Sonic benefits of Level-1 mod:
- The unit is quieter, blacks are blacker, thus resolving more low level detail and allowing better ambiance retrieval.

- It is smoother and less solid state sounding, while also being more detailed and dynamic.

- The Midrange is more natural with less electronic glare. The midrange performance is what you typically spend much more to get in solid state machines.

- Imaging is more defined while front to back depth is improved.

- Bass is improved with fuller weight and authority.

• One pair of premium machined Vampire direct gold plated over copper body Teflon insulated RCA female jacks replace the cheap stamped jack modules on the output.
• 4 x Black-Gate FK-series power supply and C-series output coupling electrolytic capacitors are added.
• 10 x 1% Polystyrene film and foil capacitors are added in the analog filter stage
• 2 x Riken OHM ½ and one watt signal path 1% carbon comp resistors with gold-plated leads replace cheap resistors of the stock model.
• 4 x Cree SiC Schottky rectifying diodes are added.
• 4 x Vishay-Telefunken SF4007 ultra-fast soft recovery diodes are added in the power supply
• We install four small EAR brand Sorbothane isolation feet with new mounting hardware to reduce airborne feedback.
• 1 sheet of SoundCoat chassis damping material is cut and applied where applicable to control chassis resonances
• 4 pcs DH Labs 99.999% pure solid-core long-grained silver output signal wires, with foamed Teflon tape wrap dielectric are used to hook up the new RCA output jacks
• WBT high silver content (4%) solder used throughou
• 5 hours total labor.
  

Options
1) Replacement of one dual and four single op amps with Burr-Brown op amp modules (the world's best) dual and single versions. Add $250.00 with L-1 mod.

The following details our Level-2 mod [$750 + frt retrofrit, $1,490 + frt new premodified machines:

• We add one pair of premium machined Vampire direct gold plated over copper body Teflon insulated RCA female jacks on the output. These replace the cheap stamped jack modules of the stock unit.
• 4 x DH Labs 99.999% pure solid-core long-grained silver output signal wires, with foamed Teflon tape wrap dielectric hook up the Vampires.
• We replace the stock I-V op amps with world’s best – Burr-Brown OPA-627s in a special dual DIP module. We use 3 pcs of the Burr Browns. These are 425 opamps.
• 6 x Japanese-made Riken ½ watt precision 1% carbon film resistors are added to the signal path.
• 6 x German-made Mundorf M-Cap polypropylene film coupling capacitors are added to the signal path.
• WBT high silver content (4%) solder is used throughout
• 4 hours labor

• Two pair of premium machined Vampire direct gold plated over copper body Teflon-insulated RCA female jacks on the output (replace cheap stamped jack modules).
• 20 BlackGate STD & NX grade power supply and output coupling electrolytic capacitors.
• 14 Riken Ohm ½ and one watt signal path 1% carbon comp. resistors with gold-plated leads.
• 4 Audio-Note Tantalum film 1-watt resistors.
• 4 Auricap metalized polypropylene input coupling and power supply bypass film capacitors.
• 4 Cree silicon carbide Schottky high-voltage diodes
• 4 Telefunken ultra-fast soft recovery Fred rectifying diodes.
• 1 sheet of SoundCoat chassis damping material cut and applied where applicable to control chassis resonances
• 4 pieces of DH LABS 99.999% pure solid-core long-grained silver output signal wires with foamed Teflon tape wrap dielectric.
• WBT high silver content (4%) solder used throughout
• 7 hours total labor
  

The following details the Level-2 modifications for the Shanling CD-T1000SE CD Player [$2,400 + freight retrofit; $3,990 + freight new machine with preinstalled mods]:

All of the Level-1 above, plus -

• 2 pair of Goertz solid silver RCA female jacks
• Dexa Technologies 16-Meg D-Clock master clock + dedicated power supply
• 1 pair of New Old Stock Tung-Sol 2C51 vacuum tubes (left side main outputs)
• 1 x 2A, slo-blo, 5x20mm pure silver German-made HiFi Tuning fuse (damped and cryogenically treated as well).
• 3.5 hours of additional installation labor
  

Sonic improvements
The unit is quieter. Black are blacker, resolving more low-level detail for better ambiance retrieval. Both the solid-state and tube stages are smoother with a more liquid midrange. The solid-state glare is now gone with a more neutral presentation. Both output stages have more inner detail while at the same time being more dynamic. Transparency is much improved in the tube section and you can now look farther into the soundstage. Images are sized better and more defined. Stage width and depth are both improved. Bass slam and extension are dramatically improved, with fuller weight and authority. The tube output stage sounds more like solid-state in this area and the solid-state stage now competes with megabuck players

The Level-2 upgrade adds additional improvement to the dynamics, low level resolution and transparency. It also increases the soundstage width and depth over the Level-1.

• 2 x BlackGate STD-grade electrolytic power supply capacitors
• 4 x Riken Ohm ½ and one watt signal path 1% carbon comp. resistors with gold-plated leads
• We replace the stock $5 dual I-V op amps with the world's best, the $25/ea. Burr-Brown OPA-627 in a special single DIP module - we use 2 pieces total
• 2 x 3uf Auricap metalized polypropylene output coupling caps
• One pair of premium machined Vampire direct gold-plated over copper body Teflon insulated RCA female jacks to replace the cheap stamped jack modules on the output
• 1 x sheet of SoundCoat chassis damping material cut and applied where applicable to control chassis resonances
• 4 x pieces of DH Labs 99.999% pure solid-core long-grained silver output signal wires with foamed Teflon tape wrap dielectric
• WBT 4% silver content solder used throughout
• 3.5 hours total labor

Sonic improvements of the Mini mod
The unit is quieter, blacks are blacker to resolve more low-level detail and ambience. Bass slam and extension are improved with fuller weight and authority. The unit now sounds more like solid-state in this area and competes with much more expensive players. Dynamics are improved over the stock player. High frequencies are extended with a little more sparkle. It is a tad warmer with a more liquid midrange. Images are sized better and defined. Stage width and depth are both improved. Transparency is improved and you can now look farther into the soundstage. The Mini Mod takes the stock player up to the level of most $3500 stock players. We believe that it is the player to beat in the under $2k price range.


The following details the Level-1 mod for the CD-3000 [$1150 + freight retrofit; new modified players $2290 + frt - modified players come with the one year factory warranty]:

• 1 pair of premium machined Vampire direct gold plated over copper body Teflon insulated RCA female jacks on the output to replacethe cheap stamped jack modules
• 1 sheet of SoundCoat chassis damping material cut and applied where applicable to control chassis resonances
• 4 pieces of DH Labs 99.999% pure solid-core long-grained silver output signal wires with foamed Teflon tape wrap dielectric.
• 14 BlackGate STD and FK-grade PS caps, NX-grade DAC PS Caps and N -rade output coupling capacitors
• 10 Riken Ohm ½ and one watt signal path 1% carbon comp. resistors with gold-plated leads
• 4 x IR Hexfred ultra-fast soft recover rectifying diodes in the power supply
• Replace stock I-V op amps with world's best BurrBrown OPA-627 in a special single DIP module – 2 pcs. total
• 2 x Multicap PPFX-S polypropylene film and tin foil input coupling caps
• 2 x 3uf Auricap metalized polypropylene line output caps
• WBT high silver content (4%) solder used throughout
• 6 hours total labor
  

Options: Add a DEXA Super Clock to lower jitter - $480
New Level-1 players with the clock are $2,790.00 + frt
Modify the balanced output side of the machine - $380


The following details the Level-2 mod for the CD-3000 [$1750 + freight retrofit; new modified players $2990 + frt - modified players come with the one year factory warranty].

• 1 pair of premium machined Vampire direct gold plated over copper body Teflon insulated RCA female jacks on the output. These replace the cheap stamped nickel metal jack modules of the stock player.
• 29 x BlackGate STD and FK grade power supply caps, NX grade DAC PS caps and N-grade output coupling capacitors
• 20 x Riken Ohm ½ and one watt signal path 1% carbon comp. resistors with gold-plated leads
• 8 x International Rectifier Hexfred ultra-fast soft recover rectifying diodes in the power supply
• We replace the stock $5 I-V dual op amps with the world's best, 4 x single Burr-Brown OPA-627s in a special single DIP module. We basically make dual opamps from the 627s to replace the duals of the stock player. We use 4 pcs. total and 2 custom DIP boards.
• 2 x MultiCap PPFX-S Polypropylene film and tin foil coupling caps
• 2 x 0.01uf with Rel-Cap TFT Teflon film and tin foil bypass coupling caps to add sparkle and extension to the high frequencies.
• 2 x 3uf Auricap metalized polypropylene line output caps
• 4 x Polystyrene film and tin foil analog filter caps
• 2 x Multicap PPMFX metalized polypropylene analog filter caps
• 1 x matched pair of NOS (new-old stock) Reflektor mil-spec ultra low noise 6H23p-eb. These are super 6922.
• 2 x 5x20mm 1A, slo-blo; 1 x 5x20mm 200ma slo-blo pure silver HiFi Tuning fuses (German made)
• 1 x sheet of SoundCoat chassis damping material cut and applied where applicable to control chassis resonances
• 4 x pieces of DH LABS 99.999% pure solid-core long-grained silver output signal wires with foamed Teflon tape wrap dielectric
• WBT 4% silver content solder used throughout
• 8 hours total labor.
  

Options
Add a DEXA Super Clock to lower jitter for $480. New Level-2 players with the clock are $3,390 + frt

Sonic Improvements of the Level-2 mod
The unit is quieter, blacks are blacker to resolve more low-level detail and ambience. Bass slam and extension are dramatically improved, with much fuller weight and authority. The unit now sounds more like the best solid-state players in this area and competes with anything that we have heard in this area under $10k. Dynamics are greatly improved over the stock player. High frequencies are extended with more detail, extension and sparkle. Midrange is more palpable with more warmth and detail. Images are sized better and are more defined. Soundstage width and depth are now both second to none at this price. Transparency is greatly improved and you can now look farther into the soundstage.

The Level-2 Mod takes the stock player up to the Level of most $10k stock players. We believe that it is the player to beat at anywhere close to this price.

Walter,
I've got to tell you - those new BurrBrown OPA627 opamps are unbelieveable! I spoke to Chris and had them installed and running in 10 minutes. It's like a new player! I thought the Shanling was great with the first upgrade. I would put this up against anything right now. Unbelievable!

Hi Walter,
I had to write and let you know what an incredible difference you have made in my life - well - my system, really! The new modifications to my Shanling CD T-100 have brought a touch of un-reality into my system! I simply cannot believe for how much better every single aspect of the sound has changed - and all for the positive!
You took an already fabulous and world-class CD player (with your Level-1 modifications) to a height that I've not heard anywhere else at any price. No kidding. I would put this player up against any in the world right now and you *know* that I've heard most of the so called "best". This player simply smokes them with its sheer unbridled musicality. Sure, it has an astounding ability to recreate a soundstage in every dimension; and to articulate the instruments within that soundstage; but now! ... holy op-amps, Batman! You guys should issue a challenge to all comers, if they dare - anyone who listens to a lot of live music would jump on this player over any I've ever heard at any price in a heartbeat. It's that good!! Thanks again for reminding me that real musicality *is* possible at home (and I don't mean with just my piano). Kudos to all involved.
Joe

Walter,
Received the unit on Friday in excellent shape. Plugged it in and grabbed my wife's "Indigo Girls Live" CD to start the burn-in process. I ended up listening to the whole disc. Oh my God -what have you folks created? I sat on a coffee table, without moving, in front of my system for the full 70 minutes or so in utter astonishment. I think I shed a tear or two at some point. I can give all the adjectives to describe what I heard but I am sure you have heard them all. This is the best CD player I have ever heard, and I have not yet plugged in the Western Electric tubes. You said to burn-in for 2-300 hours. I am curious as to how much better this thing will get. I have noticed that the low-end is opening up more and more. Probably due to my new AQ Python interconnects, as well as the player.
I have the unit going straight to the Sunfire amp. It has plenty of volume with most all my CDs. I have only run into one CD that was recorded at pretty low levels where the volume needed to go to about 95. Toad the Wet Sprocket, Indigo Girls, Tori Amos, Blues Traveler, Dave Matthews are being experienced with new appreciation. Even heavier rock like Creed and Rage Against the Machine sound just phenomenal. The unit shines with the before mentioned groups, as well as some Windham Hill that I have played. I am excited to start hitting my classical collection.

Walter,
Holy Shit and Wow! I have never heard the Klipchs sound this good! Now I know why I was using the volume control in the T100. I am feeding the sub a signal that has to be attenuated the same as the amps from the solid state outputs. For now I have to adjust sub level as I do amps. We need to discuss getting a custom volume control, maybe the same as what's in the amps, that will run up and down with amps (respond to Shandling remote).This could be placed in the signal path to the sub? Did I say wow? I am happy as a pig in shit with the sound and it's not even burned in yet! Hey, let me know what you think on this matter.
Greg

• Power Supply: 9 Ultra-fast, soft recovery Hexfred (International Rectifier) and Fred (Vishay-Telefunken) diodes
  
• 2 Black Gate Standard Grade electrolytic capacitors
  
• 4 Auricap Metallized polypropylene "bypass" capacitors
  
• Vacuum Tube Output Stage: 18 Audio Note Tantalum 0.5- & 1-watt resistors in the signal path
  
• 4 Black Gate Standard grade electrolytic output coupling capacitors
• Auricap metallized polypropylene coupling bypass capacitors
• Solid-State (Direct) Stage:14 Japanese Riken Ohm 0.5-watt signal path Carbon resistors with gold-plated leads
  
• 4 Black Gate Standard grade electrolytic output coupling capacitors
• 4 of our new $85.00 custom-made Burr-Brown State of the Art OPA627 op amp boards to replace the stock 2604 dual opamps
• Miscellaneous: 4 ft. DH Labs 99.99% pure, long-grain silver, 23 awg solid-core, Teflon "air matrix" dielectric output wire
• -2 sheets of Soundcoat damps internal chassis
  
• TRT silver-content Wonder Solder used throughout

Sonic benefits of our Level-1 mod:

• Significantly smoother, harmonically more correct solid-state outputs
• Improved signal-to-noise ratio on the tube outputs for greater ambient and spatial micro-detail retrieval
• More bass weight, impact, definition and control on both outputs

CDT-100 Level-1+ mod - $3,690 + shipping ($2,300 retro-fit on stock machine, $1,100 on Level-1 mod))

Over the Level-1 mod, our Level-1+ mod adds

• Audiocom Superclock II
• Our proprietary power supply for the Superclock
• Comprehensive Bybee Filter treatment
• Solid-silver ultra-pure output terminals

Sonic benefits of our Level-1+ over the Level-1 mod:

• Further gains in analogue-like smoothness, dynamics and that uncanny elegance only the very best machines from Audio Research, BAT, dCS, Linn, Musical Fidelity and Zanden have. With this mod, the Shanling is truly competitive with the very best, cost no object.

Music Hall's 12-month factory warranty extends to our modified players. Click here for stock specs. Click here for reviews.

Owner Feedback on Shanling SCDT-200 mods
Well, the T-200 is spinning some James Taylor as I write this. Wow! I'm still waiting on some Nordost speaker cables to properly bi-amp my Maggies, so for now, running the WE-tubed output to my Odyssey monos via Nordost SPM, in turn driving the Maggies full range via some Acoustic Zen Satoris. Just awesome!

My T-200 continued to break in after the 200 hours! It now sounds better than any player I have ever heard. I am very happy with it now. I still want to get the clock upgrade though, which I will hopefully be able to do soon.

I received the T-200 Level-1 demo and it is outstanding. I've been playing it through a Manley Stingray integrated tube amp and Proac 3.8 speakers. It has a better soundstage than and is comparably resolved to my existing Sony XA777ES SACD player and much more musical.
Pedro D.

• Power Supply:13 Ultra-fast, soft recovery Hexfred (International Rectifier) and Fred (Vishay-Telefunken) diodes.
  
• 2 Black Gate Standard Series electrolytic capacitors.
  
• 4 Auricap metallized polypropylene power supply bypas capacitors.
  
• -2 large 150uf 350V Black Gate VK Series capacitors are installed in the power supply. These caps are huge and sell for $35.00 each.
  
• Vacuum Tube Output Stage: 18 Audio Note Tantalum 0.5- & 1-watt signal path resistors
  
• 4 Black Gate Standard Series electrolytic output coupling capacitors
  
• 2 Black Gate C Series capacitors
  
• 2 Auricap metallized polypropylene coupling bypass capacitors.
  
• 1 pair of Western Electric 396a tubes
  
• DH Labs 99.99% pure silver Teflon tape wrap (Air Matrix style) jacketed solid-core wire is added to the outputs.
  
• Solid-State (Direct) Stage: 22 Japanese Riken Ohm 0.5-watt signal-path Carbon resistors with gold-plated leads
  
• 4 Black Gate Standard Series electrolytic output coupling capacitors
  
• 10 Rel-Cap RTE 2% radial lead polystyrene signal caps (square case, epoxy encapsulated)
  
• 2 of our custom-made adaptor PC boards are added utilizing the ultra high performance Burr-Brown OPA627 op amps for the main output buffer.
  
• DH Labs 99.99% pure silver Teflon tape wrap (Air Matrix style) jacketed solid-core wire is added to the outputs.
  
• Miscellaneous: 2 sheets of Soundcoat dampening internal chassis
  
• TRT silver-content Wonder Solder used throughout

Sonic benefits of our Level-1 mod:

• Significantly smoother, harmonically more correct solid-state outputs
• Improved signal-to-noise ratio on the tube outputs for greater ambient and spatial micro-detail retrieval
• More bass weight, impact, definition and control on both outputs

SCDT-200 Level-1+ mod - $4,490 + shipping ($2,300 retro-fit on stock machine, $1,100 on Level-1 mod))

Over the Level-1 mod, our Level-1+ mod adds

• Audiocom Superclock II
• Our proprietary power supply for the Superclock
• Comprehensive Bybee Filter treatment
• Solid-silver ultra-pure output terminals

Sonic benefits of our Level-1+ over the Level-1 mod:

• Further gains in analogue-like smoothness, dynamics and that uncanny elegance only the very best machines from dCS, Linn, Musical Fidelity and Teac have. With this mod, the Shanling is truly competitive with the very best, cost no object.

Music Hall's 12-month factory warranty extends to our modified players. Click here for stock specs. Click here for reviews.

STP-80 Level-1 modification ($700 + freigth retrofit; $1,990 + freight for new amps)

• 4 Auricap metallized polypropylene output coupling capacitors.
• 2 Auricapmetallized polypropylene input coupling capacitors.\
• 10 Japanese Riken ½ and 1 watt signal path carbon resistors with gold-plated leads
• 2' of DH Labs Revelation serie" pure 99.999% silver solid core input signal wire with Teflon tape-wrap dielectric.
• 8 International Rectifier Hexfred ultra-fast soft recovery diodes.
• 4 BlackGate power supply electrolytic capacitors
• 2 Analog Devices AD8620 op-amp based PCB assemblies for preamp stage.
• One sheet of SoundCoat chassis damping material cut & applied where applicable.
• TRT WonderSolder used throughout.
• 3.5 hours labor.

Sonic changes of Level-1 mod

• The amp is quieter and resolves more low level detail. Ambience retrieval & three dimensionality are both improved.
• The midrange is smoother while remaining very detailed.
• The amp is more dynamic. It seems to play louder with more dynamic contrasts.
• Tonal balance is more even across the board but the liquid midrange of the stock machine is retained.
• Imaging is better defined and the soundstage is larger, both wider and deeper.
• Bass is improved. It now has fuller weight and more authority, not flubby "one note" bass. The amp sounds more like solid-state in this area.
• These improvements are 70% of our Level-2 mod at a much lower price. For under $2000, the modified STP-80 is a great value on a gorgeous amp.
  

STP-80 Level-2 modification ($1450 + freight retrofit, $2,790 + freight for new units)

Our modified STP-80 Shanling is 80% as good as the Shanling SP-80 mono amps that have received exceptional reviews. With the Level-2 mod, the integrated is now competitive with tube integrates that sell for up to $5000.

• 4 Vishay-Telefunken SF4007 ultra-fast soft recovery diodes plus 8 International Rectifier Hexfred ultra-fast soft recovery diodes
• Replacement of the stock input/driver tubes with premium MOS Tungsol 2C51 tubes featuring ultra low noise/ultra low microphonics; replacement of stock power tubes with premium Russian made Electro-Harmonix Big Bottle 6CA7s
• 4 Auricap metallized polypropylene output coupling capacitors w/ 4 REL-Cap TFT Teflon bypasses
• 2 Auricap metallized polypropylene input coupling capacitors
• 20 Japanese Riekn ½ and 1 watt signal path carbon resistors with gold-plated leads
• 2 Burr-Brown OPA627 op-amp based PCB assemblies in preamp stage
• One pair of premium Vampire direct gold plated over copper body RCA female jacks
• 6 WBT 0763 single output binding posts
• One sheet of SoundCoat chassis damping material cut & applied where applicable
• 10 BlackGate power supply electrolytic capacitors
• 2' of DH Labs Revelation series pure 99.999% silver solid core input signal wire with Teflon tape-wrap dielectric
• TRT WonderSolder used throughout
• 8 hours labor
  

Sonic changes of Level-2 mod

• The amp is quieter and resolves more low level detail. Ambience retrieval & three dimensionality are both improved.
• The midrange is smoother while remaining very detailed.
• The amp is more dynamic. It seems to play louder with more dynamic contrasts.
• Tonal balance is more even across the board but the liquid midrange of the stock machine is retained.
• Imaging is better defined and the soundstage is larger, both wider and deeper.
• Bass is improved. It now has fuller weight and more authority, not flubby "one note" bass. The amp sounds more like solid-state in this area.

• replacement of four critical preamp stage, dual op amps with state-of-the-art, reference grade Burr-Brown OPA627s in our custom adaptor pcbs
  
• 2 sheets of Soundcoat damping internal chassis
  
• replacement of the "stock" Chinese input, driver and power tubes with upgraded Russian Electro-HAamonix 6SN7 type, Philips JAN-6188 (6SL7) type and JJ/TESLA E34L power tubes (2 MP)
  
• 10 Black Gate C and FK Series capacitors are added in the power supply
  
• 4 Auricap metalized polypropylene bypass capacitors are installed in the power supply
  
• 16 MultiCap PPFX-S polypropylene film and tin foil coupling caps as well as MultiCap RTX polystyrene film and tin foil coupling bypass capacitors
  
• 48 Japanese-made Audio Note 0.5-, 1- and 2-watt signal path Tantalum film resistors are added
  
• 2' of DH-Labs 99.99% pure silver 23awg solid-core, eflon tape wrap jacketed, input wire
  
• 16 IR Hexfred ultra-fast soft recover rectifying diodes
  
• 2 SF4007 Vishay-Telefunken ultra-fast soft recovery diodes
  
• WBT silver solder used throughout

Sonic benefits of our Level-1 mod:

• The amps are quieter. The blacks are blacker, thus resolving more low level detail, spatial and ambient retrieval
• They are smoother yet more detailed and dynamically more exciting
• Tonal balance is more even.from bass to treble while fleshing out the amazingly liquid midrange of the stock machine
• Imaging is cleaner & more defined while bass is dramatically improved. The modded units have much fuller weight and authority. They transcends"one note" flabby bass. It sounds more like solid-state in this area.
  

Music Hall's 12-month factory warranty extends to our modified amplifiers. Click here for stock specs.