SHANLING CD-T100 PLAYER MODIFICATIONS 

Shanling CD-T100 Player Modifications

Product Code: SHANLING_T100 Price: Check Latest As high-end digital audio attempts to make progress it has presented the consumer with an unprecedented number of choices and decisions. The menu is diverse... DVD-A, SACD, Multi-channel, Upsampling, Non-oversampling, HDCD, Redbook, tubes, solid state, universal, sinlge-box, two-piece, etc... all choices, but which is best? Well, our next modification focuses on an interesting player which attempts to fit as many of the "buzzwords" into a single chassis as possible, The Shanling CD-T100. You get looks to die for, a tubes option, a solid state option, an upsampling option, HDCD, and parallel dacs. It is an obvious attempt to be a Redbook Jack-of-all-trades but unfortunately falls a bit short when serious sonics are taken into regard. For this modification our goal was simply to improve upon the weaknesses because the player presented challenges due to a simple lack of space. Upon first listening, we noticed the Shanling seemed to lack a bit of resolution. The pace was a little slow especially in the lower octaves which tended to lag behind the rest of the music. These qualities became worse switching to the tube outputs but maybe a bit warmer only through more distortion and less resolution. Also, the involvement level never seemed to draw us in...basically a little lifeless. The modification came in three parts. Improve the output stage (solid state only), improve the transport section, and finally lower the jitter. We initially installed close to 60 Black Gates and let them burn in for a week or so and noticed very substantial improvement in tonality, detail, and stage. A much greater sense of naturalness evolved. Also, we lowered the capacitance in the main reservoir which seemed to really improve the bass performance. Next, the Superclock was added and this was major! The depth, width, and especially the top-end was much improved giving more emotion and involvement in the music. Definitely a greater sense of ease was present in our evaluation room. Finally, a Q-power regulator was installed on the transport section which again seemed to open up the musical presentation sounding less bounded to the speaker-really much more like live music! So as a package, we are confident it takes a somewhat mediocre player into a fantastic hot rod machine! It now exudes life and immediacy on the listener with a sense of musical communication far beyond what the stock innards were capable of...One hell of an improvement! Upgrade This upgrade includes the Superclock II, Superclock II power supply, Black Gate capacitors, and soft recovery diodes. Installation Please contact Richard Kern of Audiomod by e:mail at RKern70055@aol.com or by phone at (503)659-6599 or (503)490-8602 for installation. Customer Reviews Send us a review and share your thoughts with other customers Reviewer: Doug Folkes, December 9th 2002 I bought my Shanling CD-T100 because of the Tube output. I needed a CD player with a warm, transparent and musical sound. Even though the sound stage placed me in the front row, I heard a tint of gray over shadowing my music. After searching the Internet for hints on improving the Shanling I stumbled on Reference Audio Mods in Riverside CA. After speaking with Kyle on the phone, I was intrigued after hearing about the improvements received from a previous Shanling. I left the player with Kyle for about three weeks for modification on the front end and Tube output. I was told that the modification involved changing the Superclock II along dedicated power supply, soft recovery diodes, numerous Black Gate capacitors, resistors and pure silver internal wiring. Despite the limited internal spacing provided by the low height of the Shanling case, there was a phenomenal improvement in the sound. I cannot recall receiving more bang per dollar during my 20 years in the High End industry. The music is now flowing from a black instead of gray back ground, there is more transparency, more air, rock solid bass, lack of jitter and resolution that create a startling 3-D effect. Very pleased. Thanks to Kyle and Craig. Regards, Doug Folkes Palmdale, California