The CD player, long written off by many as a remnant of a bygone era, is suddenly in the spotlight again – and on a tear. After years of digital dominance and streaming supremacy, physical media make a surprising comeback, fed by a new wave of innovative players. Portable powerhouses of Fiio And Link have turned heads and delivered serious sound on the way. Shanling does not stop there either – the rolling of a new CD/SACD transport to satisfy even the most demanding audiophiles. And only a few days ago, ONKYO Threw his hat in the ring with a brand new CD player in his upcoming Icon Series, which shows that the disk is not yet ready for the pension house. Shanling is new CD80 II Clocks in just $ 349, and it is a few smart functions that can easily give the scales for many buyers.
Why do CD players make a comeback? In contrast to vinyl – where the diehards never let go – CDs enjoy a different kind of revival. People have huge collections that collect fabric, used CDs are dirt cheap and new releases continue to roll out every month like a timepiece.
Here is the silent, ugly truth that nobody wants to admit: CDs still sound better than most streaming services. Yes, nostalgia and the whole “possess it, don’t rent it” play atmosphere a role, but let’s really become – many of us still have hundreds, even thousands of CDs. Some of us sit on more than 2,000 discs and hunt a secondary player to feed the office or the bedroom. Kinky, right?
Built -in streaming options with high resolution
The Shanling CD80 II upgrade two important things from the original. It uses the same load in the drawer style and HD450 laser from Shanling’s Pricier CD-S100 ($ 589), which should mean a smoother, more reliable playback. It also eliminates the ESS DAC for a Corrus Logic CS43198 -Chip -Switching the DAC chip will shift the Sonic Mood -away from the sharper, more detailed sound of the ESS in the direction of a smoother, fuller presentation with the Corrus Logic CS43198. Not better or worse, just different.
The Shanling CD80 II is not only stuck in the CD era. It has a USB input that will process discs up to 2 TB and plays high-res files up to PCM 384KHZ and DSD256. So yes, it also acts as a Bluetooth streamer with built-in Bluetooth 5.0, to support LDAC, AAC and SBC codecs. In short, it is a physical media player who has received a bit of a modern makeover – finally some versatility that makes you not feeling that you live in 2005.
Balanced headphone output?
Most CD players are built to feed a hi-fi system and call it a day. The Shanling CD80 II can do that, but it also works as a completely standing CD player for headphone users-a rare step in this category. It has Double headphone amplifiersA dedicated to the 3.5 mm single-end jacket and the other to the 4.4 mm balanced output, which delivers up to 850 MW in 32 Ohm.
That is a serious power, enough to be able to handle everything, from sensitive iMs to more demanding looks on it. But here is the bigger question: how many CD players even offer both balanced and some outputs at this equity level? And with a streamer and headphone amplifier on board, has Shanling endangered the CD playing quality, or did they go one step further to keep each section isolated so that nothing steps on the other toes?
Shanling CD80 II specifications
- Core hardware
- Processor: Ingenic X1000E
- DAC: Cirrus Logic CS43198
- Power: 100–220V
- Display: 1.28 ″ Color (240 × 240)
- Input
- CD, USB Drive (up to 2 TB)
- Bluetooth 5.0 (LDAC, AAC, SBC)
- Output
- RCA Line Out
- Coaxial SPDIF
- 3.5 mm headphones (SE)
- 4.4 mm headphones (balanced)
- Supported media
- CD / CD-R / CD-RW Audio CD
- USB: PCM up to 384 KHz/32-Bit, DSD256
- Formats: DSD, DXD, APE, FLAC, Alac, WAV, AIFF, DTS, MP3, WMA, AAC, OGG, MP2, M4A, AC3, Opus, branch, Cue
- RCA Line Out
- 2.6 VRMS, 20 HZ-40 KHz (-0.2 dB)
- THD+N: 0.0004%, DR: 124 dB, SNR: 124 dB
- Output impedance: 100 Ω
- 3.5 mm headphones out (SE)
- 215 MW @ 32 Oh
- THD+N: 0.0007%, DR: 125 dB, SNR: 125 dB
- Channel Sep: 75 dB, Ruis floor: 117 dB
- Output impedance: 0.4 Ω
- 4.4 mm headphones out (balanced)
- 850 MW @ 32 Oh
- Thd+N: 0.0007%, DR: 127 dB, SNR: 127 dB
- Channel Sep: 112 dB, Ruis floor: 113 dB
- Output impedance: 0.7 Ω
- Digital Coaxial SPDIF: PCM to 192 KHz / 24-bit (no DSD)
- Controls: Buttons + wheel, remote control, corresponding app
- Dimensions / weight: 280 × 205 × 52 mm, ~ 2.6 kg
The Bottom Line
The Shanling CD80 II of $ 359 contains a Cirrus Logic DAC, Hi-res CD play, balanced and single-end headphones outs and enough juice to control serious cans-all in one slender box. Match it with a compact integrated such as the WIIM VIBELink or NAD C316BEE V2, or drop it in a vintage receiver setup, and you immediately have a high resaming, playing CD and a powerful headphone amplifier and a powerful headphone amplifier added without filling or draining your bank account.
Price and availability
The Shanling CD80 II comes to $ 349 – the same as the original – and is probably cheaper than you would guess for what it offers. (And if history repeats itself, Shanling can roll out a more expensive version with built -in speaker reinforcement along the line.) It is now available at Shanling and authorized dealers in black or silver.
For more information: https://en.shanling.com/product/480
Where to buy:
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