Shanling has announced the CR60, a CD transport without a DA converter on board. Digital music signal comes out via various digital outputs. The CR60 can be used to play CDs but also to rip CDs and save them directly to a mobile device.
The CR60 is “a compact, simple device that will keep your CD collection relevant, even with the rise of dedicated DACs and streamers,” Shanling says on its website. The compact 8-by-7-by-2-inch device comes in black and silver.
Of course, the new CD drive offers the usual coaxial and optical S/PDIF connections. More special is the presence of no less than three USB connections, namely USB-A, USB-B and USB-C. The USB connections can be used to connect a USB-DAC, possibly a small USB dongle.
The CR60’s drive comes from Philips and the laser is from Sanyo. This should ensure lossless copies of all inserted CDs. Shanling has created a special app for ripping CDs. The Eddict Player app allows CDs to be ripped directly to Android smartphones or Shanling Portable Players, with the app providing all the necessary tags for a well-organized library. Of course, it also offers CD ripping to computers and very fast automatic ripping directly to USB drives.
The front has buttons and a color display for reading information. An IR remote control is included in the delivery and power is supplied via a 12 V DC power supply or via a USB-C port.
The CR60 is expected to start shipping soon.
