Shanling CD50 Brings CD Playback To The Desktop

Shanling has introduced a compact £299.99 CD player with its own DAC, two headphone outputs and connections for adding it to a larger HiFi system.

The CD50 is the first model in Shanling’s new 50 Line. It concentrates on physical discs rather than trying to combine CD playback, Bluetooth and music streaming in one box.

Quick Reference

• Product: Shanling CD50
• Type: Compact desktop CD player, DAC and headphone amplifier
• Disc Support: CD, CD-R and CD-RW with gapless playback
• Headphone Outputs: 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm
• System Outputs: RCA, optical and coaxial digital
• Price: £299.99, €299 or $279

A Small Player For Physical Music

The CD50 measures 188 x 205 x 53mm, so it takes up much less desk or shelf space than a typical full-width HiFi component. Discs load through a conventional tray at the front, and the player supports standard CDs as well as recordable CD-R and rewritable CD-RW discs.

A 2.2-inch screen shows track and setting information. Playback can be controlled from the front panel or the supplied infrared remote, while gapless playback avoids unwanted pauses between tracks on albums where one piece of music runs directly into the next.

Headphone Listening Is Built In

The player contains a Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC and a headphone amplifier. The DAC converts the digital information read from the disc into the analogue signal required by headphones, an amplifier or active speakers.

There are two headphone sockets. The ordinary 3.5mm output is rated at up to 210mW into 32 ohms, while the 4.4mm balanced output is rated at up to 830mW into the same load. Balanced headphones need a matching 4.4mm plug and internal wiring; an adaptor cannot make an unbalanced headphone balanced.

Because the headphone amplifier is already included, the CD50 can form a compact personal listening system with nothing more than headphones and a collection of discs.

Connecting It To A HiFi System

Stereo RCA outputs can work at a fixed level for connection to an integrated amplifier, or at a variable level so the CD50 can control volume when used with suitable active speakers or a power amplifier. Users should check input levels and safe volume settings before connecting equipment directly.

Optical and coaxial digital outputs are also included. These allow the CD50 to work as a CD transport, sending the disc’s digital data to a separate DAC or an amplifier with digital inputs.

What The CD50 Leaves Out

There is no Bluetooth, Wi-Fi streaming or digital input for an outside source. That means the internal DAC cannot be used to improve sound from a computer or television. The decision keeps the product focused, but anyone wanting one box for discs and streaming will need to look elsewhere or add a separate streamer.

Price And Availability

Shanling has priced the CD50 at $279, €299, and £299.99. Black and silver finishes are available.

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