Physical Media Isn’t Dead, It Was Just Resting
The CD player, long written off by many as a relic of a bygone era, is suddenly back in the spotlight—and on a tear. After years of digital domination and streaming supremacy, physical media is making a surprising comeback, fueled by a fresh wave of innovative players. Portable powerhouses from FiiO and Shanling have been turning heads, delivering serious sound on the go. Shanling isn’t stopping there, either—rolling out a new CD/SACD transport to satisfy even the most discerning audiophiles. And just days ago, Onkyo threw its hat into the ring with a brand-new CD player in its upcoming Icon series, proving that the disc isn’t ready for the retirement home just yet. Shanling’s new CD80 II clocks in at just $349, and it’s packing a few clever features that could easily tip the scales for plenty of buyers.
Why are CD players making a comeback? Unlike vinyl—where the diehards never let go—CDs are enjoying a different kind of revival. People have massive collections gathering dust, used CDs are dirt cheap, and new releases keep rolling out every month like clockwork.
Here’s the quiet, ugly truth nobody wants to admit: CDs still sound better than most streaming services. Yeah, nostalgia and the whole “own it, don’t rent it” vibe play a role, but let’s get real—many of us still have hundreds, even thousands of CDs. Some of us are sitting on 2,000-plus discs and hunting for a secondary player just to feed the office or bedroom rig. Kinky, isn’t it?
Built-In High-Res Streaming Capabilities
The Shanling CD80 II upgrades two main things from the original. It uses the same tray-style loading and HD450 laser from Shanling’s pricier CD-S100 ($589), which should mean smoother, more reliable playback. It also switches out the ESS DAC for a Cirrus Logic CS43198 chip—switching the DAC chip will shift the sonic vibe—moving away from the ESS’s sharper, more detailed sound toward a smoother, fuller presentation with the Cirrus Logic CS43198. Not better or worse, just different.
The Shanling CD80 II isn’t just stuck in the CD age. It’s got a USB input that’ll handle drives up to 2TB and play high-res files up to PCM 384kHz and DSD256. So yeah, on top of that, it doubles as a Bluetooth streamer with built-in Bluetooth 5.0, supporting LDAC, AAC, and SBC codecs. Basically, it’s a physical media player that’s gotten a bit of a modern makeover—finally, some versatility that doesn’t make you feel like you’re living in 2005.
Balanced Headphone Output?
Most CD players are built to feed a hi-fi system and call it a day. The Shanling CD80 II can do that, but it also works as a fully self-contained CD player for headphone users—a rare move in this category. It’s got dual headphone amps, one dedicated to the 3.5mm single-ended jack and the other to the 4.4mm balanced output, delivering up to 850mW into 32 ohms.
That’s serious power, enough to handle everything from sensitive IEMs to more demanding full-sized cans. But here’s the bigger question: how many CD players even offer both balanced and single-ended outputs at this power level? And with a streamer and headphone amp onboard, has Shanling compromised the CD playback quality, or have they gone the extra mile to keep each section isolated so nothing steps on the other’s toes?
Shanling CD80 II Specifications
- Core Hardware
- Processor: Ingenic X1000E
- DAC: Cirrus Logic CS43198
- Power: 100–220V
- Display: 1.28″ color (240 × 240)
- Inputs
- CD, USB Drive (up to 2TB)
- Bluetooth 5.0 (LDAC, AAC, SBC)
- Outputs
- RCA Line Out
- Coaxial SPDIF
- 3.5mm Headphone (SE)
- 4.4mm Headphone (Balanced)
- Supported Media
- CD / CD-R / CD-RW Audio CD
- USB: PCM up to 384kHz/32-bit, DSD256
- Formats: DSD, DXD, APE, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, DTS, MP3, WMA, AAC, OGG, MP2, M4A, AC3, OPUS, TAK, CUE
- RCA Line Out
- 2.6 Vrms, 20 Hz–40 kHz (-0.2 dB)
- THD+N: 0.0004%, DR: 124 dB, SNR: 124 dB
- Output Impedance: 100 Ω
- 3.5mm Headphone Out (SE)
- 215 mW @ 32 Ω
- THD+N: 0.0007%, DR: 125 dB, SNR: 125 dB
- Channel Sep: 75 dB, Noise Floor: 117 dB
- Output Impedance: 0.4 Ω
- 4.4mm Headphone Out (Balanced)
- 850 mW @ 32 Ω
- THD+N: 0.0007%, DR: 127 dB, SNR: 127 dB
- Channel Sep: 112 dB, Noise Floor: 113 dB
- Output Impedance: 0.7 Ω
- Digital Coaxial SPDIF: PCM up to 192 kHz / 24-bit (no DSD)
- Controls: Buttons + Wheel, Remote, Companion App
- Dimensions / Weight: 280 × 205 × 52 mm, ~2.6 kg
The Bottom Line
The $359 Shanling CD80 II packs a Cirrus Logic DAC, hi-res CD playback, balanced and single-ended headphone outs, and enough juice to drive serious cans—all in one sleek box. Match it with a compact integrated like the WiiM Vibelink or NAD C316BEE V2, or drop it into a vintage receiver setup, and you’ve instantly added high-res streaming, CD playback, and a powerful headphone amp without hogging space or draining your bank account.
Price & Availability
The Shanling CD80 II comes in at $349—the same as the original—and is probably cheaper than you’d guess for what it offers. (And if history repeats, Shanling could roll out a pricier version with built-in speaker amplification down the line.) It’s available now from Shanling and authorized dealers in either black or silver.
For more information: https://en.shanling.com/product/480
Where to buy:
Related Reading:
- Portable CD Players Are Back—Because Cell Service In The Balkans Sucks And So Does Spotify’s Bitrate
- Shanling’s ONIX Zenith XST20 SACD/CD Transport Is Resurrecting A “Dead” Audiophile Format—And We’re Somehow Okay With It
- Shanling EC Zero T: The Hybrid Tube CD Player For People Who Think Streaming Is For The Lazy
- Onkyo Icon C-30 CD Player: Your $349 Reminder That Owning Music Still Beats Streaming
Anton
August 10, 2025 at 1:28 pm
$359 looks like a great price for this. Not interested in the headphone amp part but like the streaming support. The coaxial output is fine, but why not offer Toslink or USB?
Ian White
August 10, 2025 at 3:01 pm
Anton,
EverSolo’s Play offers streaming, amplification, and CD playback for more money so you can’t have it all for $359. I think the headphone amp feature is actually kinda interesting for those who don’t use streaming and have a CD collection they might want to listen to while working at their desk.
Plug this into something like the WiiM Vibelink or the NAD integrated amplifier I mentioned and you have everything you need except for speakers. Could easily build a solid system for under $1,000.
IW