Moondrop Discdream 2 Ultra REVIEW

[@audio_tron]

I bought 4 rare out of print CDs in the past month. My car still has a CD player. Long live CDs and physical media. Digital files are very cool too. We can all get along. I like that this eliminated the compression buffer controversy too.

[@SuperReview]

Remember the days when people used to get their cars broken into to steal CDs?

[@audio_tron]

@ Yes, yes I do.

[@bozidarsicel3884]

The most senseless review I have ever seeing. This machine has the only one function: To produce SOUND. And this guy think that it's totaly unimportant. It's really idiotic.

[@LotsaPixels]

It took sifting through many search results, but thank you so much for answering whether or not this CD player can be used for ripping to PC. That would be the main point of buying this, so that weird omission is a total showstopper. Thanks for that critical info!!

[@McanoLasala]

I use an old TEAC cd player on my desk. It has RCA output, but it has also a headphone jack with huge power output. And it sounds gorgeous. Ok, it's not portable, but my old Sony Discman is, with anti skipping, resume, shuffle... You can buy both used or new for less money that this new chinese CD players that are trying to fish on nostalgic CD lovers. You can buy a BluRay disc with digital output for 50$ with a perfect buffer.. I use Tidal, but I still buy CDs that I want to keep. And I feel they sound better than streaming (this is obviously psychological). Ive been buying CDs for 30 years. I own CDs from the 80s and they are perfect today. If these Fiio, Shanling or Moondrop CD player would cost less than 100$, I'd consider to buy them. But you can buy a Yamaha, Denon, etc Cd players for less than 300$. I don't think I get this Moondrop CD player, but it looks good and I could use it while I am working with my laptop. Other than that, I'm done.

[@SuperReview]

Yeah if you just want a disc drive, there are PC disc drives for like $30. These Moondrop, Fiio, etc. ones have a handful of "audiophile" trappings that let them charge more. I think it's fine, but yeah not the cheapest way to play.

[@g.s.3074]

I’m pleased that you as well noticed the undue pressure it takes to compress those tabs on the spindle to be able to fully seat a disc. It really feels like it may eventually cause issues with the laser mechanism. I too hope my unit improves with time and loosens those tabs.

[@SuperReview]

Yeah, kinda looks like the Fiio CD player has a similar/same mechanism too.

[@Kamakurajoe]

Hello. Just got the discdream 2 (not ultra) a few days ago. I listened to it yesterday. It's so beautiful with clear top cover. I can see cd spinning. I like it more than Fiio DM13 which I bought a month ago(silver no bluetooth version). I think Moondrop's sound is better than dm13 and it has STOP button :) Have a nice day!!!

[@SuperReview]

Interesting, no stop button on the Fiio?

[@Kamakurajoe]

Yes, no stop button on Fiio. You have to press the first and the last buttons to stop it. I use the discdream 2 almost everyday. I love it. This year I have bought several audio-related products. I think discdream 2 is my best buy of 2024.

[@chrisbee9164]

Too many comments to scroll through and see if anyone else has already answered it but to answer your question yes optical output ports have their light on permanently this is because I believe they do not have a sensor to see if an optical cable has been connected. PS great review, this is way cool. I wish you could use it for ripping CDs also.

[@bikeman7982]

Great review. I completely agree with the physicality aspect of CDs. I’m really enjoying my SMSL PL200 CD player, which lets you play the CD with the lid off!

[@SuperReview]

Gotta see it spin.

[@a_fading_shadow]

that optial line out is also a standard 3.5mm lineout, you can plug either into that single connector

[@akenney1234]

Nice content! Thanks for sharing. Regarding your wish, can you not use the optical out to rip?

[@MarkoKoskenoja]

This looks like a great product. I have 500 CDs that I no longer listen to, even though my DVD plays CDs, so I'm not sure I would use the Daydream 2 Ultra, but I would like to try it 👍

[@sapphiro]

It's great that portable CD players are back. The old-school Sony Discmans rarely had optical out, and I need it to... rip all my CD's to my mini disc lol. The main reason I still use it is as bedside portable CD player for my album collection. Someone can ask why not use DAP instead? The answer is simple and it's pointed out in the list of features. Thanks to larger physical size of the device it is possible to fit very good headphone DAC/AMP. Good amp components take space, and for that reason even $1000+ DAPs can't match it in terms of sound quality, because they can't possibly fit them in the small box when screen and battery take 95% of space. I don't know about this specific Chinese brand, but all Sony's discmans/minidisc players made before 1999 have superior amplifiers and sound better in CD quality even after skip buffer conversion.

[@sapphiro]

Update: Too bad. The "optical out" has copyright protection enabled that won't allow you to digitally record CD's to another medium like mini disc... What a bunch of bull, my old Sony Discman don't have this limitation.

[@rubenviegas6358]

Actually i have one coming in, i won but i'm willing to sell it, i dont really have that much cd's to use it and i much prefer spend this amount of money on a new pretty nice pair of IEMs... But this is a really nice in depth review... for a cd player!! 👌

[@lczp]

Yes, Mark, the light always being on is normal for an opt out. Normally they put a lid on it so it doesn't become a shining beacon for the lost and damned when the room is dark.

[@SuperReview]

Thank you! Seems like something that could turn on only when plugged in, but it's not a port I use on other devices.

[@opulentotter8594]

It is very cool that various companies (FiiO, Shanling, Moondrop) are doing CD players and even cassette players.

[@SuperReview]

Casette players tho, I dunno about that... Maybe I'm just mad I don't have any casettes. Anymore.

[@ffenixrising]

Sadly the mechanism used in today's cassette players by ChiFi makers are the poorly-made clones of the Tanashin tech, which was already poorly made compared to how tape players were made in the 80s to early 90s.

[@Musicophile-p5l]

Damn I gave away two or three boxes of my CD collection 😅

[@bikeman7982]

IMHO, SMSL makes most fun desktop/rack CD player.

[@treblewellxtended]

Well this is going to be most detailed review of DiscDream on internet. I am getting one, to just play my CDs in a living room with that feel of choosing the music physically. Waiting for Fiio DM13 for comparison to finalise one

[@SuperReview]

The Fiio looks more compact, like the size of an old Discman -- I'll be curious to see them side by side.

[@vision2080]

They just lowered the price slightly on the Ultra on Amazon. I’ll have one sometime later this month.

[@mithrangsiva328]

@treblewellxtended Hey twx, hi man

[@treblewellxtended]

@@mithrangsiva328 Hello 🤗

[@bikeman7982]

@@SuperReview Its a shame the Fiio DM13 doesn't have a clear lid to see your CD spin.

[@ariririririririririri]

as you mention around 10:15 I also would love a feature like that and was wondering if you know any alternatives that can do that?

[@ffenixrising]

It's kinda crazy to me that portable CD players seems to becoming like "lost" or "forgotten" technology. Stuff like displaying the artist and song titles with CD-Text, very slim form factors (though I don't miss those underpowered gumstick batteries), and even a shuffle/random function are not found in today's CD players. I hope someday Moondrop (or any company) would try to bring these old functions back (as well as a CD-ROM function for PCs/Mac) in future revisions. That said, there is one great thing to these new CD players from Moondrop, Shanling and other Shenzen companies, the audio output is much fuller/louder than any of the portable CD players from the 80s and 90s. I own the first Discdream player, and it can drive my high impedance Audio Technica ATH-R70x (470 ohm) without distortion; my old Sony CD Walkmans would struggle delivering enough volume to this headphone.

[@BrandonAdams1010]

They struggle because they weren't intended for those headphones

[@lucassmith2126]

would love to see this compared with the KM5 cd player

[@turbomustang84]

I still use my Yamaha DVD changer due to it playing SACD and it displays on my monitor track info when available but I might get something like this for the bedroom

[@thebandthesummitts]

How does this CD player work as a plug-in for a car that has no CD player now? Also, does the CD player have a seamless track through each song? Like there is no sentence in between songs like a time gap.

[@AronAddams7]

11:53 thats interesting. I thought there's some type of shock absorber think baked into it.

[@Helmond2017]

No ones going to buy it for the functionality, there are blu ray players from major brands that's more affordable. It has the nostalgia factor though.

[@scorpioassmodeusgtx1811]

CD players make no logical sense in an age where every phone can play PCM files with less bulk and no risk of skipping. BUT, there really is something special about the experience of locking yourself into a single album for an hour and removing the temptation to switch to something else as soon as your attention takes a momentary dip. I dug my childhood portable CD player out of the closet a while back and couldn't believe how much fun I had using it again. Something about physically interacting with the music you're listening to really does enhance your feeling of connection to it. While the Discdream may not be a logical purchase, I can totally understand why there is a market for it.

[@heliopijpe]

Some people have entire physical collections ...

[@scorpioassmodeusgtx1811]

​@@heliopijpe Sure, but you can still rip your physical collection and listen to it fully digitally in a far more convenient way. And btw you SHOULD rip your entire collection, because disk rot is an eventuality.

[@5060ijg]

The CDs may of sounded better, no?

[@zrad09]

7:00 I could see the shuffle potentially being a nice function if maybe you burn a bunch of your favourites songs into 1 disc, or at least that's how I might use it. Are there other differences between this and the non-ultra version or it's pretty much just the more premium build on the Ultra?

[@SuperReview]

Yeah I'm just joking about the shuffle, use it if you want. Other difference is that Ultra has 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs, non-Ultra has just 3.5mm. I think that's it.

[@kasperjr]

Great review...i like your pebble ;-)

[@SuperReview]

Pebbles rise up ✊

[@kasperjr]

@@SuperReview btw can i stand on its side or do it has to stay flat?

[@ThePolyesterPimp]

7:55 I think the buttons are too big, which I think is what is causing the clacky noise

[@tanachip]

Fiio DM13 has ripping functionality at $150. It also has 3.5, 4.4, and Spdif out.

[@SuperReview]

Thanks for the heads up, looks promising! From what I can tell, it rips wav files to a local SD card which you then transfer to the PC, which isn't quite what I want. Also in looking it up, I learned the DM13 seems to come in a version with a clear lid? Can't find it available anywhere, but it's in Fiio's pictures.

[@marifrit2490]

I'm interested too. Its a hard choice between the Fiio DM13 and Discdream

[@tanachip]

@@SuperReview I think the clear rid version is being released later this year. It also has a version without Bluetooth for $140.

[@marifrit2490]

@@SuperReview According to their marketing the clear one is the "White Skylight" color which is not available yet.

[@kevindilworthno1]

Wav is a underrated format to my ears

[@gadgetgenerationspulkit]

Where is my CD collection eating dust man, I need to buy this.

[@sherylkatz8827]

I have the fiio dm13. It is fantastic. Seems to me it does everything the disc dream does and more. You can’t watch the disc move, but it can be used to rip cds. Output via usb can go to a computer. Has a 4.4 and 3.3 plug. I got the Bluetooth. It was half the price of the discdream.

[@SuperReview]

Can you use your own ripping software on PC?

[@5060ijg]

Is the optical out used to connect to an external DAC? Has anyone tried this?

[@Whirlybird88]

I actually got the first Discdream, which got next to no coverage on the internet. Now version 2 is out and everyone's covering it, lol. Kinda wish I had waited and got the Ultra. It looks a lot cooler and has SPDIF out.

[@SuperReview]

I had one of the originals for review but had an issue with my unit that prevented me from covering it -- I wasn't sure they even shipped any, so thanks for letting me know.

[@redgopnik2227]

this made made me feel old... its one thing for me to love physical media, but another for me to be wondering if you were going to talk about skipping/ripping etc right before you address it haha btw does the shanling support ripping cds or does it also only function as a standalone device?

[@SuperReview]

The EC Mini I reviewed (and showed in this video) doesn't support ripping or a PC connection. They /might/ make other products that support those features but I haven't tried them.

[@RandSilva79]

It's 2024, and I was expecting more: A universal disc player that supports various formats like HDCD, SACD, MQA CDs, and even DVD and Blu-ray audio and video. It should also have internet connectivity, support for USB and SD cards, the ability to function as an external drive for PCs, and at least an LCD screen to display album art in a small, portable form.

[@SuperReview]

If those weren't abandoned technologies, it'd certainly be possible in 2024.

[@matthewhilty4209]

Years Ago, I loved my Super Bass Discman. Too bad it skipped all the time and the iPod was better for my use case.

[@SuperReview]

Gotta upgrade to Mega Bass 😈

[@matthewhilty4209]

@@SuperReview Yep. it was an Aiwa

[@BrandonAdams1010]

It's huge, if intended to be portable

[@SuperReview]

It's like... walk around the house portable :P

[@polataktas]

Is there a button for disabling shock protection?

[@SuperReview]

No. Out of curiosity, why would you want to?

[@paulok2153]

I like it, but I still think it's a bit weird to be portable. Surely thats one area streaming should dominate.

[@ferdinandbardamu3945]

Let’s hope version 3 dumps the proprietary non-replaceable battery and adds a better CD mechanism. This is not a phone that becomes obsolete in 5 years. Even phones will be mandated to have replaceable batteries soon.

[@tanachip]

Mark -- There were some reports of it scratching CDs. Any experience with that on your end?

[@SuperReview]

Nope.

[@Kamakurajoe]

Thank you for your answer. 😊😊

[@kevindilworthno1]

Does this cd player support cd gapless playback ?

[@SuperReview]

Yes, with my Alice In Chains Unplugged album.

[@kevindilworthno1]

@ fantastic

[@anthobee]

This CD player got me on eBay to buy an “audiophile” SCPH-1001 PlayStation 🎉 Looking forward to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 and pretending it’s the early 2000’s

[@SuperReview]

Bruh you old (like me)

[@LostandFurious]

Is that a white pebble watch 2 SE? I still have my red one.

[@SuperReview]

Yep!

[@LostandFurious]

@SuperReview pebble brothers!!!

[@5060ijg]

Any specs on jitter?

[@looyoo0-u6i]

Why I get cds 1. I like collecting media that has had a profound impact on me 2. It’s annoying as hell when your favorite song is subjected to copyright/licensing wack-a-mole where it’s removed and re added over and over again from streaming services 3. Some Japanese music I listen to like anime OSTs are not available on streaming services

[@hunterborden6891]

Agree 100%. Unfortunate that Japanese CDs are quite costly.

[@miscwork-qb7pd]

Does it have gapless playback? Also a not so fun fact: CD ripping is not legal everywhere. In the UK it was made illegal again after pressure from the music industry

[@SuperReview]

Yeah it's gapless -- just tested with Alice In Chains Unplugged album. Also what is wrong with the UK.

[@ricenoodles632]

Kind of like Nakamichi Soundspace design style

[@hunteer963]

Lucky me that I sold my CD collection otherwise my mind would have made me buy the DiscDream Ultra hehe

[@SuperReview]

Narrowly avoided.

[@Tssukiii]

Hi Mark Ryan, I‘m folks

[@SuperReview]

You too!?

[@fjzingo]

Looks like a cheap brick with a computer CD player built in, would be great it contained bluetuooth. My first white portable cd player from sony back in the end of 80s.cost the same but infinitely better looking.. Big white bottomplate battery…the big thing for protable CDs was being shock proof and double as a normal cd player with line out. You could program repeat(short long), order of tunes, The last one I owned, which migt still be in my storage was very sleek and rounded. Battery life with those old AA batteries was a bit awkward though. Will have a look in my garage if it is stil there, or of I gave it to my kids to play with when they were small….

[@SuperReview]

I have a couple of old Discmans that use FOUR AA batteries 🤦

[@bunjidogg]

Only interested in a CD player that rips and stores also.

[@humanbean-f2s]

10:49 🤨

[@SuperReview]

Don't fight it.

[@JuanAuribus]

Theres more?????

[@SuperReview]

They're gonna keep making them until you buy one.

[@JLa748]

i wonder why they all of a suddent start producing dongle dacs then they all go making cd players, could the answer be they find cheaper ways to make them and thus every chi-fi firm will asemble their version with a sublte different plastic to sell that same stuff to the rest of the wolrd. Also, why a player limited to cd's in '24 if they are to tinkle with optical half-extinguished media, why not stuff a more convenient, comprehensive player compatible with dvd, sacd and bluray while at it? That would be The Bomb these days. Doesen't even reap or burn? pfff Hey ill go dust off that discman i still have working from mid 1980's!

[@SuperReview]

A lot of those older Discmans are strating to go bad, I have a couple I bought that stopped playing discs. Their headphone outputs also don't sound great -- though strangely the lineout is fine on the ones I have.

[@theonlyegg]

My Man, how old are you? The red Toslink light has been around for a solid 3 decades.

[@SuperReview]

Yeah I've only had that connector on the back of home theater components, I don't see them during normal operation.

[@antoinep9733]

Permanent “Loop an album?” What a frick’n weirdo! 😂 Bring on the shuffle 🤙

[@Angel-AbC9]

I can't see the come back , and only for those who still have loads of cds they its for them as for sales of new buyers , it's easy a fat no and nothing can be done about it because that era is gone and streaming took over . Streaming holds a huge advantage, you can do a Playlist of your fave songs and also have many genre of music right on phone or a dap . Problem with cd and albums today is we all know a cd and album has about 2 great songs and the rest are uninteresting bit you are stuck with them plus the price is for all the songs . The only thing today can beat streaming is a new streaming 2.0 ect. So nice try many will go hum nice but won't pull the trigger.

[@whatarewedoing0]

I hate that anyone pays that for this, what about them being 20 dollars years ago means they are 150 now, please don’t buy this

[@SuperReview]

I hate that you care at all what other people buy.

[@whatarewedoing0]

@ what? Of course I would, it effects the price if have to pay for goods, and why would I want others to get taken advantage of? Bad take

[@JigglyPKMN]

A few little things called economy of scale, inflation, and paying employees. Good luck with that $20 CD player in 2024.

[@haomingli6175]

how many years exactly is your "years" ago? and did you really look at the hardware involved?

[@bozidarsicel3884]

How senseless!? I purchased Panasonic's portable CD Player 26 years ago and payed for it $100.00. I still have that player and I'm listening classical music on it very, very often with the Grado SR 80x headphones. I got Discdream 2 Ultra just today and it's worth it's weight in gold. I'm used to listening my AKG k 701 on my Meridian CD player and Headphone Amp Grace 900. Discdream 2 Ultra has nothing tu be ashamed in comparison with my main set up I paid $5,500.00 25 years ago.

[@Angel-AbC9]

Lol I read the comments and I'm the only one who is a realistic here, this disk player is for people who has many cds already , there's no advantage of buying this when streaming makes all the sense since you can chose your songs for Playlist , cds failed because it has like 8 to 10 songs and only 2 maybe 3 are interesting and worth the listening and the rest are just junk songs , they can't get pass this problem and new people will see no use for it.

[@Angel-AbC9]

Cannot be resurrected sorry guys lol

[@SuperReview]

Strawman thoroughly torched 🔥

[@Tealc2323]

Who on earth still has CD's?! Mine are expired and are not functional anymore.

[@-aexc-]

i have a pretty decent sized cd collection, it's a lot cheaper than vinyl

[@SuperReview]

Expired and not working, how's that work? I've got some CDs that are as old as me.

[@Tealc2323]

@@SuperReview Apparently it's called "Disc Rot". "Disc rot is the effect of oxidation of the reflective layer of the disc and it can happen because of the deteriorations of manufacturing materials, storage conditions, and even physical damage."

How did you store them? I have discs from 35 years ago that look the same as they did then.

[@afifahmad832]

Me

[@jymylin2605]

Why CD player while we can have digital files in our pocket size player? I don't get it at all.

[@SuperReview]

@@jymylin2605 Cause it spinnnnnnnnnnns!

[@chaniibak7702]

It’s the collection! The physical media, the colors, the satisfaction. It freaking spins bro!

[@vision2080]

He gives a few reasons in the video if you watch and listen.

[@Whirlybird88]

Well, there's several reasons, but one of them is the fact that not all pressings of albums are identical, and sometimes finding the best version of something requires hunting down a particular pressing, which download sites and streaming doesn't give access to. This is quite a big rabbit hole though.

[@bozidarsicel3884]

Lots of talk without the most important things mentioned. For me, the only function of the CD player is playing music from CDs. Surprise, surprise. Poore comment about sound is disqualifying. No mention of battery issues on this very pretty player that I'm already enjoying immensely. Like, what happened if battery dies and doesn't recharge!? Does it means that the player will be dead in that case or will continue to function directly connected to charger by USB cable!? Is there the way to replace the battery or the lasting of player is limited by the life of unserviceable battery!? I'm always amazed that from all these reviews we got everything but that we really need to know!? 🤯

[@SuperReview]

An incredible way to ask a question.