[Shanling]

Throughout the year 2023, Shanling brought out an impressive range of CD players, from the unique ECMini, over the innovative ET3, to the Ultra High-End CD-T35.

And what can be a better follow-up to these CDs, than a proper SACD player?

Introducing Shanling SCD1.3 SACD Player

Shanling SCD1.3 shines as a High-End DAC playing SACDs, but it was designed as a multifunctional source component for a wide range of Hi-Fi setups. Apart from SACDs, you can enjoy playback from local USB drives, convenient Bluetooth streaming or even DLNA, Airplay and NAS support. And while its single-ended and balanced outputs will be matching partners for many audiophile amplifiers or active speakers, the included digital inputs can feed even better DACs, taking advantage of the new advanced I2S support.

Now, let us guide you through its range of features one by one.

Starting at the titular SACD playback, SCD1.3 utilizes the MediaTek ME1389EE system alongside the Sanyo HD870 laser in tray style mechanism, fully unlocking the capabilities of the High-Resolution SACD discs and serving as well for standard CDs. And for Hybrid SACDs, there is a dedicated button for easy switching between SACD and CD layers.

Sound tuning of the SCD1.3 was based on the Shanling M9 Plus, with the flagship AKM AK4499EX + AK4191 DAC system at its center. Highly detailed, with a vast and precise soundstage, yet adding a bit of warmth and smoothness, for the classic Shanling sound. With highly precise volume control and MUSES8920 acting as the pre-amplifier, SCD1.3 can be paired directly with power amplifiers or active speakers, for a simple and high-quality 2-channel speaker setup.

When it comes to digital outputs, SCD1.3 is the first Shanling model to adapt a new advanced I2S system, featuring a dedicated FPGA circuit for further adjustability of I2S output. This special feature offers significantly improved compatibility with DACs across the market, at the launch already including 10 of the most common I2s HDMI pinouts. And for simpler DACs, there is the classic combination of coaxial and optical SPDIF. Note: SACD disc playback will be converted to PCM 88.2 kHZ for digital outputs.

For its multifunctional roles, SCD1.3 runs the latest generation of Shanling’s MTouch system, powered by the Ingenic X2000 platform and controlled through a 5-inch touch screen. The new generation of MTouch offers improved speed, more accurate response to touch controls and simplified UI, further adjusted for the role of the CD player. MTouch also unlocks the wireless capabilities of SCD1.3, a Bluetooth 5.0 receiver function with the support of LDAC, aptX HD and AAC, alongside Wi-Fi connectivity, bringing in DLNA, Airplay and NAS functions.

And for situations when the resolution of SACD is still not enough, the Hi-Res capabilities of SCD1.3 go all the way up to 32-bit / 768 kHz and DSD512. Either connect SCD1.3 to a computer, utilizing its high-performance XMOS XU316 USB input, or just plug a USB drive directly into the USB port on the front panel, for pure lossless local playback directly on the SCD1.3.

MSRP 1279 USD

Available at the end of January 2024

Additional Specification

Dimensions: 28 x 28 x 9.6 cm
Weight: 6.6kg
Controls: Touch Screen, Physical buttons + Volume Wheel, Remote Control, Companion app for iOS & Android
Display: 5-Inch LG Touch panel 854 x 358
Digital Inputs: USB Drive, USB DAC, Coaxial, Optical, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 5.0: Support LDAC, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC
Digital outputs: I2S, Coaxial, Optical (SACD playback limited to PCM 88.2 kHz)
Line-out/Pre-Out: RCA & XLR

RCA output

Output level: 2.5Vrms
Frequency Response: 20Hz-40kHz (-0.1dB)
THD+N: 0.0005%
Dynamic Range: 119dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: 119dB

XLR Output

Output level: 5.0Vrms
Frequency Response: 20Hz-40kHz (-0.1dB)
THD+N: 0.0005%
Dynamic Range: 122dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: 122dB

Headphone Output

Amplifier: TPA6120
Output Power: 1.1 W @ 32Ω // 153 mW @ 300Ω
Frequency Response: 20Hz-40kHz (-0.1dB)
THD+N: 0.001%
Separation: 75dB@32Ω
Dynamic Range: 122dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: 122dB
Output Impedance: 4.7Ω

 

[XERO1]

Wow, this player looks great!

As a big SACD fan, I'm always on the lookout for a good SACD player/transport at a reasonable price.

To my knowledge, this player is now the first and only SACD player that outputs DSD-to-PCM 88.2/24 from its coax and optical digital outputs. And in my experience, MediaTek-based DSD-to-PCM conversion usually sounds pretty good. Good enough to let the benefits of DSD's superior resolution really shine through. And it also has a dedicated CD/SACD button on the front that allows quick and easy switching between the CD layer (44.1kHz/16bit PCM) and the SACD layer (2.82MHz/1bit DSD) of a hybrid disc.

So if you've been looking for a simple, plug-and-play solution to play all of your SACDs through the DAC of your choice, this is it!!

 

[XERO1]

It would be amazing if Shanling also eventually came out with a simplified (no DAC, no BT, no HP amp) transport-only version of the SCD1.3 at a lower cost.

That would be exactly what I've been looking for.

 

[Shanling]

It would be amazing if Shanling also eventually came out with a simplified (no DAC, no BT, no HP amp) transport-only version of the SCD1.3 at a lower cost.

That would be exactly what I've been looking for.

All is possible, will see.

 

[lantian]

It would be amazing if Shanling also eventually came out with a simplified (no DAC, no BT, no HP amp) transport-only version of the SCD1.3 at a lower cost.

That would be exactly what I've been looking for.

Sacd copyright becomes an issue for such products, unless you can cleverly avoid getting the crap sued out of you by anyone who ever released a SACD. It's pretty much impossible.
Know that PSaudio had to create their own standard for transfering sacd from their transport to their won DACs and only their own.
Wish shanling all the success with this player and perhaps they can make it happen, but judging by the fact that this also does convert dad to pcm for transfer to another dac, it can not be done.

 

[WDitters]

It would be amazing if Shanling also eventually came out with a simplified (no DAC, no BT, no HP amp) transport-only version of the SCD1.3 at a lower cost.

That would be exactly what I've been looking for.

I would actually have hoped for a proper hi-res streaming section and a decent headphone amp making this a true all-in-one. As it now turns out, there may be a headphone connection on the device, but that seems more an afterthought than a true quality add-on …

 

[tutetibiimperes]

$1,279 is actually very competitively priced for an SACD player, this one is a much better value than that sort of UFO looking one that doesn’t even do SACD.

Since Shanling is rolling out so many CD units though, I’d love to see them address a huge hole in the market: no one is making CD-ripping jukebox devices anymore.


By that I mean a component with a CD drive that also has a place for you to put in a hard drive, and when you put in a CD you can hit a button for it to rip it do the HDD in FLAC format.

Combine that with an app that shows the album art and downloads the track names for navigation and that would be a killer product. You can enjoy all of your CDs without having to actually deal with putting in the physical CD except for the first time.

Why is no one doing this anymore?

 

[drftr]

$1,279 is actually very competitively priced for an SACD player, this one is a much better value than that sort of UFO looking one that doesn’t even do SACD.

Since Shanling is rolling out so many CD units though, I’d love to see them address a huge hole in the market: no one is making CD-ripping jukebox devices anymore.


By that I mean a component with a CD drive that also has a place for you to put in a hard drive, and when you put in a CD you can hit a button for it to rip it do the HDD in FLAC format.

Combine that with an app that shows the album art and downloads the track names for navigation and that would be a killer product. You can enjoy all of your CDs without having to actually deal with putting in the physical CD except for the first time.

Why is no one doing this anymore?

There's still some I found out a few weeks ago. Google "rip to wav vs flac" and you'll find a few threads where they are mentioned.

drftr

 

[bgall1982]

Sacd copyright becomes an issue for such products, unless you can cleverly avoid getting the crap sued out of you by anyone who ever released a SACD. It's pretty much impossible.
Know that PSaudio had to create their own standard for transfering sacd from their transport to their won DACs and only their own.
Wish shanling all the success with this player and perhaps they can make it happen, but judging by the fact that this also does convert dad to pcm for transfer to another dac, it can not be done.

I own and use the PS Audio Perfectwave Transport SACD Transport everyday connected with i2s to an SMSL VMV D2 DAC which plays SACD DSD layers. So when you say that" PS AUDIO had to create there own and keep it in there own" I don't understand,can you help me understand please.

 

[jamato8]

Very interesting buy why have an output impedance of 4.7 ohms for the headphone section? This should be 1 or less ohms. It can mess with the frequencies.

 

[alekc]

Since it is like comparing apples to oranges due to SACD layer I am still wondering how it would sound against Hegel Viking. I've heard Viking for limited time, but must say it did great impression on my on speaker setup.

Considering SACD support this looks very interesting and a lot better + down to earth product than copy cat design with ill price tag introduces just a while before.

 

[meomap]

Nicely down to earth PRICED this time.
Congratulations...
Might look into this one but waiting for further reviews, if any.

 

[John Massaria]

loving it - but can Shanling confirm the IS2 output is putting out true SACD to DAC or is it in fact PCM?

 

[JjB067]

$1,279 is actually very competitively priced for an SACD player, this one is a much better value than that sort of UFO looking one that doesn’t even do SACD.

Since Shanling is rolling out so many CD units though, I’d love to see them address a huge hole in the market: no one is making CD-ripping jukebox devices anymore.


By that I mean a component with a CD drive that also has a place for you to put in a hard drive, and when you put in a CD you can hit a button for it to rip it do the HDD in FLAC format.

Combine that with an app that shows the album art and downloads the track names for navigation and that would be a killer product. You can enjoy all of your CDs without having to actually deal with putting in the physical CD except for the first time.

Why is no one doing this anymore?

A nice one box Ripper is the Brennan B3 which will rip to FLAC and store on an internal disk. You can play back any of the ripped files using frontpanel or app controls. Of course the recent Eversolo DMP-A6 and DMP-A8 streamers can rip CDs if you connect a USB optical drive, these are faster than the Brennan boxes.

 

[carbonF1]

Nice to see more options for SACD playback.

I own and use the PS Audio Perfectwave Transport SACD Transport everyday connected with i2s to an SMSL VMV D2 DAC which plays SACD DSD layers. So when you say that" PS AUDIO had to create there own and keep it in there own" I don't understand,can you help me understand please.

I think the other post is referring to the additional 'handshake' that was on their older model, the Memory Player. That model required the DirectStream DAC for DSD over IIS, but the Perfectwave SACD transport removed that handshake and DSD over IIS works with other DACs like the Holo May. Good to know it works with the SMSL VMV D2. Do you need to change any settings to switch back to PCM?