CD / SACD players and transports — Moondrop DISCDREAM2 ULTRA

The DISCDREAM2 ULTRA is the upper version of Moondrop's second-generation portable CD player, released on 28 September 2024 together with the standard DISCDREAM2. It launched at USD 289.99. Compared with the standard model it doubles the converter count, adds a balanced headphone output and moves to a metal body.

Key specs that matter

Two Cirrus Logic CS43131 DACs feed a four-channel amplifier, one chip per channel. The 4.4 mm balanced output gives 222 mW into 32 ohm and 4 Vrms, and the 3.5 mm single-ended output gives 112 mW into 32 ohm and 2 Vrms. A third 3.5 mm socket carries either a 2 Vrms line signal or an optical digital stream. Moondrop quotes separate figures for the two modes. In USB mode through the balanced output dynamic range is 131 dB and THD at 1 kHz is 0.00058 percent, while playing a CD the figures are 93 dB and 0.00177 percent. The CD result stays below the 16-bit ceiling of the disc format. USB input covers PCM from 44.1 kHz to 384 kHz and DSD from 2.8224 MHz to 11.2896 MHz. Battery capacity is 3500 mAh for about 8 hours of CD play, charged at 5 V and 2 A through USB-C, and the player can charge while it plays.

Engineering and use context

The body is CNC-machined aluminium alloy with a brushed top and a glass window in the clamshell lid, and the complete player weighs around 700 g. Seven linear power supply chips feed the circuit. A small OLED panel on the side reports track, playback state, battery level and mode. The front carries large push buttons, and a long press on the stop key switches between CD and USB DAC operation. Volume steps in small increments with a short press and faster with a long press. The transport uses an electronic buffer and a damped mount against shocks. Burned CD-R and CD-RW discs load like factory pressings, though there is no function for ripping discs to a computer. The lid has no latch, and power is switched with a slider on the case. The box contains a USB-A to USB-C cable, a manual with a poster and a certificate.

Pairing

Full-size headphones with a balanced cable suit the balanced socket, while in-ear monitors can use the single-ended socket. At home the optical output can feed a separate DAC.

Alternatives

The Moondrop DISCDREAM2 keeps the clamshell CD transport but uses one CS43131 with a single-ended headphone output only.