John Darko
Shanling returns to the uber high-end CD player market this week with its first luxury model since 2004’s CD-T300. The all-new CD-T35 retains the CD-T300’s three-legged design and tubed output stage but will be even more limited in supply. Only 99 units of the CD-T35 will be made.
Why?
Parts choices.
Shanling has managed to source a box of AKM’s AK4499EQ DACs, a chip model that was discontinued by the Japanese chip manufacturer in the wake of its 2020 factory fire. As used in its M8 and M9 DAPs, Shanling maintains that these now ultra-rare chips have “great high-fidelity potential”. A pair of AK4499EQ will be used in each CD-T35’s D/A conversion circuit.
The CD-T35 will also sport a Philips CD-Pro 2 CD transport/reader module. From the press release: “Likely the best Philips CD ever, utilizing linear tracking, housed in an overbuilt die-cast metal body and running an advanced decoding system for ideal error-free reading of the discs. It provides the CD player with a beautiful unique sound, simply unmatched by other CD mechanisms.”
The press release says nothing about how we load CDs into the CD-T35 but the pictures show what looks like a top loader with a saucepan lid and (presumably) a puck attached to the lid’s underside.
The CD-T35’s output stage is made up of four hand-matched 12AU7 tubes and features a custom I/V stage as well as, according to Shanling, the company’s last remaining stock of its “best capacitors, internal wiring and solder material”.
Bringing the new model into the 21st Century, the CD-T35 also sports a Wi-Fi/Ethernet network streamer. It uses an Octa-Core Snapdragon CPU to power an Android operating system (version unknown) with DLNA/UPnP and Apple AirPlay (like the much more affordable ET3 and EC3) but also front-panel touchscreen control of Tidal, Qobuz, Apple Music and Spotify (à la Eversolo and FiiO).
The power supply has been split accordingly with one rail feeding the digital section and the other the analogue. Outputs include single-ended RCA, balanced XLR and digital coaxial. The presence of a USB-B input means the CD-T35 can also be used as a standalone D/A converter.
Pricing on the CD-T35 comes in at a cool US$16,999.
But wait. On the front panel, beneath the bottom lip of the upward-tilted touchscreen, sits a full suite of headphone outputs: balanced XLR, balanced 4.4mm and single-ended 6.4mm. Gain is set by the neighbouring rotary switch.
That headphone section will run you an additional US$2000 for a total asking price of US$18,999.
Shipping begins later this month.
Further information: Shanling
