Digital Drive: REVIEW: Shanling CD-T100 CD Player/Recorder by DannyB

Model:	CD-T100
Category:	CD Player/Recorder
Suggested Retail Price:	$1350
Description:	Tube based CDP
Manufacturer URL:	Shanling
Model Picture:	View

Review by DannyB ( A ) on February 17, 2002 at 17:06:00
IP Address: 24.27.244.235

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for the CD-T100

A visually gorgeous CDP with quality underneath the hood. This CD/HDCD player with 24/96 upsampling holds its ground with the best of them. It compares favorably to my CARY CD 306/200 but doesn't quite reach the level of the CARY. It lacks that last bit of detail for which the 306/200 is known. Also, the low end is ever so slightly mushy. However, I have not done any tube rolling yet which might have some effect on this.
It uses four 6N3s which can be substituted with the 2C51 family. Mind you, these "complaints" are quite minimal but nonetheless present. Build quality is exceptional for its price range. Weight is about 25 pounds. The remote has all the usual bells and whistles and is very well designed. There is also a volume control on the remote. It would be nice to be able to bypass that. It also sports a headphone jack on the side. Listening with Senn 600s the sound was respectable but not spectacular although the 600s usually sound best with an outboard headphone amp anyway.
There is a digital out but no digital in. Two sets of high quality line level RCA output jacks are on the rear. Popping off the bottom plate reveals a lot of thought and care in its design including 4 Burr Brown PCM 1704 DAC, OPA 2604AP, Samsung caps, along with some other goodies, including the CS8420 chip for digital audio sample rate converter and the HDCD decode chip PMD-200. Upgrades can be considered by the DIYer especially with the power supply and some of the caps.
So, am I ready to give up my CARY? Not Yet. However, the CD-T100 is an amazing bargain and is perfect for a second system. Bottom line for me is if you have a high rez system the CARY, or other comparable CDP, is likely to be the best choice. If your system is even slightly less than high rez, don't think about the Shangling CD-T100---Run as fast as you can to buy it before the price goes up to $20,000 which is what it looks like it should cost. I know of no better bargain in all of audio.

Product Weakness: Slightly less revealing than the best of CD players which is amazing given its price.
Product Strengths: Looks, Looks, and Looks. Sonics. Also the price is great.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	CARY Rocket 88/Wright 3.5 mono blocs
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	CARY SLP 2002, CARY SLP50B, BAT VK-P10
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	CARY CD306/200, Aries custom/SDS, SME/Grado
Speakers:	Soliloquy 2A3s
Cables/Interconnects:	Mapleshade, Harmonic Tech
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Varied
Room Size (LxWxH):	18' x 13' x 8'
Time Period/Length of Audition:	2 weeks
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	Ensemble
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Slightly less revealing than the best of CD players which is amazing given its price.
Product Strengths:	Looks, Looks, and Looks. Sonics. Also the price is great.