Is SACD quietly staging a comeback? Shanling seems to think so. Hot on the heels of the ONIX Zenith XST20 SACD/CD Transport released earlier this year, the company has unveiled the $3,899 Shanling SCD3.3 SACD player, a full-featured deck built around SACD playback, a 2nd-generation R2R DAC, and a classic tube output stage.
What Is SACD and Why Does It Still Matter in 2025?
Let’s be honest: outside the audiophile world, most people who still have a CD player—or are thinking of buying one—are staring at the SACD logo like it’s hieroglyphics. A little context goes a long way.
SACD (Super Audio CD) landed in 1999 as Sony and Philips’ big swing at next-generation physical media. Instead of the 16-bit/44.1 kHz PCM used on CDs, SACD relied on DSD, a 1-bit stream sampled at 2.8 MHz. The goal was simple: capture more nuance, extend the frequency response, and get closer to the master tape without the digital glare that defined early CD playback. The format could also deliver 5.1 surround mixes, which made it catnip for classical labels and early home-theater enthusiasts.
So why didn’t SACD take over the world? Timing. It arrived just as downloads and streaming were gaining momentum, while DVD—and later Blu-ray—stole the spotlight for home entertainment. Consumers moved on before SACD ever had a chance to hit critical mass.
Yet here we are in 2025, and SACD refuses to die. Audiophiles still swear by the format’s sound quality, collectors chase down rare pressings, and labels like Acoustic Sounds keep the flame alive with meticulous reissues. It’s niche, sure—but it’s a niche with staying power. And with transports like the ONIX XST20 and players like Shanling’s new SCD3.3, the format’s “legacy” looks a lot less like a eulogy and more like a second life.
Shanling SCD3.3: What This Player Actually Offers
Shanling’s new SCD3.3 isn’t another nostalgia-driven disc spinner—it’s a purpose-built SACD machine with modern engineering, a full-blown R2R DAC, and a tube output stage baked in. At 10kg, it’s a serious component, and the feature set reads like Shanling decided to make a “do everything, do it right” statement piece.
The transport is entirely in-house and uses a proprietary disc system built around the HD850 laser. It’s a top-loading design with a dedicated CD puck, and more importantly, it extracts true DSD data from SACDs. That DSD stream feeds both the internal R2R DAC and the digital outputs (I2S and Coaxial), so you’re not getting PCM-converted SACD playback. This is the real deal.
The DAC section is where things get interesting. Shanling is using its second-generation R2R DAC module, a resistor ladder built with 212 ultra-precise 0.01% resistors. R2R continues its resurgence for a reason: it delivers a tonal density and texture that delta-sigma designs rarely match, and Shanling doubles down by offering both solid-state and a classic 12AT7 tube output stage. Whether you want clean, fast R2R playback or something warmer and more forgiving, you get both paths.
On the output side, the SCD3.3 offers RCA and XLR, along with a switchable line-out or preamp mode, so it can run directly into a power amplifier if needed. The I2S output is FPGA-assisted and includes 10 selectable pinout modes, making it compatible with a wide array of external DACs—something many transports still fail at.
Inside, the power supply is unusually serious for a disc player: dual 66W transformers plus a dedicated 15W module, feeding isolated digital and analog sections. It’s one of the reasons the chassis weighs a full 10kg, along with the thick aluminum construction.
On the usability side, Shanling didn’t phone it in. You get a 5-inch LG touchscreen, a remote, hardware buttons, and a companion app. Beyond discs, it supports USB drive playback, a USB DAC mode, and a Bluetooth 5.0 receiver with LDAC, aptX HD, and aptX support. For a disc player, it’s surprisingly flexible.
SCD3.3 Specifications
Dimensions & Build
- Size: 430 × 319 × 91 mm
- Weight: ~10 kg
- Chassis: Thick aluminum build for vibration control and transport stability
Processor & Interface
- Main Processor: Ingenic X2000
- Display: 5.0″ LG touchscreen (854 × 358)
- Controls: Touchscreen, remote, hardware buttons, companion app
Power Architecture
- Transformers: Dual 66W transformers
- Additional Power Module: Independent 15W supply
- Design Goal: Isolated digital/analog sections for lower noise and better channel stability
Supported Playback & Connectivity
- Discs: SACD / CD
- USB DAC: PCM up to 768kHz/32-bit, DSD512
- SPDIF Inputs: Coaxial
- USB Drive Support:
- PCM up to 768kHz/32-bit
- DSD512 (.iso/.dsf/.dff; DST not supported)
- Formats: WAV, FLAC, AIFF, APE, ALAC, MP3, AAC, OGG, M4A, AC3, OPUS, and more
- Bluetooth: BT 5.0 receiver
- Codecs: LDAC, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC
Digital Output Options
- I2S:
- PCM up to 768kHz
- Native DSD up to DSD512
- FPGA-assisted with 10 selectable pinout modes
- USB Audio Out:
- PCM 768kHz, DSD512
- (SACD not supported over USB)
- Coaxial SPDIF Out:
- PCM up to 192kHz
- DoP DSD64 (SACD-supported)
Analog Output Performance
RCA Output
- Level: 2.45 Vrms
- Frequency Response: 20Hz–40kHz (–0.3dB)
- THD+N: 0.15%
- Crosstalk: 110dB
- Dynamic Range / SNR: 117dB
XLR Output
- Level: 4.9 Vrms
- Frequency Response: 20Hz–40kHz (–0.3dB)
- THD+N: 0.15%
- Channel Separation: 110dB
- Dynamic Range / SNR: 117dB
The Bottom Line
The Shanling SCD3.3 isn’t just another SACD player dusted off for nostalgia points—it’s one of the few modern machines treating disc playback like it still matters. True DSD from SACD, a fully discrete 2nd-gen R2R ladder DAC, a selectable 12AT7 tube output stage, and an FPGA-driven I2S system with 10 pinout modes make it a rare hybrid: a high-end transport, DAC, and analog stage all living under one roof without compromise.
Most players force you to pick a lane. The SCD3.3 doesn’t. It gives you native DSD output if you want to run it as a pure transport, a resistor ladder DAC if you want fully in-house digital conversion, and a tube stage if you want tone without losing resolution. Add in dual 66W transformers, a true top-loading mechanism, and a 10kg chassis built to keep noise and vibration out of the equation, and you’re looking at one of the most complete SACD-focused components available in 2025.
If you’re the kind of listener who still values physical media—and you want a player that treats SACD and CD with the same seriousness you do—the SCD3.3 stands out because it isn’t trying to be everything to everyone. It’s built for people who actually care about sound and are willing to pay close to $4,000 for that level of performance.
Where to buy: $3,899 at shanling.com
Related Reading:
- Shanling’s ONIX Zenith XST20 SACD/CD Transport Is Resurrecting A “Dead” Audiophile Format—And We’re Somehow Okay With It
- DCS Varèse Music System Expands With Reference-Grade CD/SACD Transport For Ultimate Disc Playback
- Shanling Audio Unveils ECZeroT Portable CD Player, ONIX SACD Transport And More At High End Munich 2025
