Shanling T35 Ultimate High Fidelity CD Player and Streamer - Black

Ninety-Nine of Them, and a CD-Pro 2 Inside

Shanling built 99 of these worldwide and then stopped. At the center of each one is a Philips CD-Pro 2, the linear-tracking die-cast mechanism that serious CD players were built around before Philips ended production.

Those mechanisms are not made any more, which is the real reason the run is limited. What is left is a finite pool of drives, and the T35 uses one of them.

The chassis is aluminum, standing on a three-leg suspension rather than on four feet. Three points always define a plane, which is why a three-leg stance sits flat on any shelf without rocking.

Two AK4499EQ Chips and Four 12AU7s

Conversion is a pair of AKM AK4499EQ chips in dual-mono, one per channel. AKM stopped making them after a fire destroyed the factory in 2020, so every one now in a product came from surviving stock.

The output stage is valves: four hand-matched 12AU7 tubes. That is what gives the T35 its character, and it is a choice you rarely see paired with converters of this class.

Streaming runs on an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 under Android. Tidal, Qobuz, Apple Music and Spotify are all on board. Wi-Fi, AirPlay, DLNA and Bluetooth 5.0 sit alongside them, so nothing else is needed.

Who Is This CD Player Best For?

• You want a CD-Pro 2 while they exist — Philips no longer makes the mechanism, so a new player built around one is something you buy now or not at all.
• You like what valves do — four hand-matched 12AU7 tubes sit in the output stage, giving the T35 a character no solid-state player will reproduce.
• You want one box for everything — discs, Tidal, Qobuz, Apple Music, Spotify, AirPlay and DLNA all arrive here, so the rack does not grow to accommodate streaming.
• Your amplifier takes balanced inputs — XLR and RCA outputs are both fitted, with a coaxial digital output if you would rather use your own converter.
• You listen on serious headphones — the optional module delivers 7.6 watts into 32 ohms across four gain stages. See our headphones.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Run the balanced XLR outputs to your amplifier if it takes them, or the RCA pair to any line input. The valve stage and the AKM pair handle everything from there.

Ethernet or Wi-Fi brings in the streaming services. The coaxial digital output feeds an external converter, and the headphone module, if fitted, takes XLR4, 4.4mm and 6.35mm plugs.

Pairs Well With

Building around the T35? Here are some great companions:

• Power Amplifier: Worth matching to a source this good — see our Stereo Amplifiers.
• Floorstanding Speakers: Finish the system — see our Floorstanding Speakers.
• Headphones: For the optional amplifier module — see our Headphones.
• Interconnects: Balanced XLR keeps the path balanced — see our Interconnect Cables.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which drive mechanism does it use?

The Philips CD-Pro 2, a linear-tracking mechanism in a die-cast metal frame, and one of the most respected transports ever made.

Why are only 99 being made?

Both the CD-Pro 2 mechanism and the AK4499EQ converter are out of production, so the run is bounded by the parts that still exist.

Which converter chips are inside?

Two AKM AK4499EQ chips in dual-mono, one per channel, feeding a valve output stage of four hand-matched 12AU7 tubes.

What can it stream?

Tidal, Qobuz, Apple Music and Spotify, plus AirPlay and DLNA over Wi-Fi, running on an octa-core Snapdragon 665.

Tell me about the headphone module.

It is an option, delivering 7.6 watts into 32 ohms with four gain stages and XLR4, 4.4mm balanced and 6.35mm single-ended jacks.

What is the warranty?

Call us at 800-942-0220 and we will confirm the current Shanling warranty terms for this model before you order.

See It in Action

AV Atmos covers the CD-T35 at launch:

And Hong Kong's Audiotechnique goes through it in detail, with English subtitles switched on:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about valve output stages, the CD-Pro 2 mechanism, or all-in-one streaming players? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.