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Magnavox CD Player Model CDB-490 I purchase new in the md 80's. Has been working great ever since. I recently upraded to a new on and it time to let go to someone else to enjoy. Great sounding and vintage quality.
At US$50, this is cheaper than the obvious alternative of buying a modern basic CD player new, and for a vintage Magnavox that’s a fair-to-good ask rather than an ambitious one. A tested example has been listed at US$75, so US$50 sits comfortably below that and looks like the kind of price that lets you buy on enthusiasm instead of regret.
What makes these worth grabbing is the old-school Magnavox build and the reputation of the line among vintage CD fans; the CDB series is known for solid 1980s-era engineering and, in some versions, the sought-after TDA1541 DAC. If this one is clean, spins reliably, and includes the remote or original packaging, that adds real upside; at this price, the main thing is simply confirming it reads discs quickly and doesn’t have tray, laser, or skip issues.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Magnavox traces its origins to 1911 in Napa, California, where inventors Peter L. Jensen and Edwin Pridham, operating initially as the Commercial Wireless and Development Company, pioneered the world's first moving-coil loudspeaker in 1915. Named Magnavox—Latin for "Great Voice"—this breakthrough allowed a single human voice to reach an entire town, marking a pivotal moment in audio history. The company formalized in 1917 after merging with Sonora Phonograph Distributing, evolving through innovations like the first all-electric tone arm in 1916 and single-dial radio in 1923, under leaders such as Frank Freimann during its mid-century "glory years."
Historically focused on loudspeakers and pioneering consumer electronics, Magnavox expanded into phonographs, radios, televisions, and phono/filmstrip projectors like the Illustravox. Its legacy includes the 1972 Magnavox Odyssey, the first home video game console, alongside early plasma displays and Navy-grade speakers. Today, under Curtis International Ltd. since 2025, it emphasizes budget-friendly home appliances and electronics, though specific modern hi-fi categories like amplifiers, turntables, or DACs remain less prominently detailed.
Magnavox holds a revered position as a vintage pioneer in American audio, celebrated by collectors for its foundational loudspeaker patents and mid-20th-century dominance in TVs and radios from Fort Wayne, Indiana plants. No longer a high-end or boutique contender, it occupies mid-tier, accessible territory in today's market, its innovative heritage preserved by dedicated associations while evoking nostalgia for hi-fi enthusiasts.
See all Magnavox listings on RADAR.
