Shanling SCD-T200 Review/Opinion/Thoughts?

[polkatese]

I thought someone had this player around here. Any thoughts?

TIA...

[steveinaz]

Hell I'd buy it just for the "Wood" factor. Gorgeous ain't it, there are reviews out there on it, Shanling has a very good reputation.

[Emlyn]

The only negative I've heard about this one was that it had difficulty picking up the SACD vs. CD tracks on some early hybrid SACD discs because of the transport used. Some Sonys using the same transport had the same problem, including mine. It will eventually pick up the SACD tracks on all discs. I sometimes have to push a button a couple of times to get the right layer on a handful of hybrid discs.

Pluses with the Shanling are that it has both solid state and tube outputs, and I think this one can directly drive an amplifier without a preamp in the chain.

[BlueMDPicker]

I have the Chris Johnson (Parts Connexion) Level 1 Mod CD T-100A with HDCD. It's a great CDP in every respect. I purchased it (used) primarily for its tube output (2.3 volts/8 db gain) and TI chip based electronic attenuation for use in direct coupling to my single-ended OTL amps. Once the Chinese tubes were replaced with WE 396As, I can find no fault with its SQ (the Chinese 6N3-J tubes are far too analytical for my tastes and, even though they spec the same as the 396As, they have measurably less gain in this circuit design.) The previous owner, or someone at the shop I purchased from, snagged the 396As that Johnson builds his mods around, perhaps thinking they are very rare. They're not, nor are they overly expensive ($25/each) to purchase.

This is my first upsampling player and I've used that feature very little to date. Additionally, fully half the mods are to the digital output stage - something I don't use and doubt I ever will. Luckily, I purchased it for far less than the base + mods price tag.

Build quality is 10 out of 10, as are features. I like the simplicity of no moving transport drawer. Don't lose the remote. Literally every important function is remote controlled. The final decision to purchase it actually came from my wife. It is a 10 out of 10 for eye appeal and she fell in love with it the first time she heard (more likely saw it.) Best of all, it sounds as good as it looks.

[BlueMDPicker]

BTW - here's a couple of quick pics of ours.

[BlueMDPicker]

Another (notice the WE 396As on left are appreciably shorter than the other - headphone stage - Chinese tubes).

[Early B.]

Blue --

You ever tried GE 5670's? Got those on my tube CD player after changing out the 6N3 Chinese crap. SQ became infinitely better.

[Zero]

Blue,

You have entirely too much good equipment. Spread the wealth man! :)

[BlueMDPicker]

Originally posted by Early B.
Blue --

You ever tried GE 5670's? Got those on my tube CD player after changing out the 6N3 Chinese crap. SQ became infinitely better.
Early - I almost pulled the trigger on a quad of NOS Amperex 5670's the other day on eBay. But, after talking with Chris' right hand man on the phone Monday, I decided against it. There is one tube out there better (in this circuit) than the WE 396A, and I have a bead on a pair of them right now.

[BlueMDPicker]

Originally posted by Zero
Blue,

You have entirely too much good equipment. Spread the wealth man! :)

Pffft! Look who's talking! :D

Thanks.

[polkatese]

All,

thanks for the feedback and thoughts. It is definitely an eye candy gear!

A good friend of mine is coming back from Singapore, after a stint there for a year and a half. He offered me to check out any gears that I would like to snag from there, and this one came to mind. The only draw back is the PS is 220-240 Volts, 50 Hz. So, I might have to find a place to replace it, if I get it (a big IF). We'll see..