Commercialization of any idea entails the merging of a wide range of engineering disciplines. In the consumer market, the development of the compact disc (CD) and its player, as well as the continued refinement of the system into the digital versatile disc (DVD) and the MP3 Player, reflect this truth. This course examines the broad range of systems and engineering technologies that were required to build these remarkable music/data sources. Students will be introduced to elements of mechanical, electrical, materials, manufacturing, and computer engineering as they relate to the CD player and media. Sub-systems will be examined from the view of the basic science, the engineering disciplines primarily responsible, and the issues of integration with other sub-systems of the player. Laboratory sessions, demonstrations, homework and a digital audio Exploratorium, will be used to illustrate these design principles.