CD players read data from a CD using a laser diode mounted on a movable assembly called the laser pickup. The laser beam emitted by the diode reflects off the surface of the CD and is detected by a photosensitive sensor, which translates the reflected light into digital signals representing the audio data stored on the disc. The laser pickup assembly moves radially and tangentially across the CD’s surface to access different tracks and read the data sequentially during playback.
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