Despite introducing the compact disc, Sony faced challenges in popularizing it amongst everyday listeners. The CDP-101, while embraced by audiophiles, hadn't made significant progress with the general public.
Kozo Ohsone, head of Sony's General Audio Division, presented a small wooden block (13.4 cm wide, 4 cm thick) to his team, setting the size goal for the portable CD player. This ambitious vision, initially met with laughter, spurred engineers to tackle the complex task of shrinking a CD player to a fraction of its original size.
The creation of the D-50, Sony's first portable CD player, proved pivotal. By creating a compact and affordable device, it democratized CD technology and allowed CDs to finally reach mass audiences, significantly impacting the music industry.