compact discs were released in Japan. Its launch marked the beginning of consumer digital audio on optical discs.
The model number used “101,” a designation Sony explained through its internal naming conventions. The player was expensive compared with ordinary cassette or vinyl equipment, so compact discs initially appealed most to affluent early adopters and audio enthusiasts. As manufacturing expanded and prices fell, CD players became common household products.
The CDP-101 should not be confused with Sony's later portable Discman. The Discman D-50, introduced in 1984, was a portable CD player, while the CDP-101 was a full-size home component. Sony's earlier Walkman TPS-L2 was a cassette player, not a CD device.