I’m sensing a shift among my age cohort. Until recently, Bluetooth headphones seemed almost universal. Now, I'm noticing more trendy subway riders wearing old-school wired headphones à la the wired Apple earbuds. At friends’ apartments, I’m seeing CD players and vinyl decks at a higher rate than the success of streaming might indicate. I’m not immune from the change—my coffee table is adorned with my beloved collection of CDs I’ve been collecting for years despite my continued subscription to Spotify.

We are in the throes of a trend that is seeing more and more Gen Z people turning to analog pleasures, and music/audio are a major facet of this fascination. What’s causing this intrigue with yesteryear’s technology? And how can you join in?

What is the retro/analog audio trend?

At its core, the retro/analog audio trend is about rediscovering more intentional ways to listen to music. Rather than relying exclusively on streaming apps, many people are building collections of CDs or records, buying dedicated music players, or returning to wired headphones. While "analog" has become the shorthand for the movement, it's really about listening away from smartphones—even if that means using digital formats like CDs or MP3 players.

The primary driver of this trend is largely similar to the drivers of the broader analog trend—a desire to get away from the distractions of social media and constant phone usage. It also limits choice in a way many people find refreshing. Instead of scrolling through millions of songs, you simply choose an album and press play.

Beyond the distraction factor, there’s also a real debate about ownership happening in the world of music. As streaming has become the default way to listen, fewer people actually own the music they love. It’s hard to argue with the convenience that streaming services offer, but there are downsides too. Because you don't own streamed music, albums and songs can disappear from services when licensing agreements change. Owning the files, discs, or records means that your music can remain permanently yours so long as you keep them.

There’s also an argument for artist support. Streaming royalties are generally much lower per play than purchasing an album outright, though exactly how much reaches an artist depends on their contracts. For many listeners, buying music directly is another way to support the artists they love.

Additionally, there’s a style component. A broader fascination with retro technology has also fueled the trend, with vintage Sony, Panasonic, and other electronics becoming increasingly popular on TikTok and Instagram. Many of these devices share industrial designs that feel refreshingly different from today's sleek earbuds and touchscreen gadgets. Exposed metal, physical buttons, silver finishes, wired cables, and chunky industrial designs evoke an alluring, retro-futuristic vision of technology. We’re seeing it bleed into modern product releases like Koss’s Porta Pro headphones (a Good Housekeeping Institute Tech & Engineering Lab favorite) that intentionally look as if they came from a different decade.

Does analog sound better?

This is a common audio myth that deserves a bit of busting. Modern streaming services—especially those offering lossless or high-bitrate audio—already deliver excellent sound quality. The mastering of the recording, the quality of the source file, and the performance of your headphones or speakers usually have a bigger impact on what you hear than whether your music comes from vinyl, a CD, or a streaming service. For many people, the appeal of retro audio is less about chasing perfect fidelity and more about creating a more intentional listening experience.

Tips for doing retro the right way

  1. Start with what you have: Before buying anything, take inventory of what you already own. Start off by digging through your old electronics box or garage shelves to see if you still own a classic iPod or CD player. Look at your CD and record collection and even check your computer’s downloads for any music files you can consolidate into a proper collection.
  2. Shop secondhand: If you’re missing the tech, resale is a great option, but be wary of price-gouging. Given its trendiness, you’ll often see particularly desirable retro music gadgets selling for much higher than typical on popular secondhand marketplaces like ebay and Facebook Marketplace. That said, you can often find some amazing deals on beautifully designed retro/analog tech. I particularly love Shopgoodwill.com (a Goodwill affiliated e-commerce auction site) for finding great deals on old tech. Just remember that older portable players may need replacement batteries, proprietary chargers, or new drive belts before they're fully functional.
  3. New takes on old tech: Another avenue for acquiring the tech, especially if you’re looking for a more modern take on “analog” music listening are modern products inspired by classic devices. We’ve tested both the FIIO DM15 Portable CD Player and Surfans F20 HiFi MP3 Player in the Tech & Engineering Lab, and they both provide high-quality focused listening sessions with more convenient modern affordances like Bluetooth connectivity.
  4. Halfway retro: Sometimes, it’s easier to go for the middle ground. Instead of seeking a dedicated listening device, look for offline music player apps that let you play your downloaded music directly from your phone. If you’re on Android, I particularly love PixelPlayer for its gorgeous design and because it’s free and open source. On iOS Cosmos can provide a similar, ad-free experience.
  5. Support artists: Whenever possible, buy music directly from the artists you love. While you can buy most artists’ music on services like iTunes and Amazon Music, places like Bandcamp generally takes a smaller cut of sales than many digital music marketplaces. This is especially true on “Bandcamp Fridays” wherein the brand waives their processing fees altogether so more of your purchase goes the artists’ way.

The bottom line

In an era where nearly every app competes for your attention, setting aside time to intentionally listen to music can feel surprisingly refreshing—whether that's on a vintage Walkman, a modern CD player, or simply a pair of wired earbuds.