At Safe and Sound, we have witnessed first hand the CD player market grow from a quiet trend into a full-blown movement. Audiophiles are returning to physical media for the same reason they love vinyl: the ritual, the tangible ownership, and, most importantly, the uncompressed sound quality.
Shanling has been at the forefront of this movement, and their three newest releases—the SCD3.3, CD80 II, and CT90—are some of the most exciting pieces of digital hardware we've seen in years. Whether you're a high-end collector or a desktop listener, these units offer a serious upgrade to your listening room.
The SCD3.3 is Shanling’s statement piece for 2025. This isn’t just a CD player; it is a reference-grade SACD platform designed to extract every bit of data from your Super Audio CDs.
Key Features: It features a proprietary top-loading transport with a dedicated puck, a second-generation R2R Ladder DAC for organic sound, and a selectable 12AT7 tube output stage for that classic analog warmth.
Versatility: Beyond discs, it acts as a digital hub with USB DAC capabilities (up to DSD512) and Bluetooth LDAC for high-res wireless streaming.
Best Pairings: We recommend pairing the SCD3.3 with a high-current integrated amplifier like the Musical Fidelity M6si or an Advance Paris Classic A10 or A12
MSRP: $3,899.00
If you already own a high-end external DAC and just need the absolute best way to read your discs, the CT90 is for you. As a dedicated CD Transport, it has no internal DAC; instead, it focuses all its engineering on vibration control and signal purity.
Key Features: It utilizes a premium Philips mechanism and features dual AES/EBU outputs, as well as an I2S output for native digital transmission. It even includes a built-in up-sampling circuit to refine standard CD audio before it reaches your DAC.
Versatility: Its compact footprint makes it ideal for modern racks, and the external clock support allows it to integrate into elite-level digital systems.
Best Pairings: Pair this with the EverSolo DMP-A8 or DMP-A10 DAC/Streamer to create a digital front-end that rivals players triple the price.
MSRP: $899.00
The CD80 II is the Swiss Army knife of compact audio. Perfect for a desk or a smaller living room system, it builds on the success of the original CD80 with upgraded internals.
Key Features: It moves to the smooth-sounding Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC and includes a tray-loading mechanism. It is uniquely equipped with both 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced headphone outputs, making it a fantastic standalone headphone station.
Versatility: The front USB-A port supports drives up to 2TB for playing your digital library (FLAC, DSD256), while Bluetooth 5.0 allows for quick streaming from your phone.
Best Pairings: This is a perfect match for a pair of Dali Oberon 3 bookshelf speakers or the Klipsch RP-600M II.
MSRP: $399.00
These models are arriving in stock soon, and given the demand for high-quality disc players right now, we expect our first shipment to move fast.
Pre-orders are open now! Secure your unit today to be among the first to experience these new Shanling benchmarks.
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