Today, Marcus reviews the MOONDROP DISCDREAM 2 Ultra, a 2nd generation dual-CS43131 DAC and balanced output equipped transportable CD player. It is priced at $289.99.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. I thank MOONDROP and Shenzhen Audio for their support.
Click here to read more about MOONDROP products we have previously reviewed on Headfonics.
This article follows our current scoring guidelines which you can read here in more detail.
The MOONDROP DISCDREAM 2 Ultra is a transportable CD player bathed in an endearing mix of modern internal functionality and retro-inspired exterior design lines.
It makes for a fun device and shows that with a bit of love and care you can produce a device that appeals to both the young and old in equal measure.
It was launched to much fanfare, promptly disappeared, and now it’s back.
I’m talking about MOONDROP’s much-discussed DISCDREAM CD player from 2023 which barely saw the light of day and is now the DISCDREAM 2, or in the case of this review, the DISCDREAM 2 Ultra. Still with me?
Retro Gear (particularly for Gen Z) has been a big thing in the last 12-18 months, with the likes of MOONDROP, FiiO, and Shanling launching compact CD players to tap into this recent lust for vintage audio.
The DISCDREAM series is split into 2 versions and not one. The regular $149.99 DISCDREAM 2 is their entry-level single-ended portable CD player designed to compete against FiiO’s recently released DM13.
The $289.99 DISCDREAM 2 Ultra is MOONDROP’s balanced output-capable premium version. It is more transportable than portable, looks beautiful, plays smooth and clean, and can integrate easily into a desktop two-channel system.
Its price point is close to the $359 Shanling EC-Mini, a transportable CD player with very different selling points. How do they differ performance-wise and is this a huge step up from FiiO’s DM13? I find out in my full review below.
Features
The MOONDROP DISCDREAM 2 Ultra is primarily a transportable compact CD player.
Its built-in 8-hour rated 3500mAh battery will appeal to those who want flexibility in their component placement when playing CDs. Should you wish for longer uninterrupted playback periods, there is also a provision for a DC 5V/2A (USB-C) connection that charges the battery during playback.
The player will read regular CDs, CDR, and CD-RW but it has no ‘ripping’ or copying capability.
You can listen to the DISCDREAM 2 Ultra directly with a balanced optimized opamp circuit with up to 222 mW on a 32Ω load balanced 4.4mm or a SE 3.5mm connection on a lower 112 mW rating.
If the power is insufficient you can connect the device’s 3.5mm 2Vrms SE analog lineout to a more powerful desktop or portable amplifier depending on your preferences.
Or you bypass most everything and use the DISCDREAM 2 Ultra as a transport with a digital signal output to a 3rd-party DAC via the 3.5mm socket which has an integrated optical output.
And since this is 2024, it also has features that will appeal to modern audiophiles who want to choose between physical media and digital media from a PC or MAC with a dual CS43131 DAC that can decode up to PCM 32BIT/384kHz and DSD256 natively.
Design
The DISCDREAM 2 Ultra has a gorgeous top-loading or clamshell design. However, it has a large form factor with some heft and is bigger than your typical compact CD player.
Like the Shanling EC Mini, the Ultra is somewhere between portable and desktop size-wise but unlike the EC Mini, the aesthetics are stunning.
This is a lovely mix of retro and minimalist from the brushed aluminum top grill plate and transparent glass underneath to the huge 80s’ style button controls and OLED display panel on the side.
For all the ‘pizzazz’ on the front of the player, the sides and back are very clean and low-profile with ports on the right side and power controls on the rear.
Think Apple modernist design language fused with classic Sony players such as the D-50 MKII and you are not too far off on the DISCDREAM 2 Ultra’s 360-degree visual appeal.
However, there are some caveats to the player’s design. At 700g and with a lid without a securing latch, the DISCDREAM 2 Ultra will struggle with heavy movement.
The DISCDREAM 2 Ultra can hold a CD in place easily enough and is designed for continuous play even when the lid is lifted. However, it’s not so sturdy that you can hold it and move around vigorously as you would with one of those old sporty Sony Discman players.
There is also provision for an electronic buffer and dampening within the servo mechanism and circuit to reduce the potential for skipping due to vibration but this is more about gravity. Some care is needed.
I/O
The DISCDREAM 2 Ultra provides digital and analog inputs on the rear and side panels along with a relatively stiff power on and off slider button.
It’s quite a simplistic setup with 3 jacks on the right panel; a 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm for headphones and IEMs, and a switchable optical/lineout 3.5mm output alongside it to allow you to use the player as a component.
The rear panel’s only socket is a USB-C port which allows the DISCDREAM 2 Ultra to operate as a USB DAC (and amplifier) and charge the internal battery.
Controls
There are some pros and cons to the DISCDREAM 2 Ultra controls. The pros are obvious with those big and easily accessible buttons on the front panel, intuitive icon selection, and a bright LED screen with track, playback, battery, and mode information.
The cons have more to do with the flow of the controls with some areas I expected to be automated that are not and a slightly laggy CD read speed compared to slot loaders like the Shanling CD80 or EC Mini.
The automated bit is when you top load a CD and close the lid. There seems to be no automatic sensor to load the CD and pull up its track data when the lid is down.
That is a feature I would have expected it to have given my experience with the SMSL PL200. Without it, you have a two-stage loading process and a longer delay before you can start playing discs.
That delay is compounded by a stiff spindle lock when placing the CDs in the tray that can require a ‘double push’ to lock some CDs into place. I have noted mentions of CD scratching during this loading process by owners but I have yet to experience it.
Beyond playback, some buttons have a dual function, most notably the stop button which will switch the player from CD mode to USB DAC mode via a single long press.
On a simpler level, short pressing volume will give you granular or step-by-step control. Long pressing will speed up the process if you need multiple-step changes.
Packaging & Accessories
It is MOONDROP so be prepared for copious levels of Waifu visuals on their packaging. The DISCDREAM 2 Ultra is no exception with its compact, grey-toned anime-adorned box. It looks nice, to be fair, but there are plenty of companies now doing this.
Inside, the unit is secured with plenty of protective black foam but accessories are scarce with only a single white USB-A to USB-C cable for data and charging and what must be one of the biggest fold-out manuals I have seen inside a package of this size.
What might not be apparent to our male readers (we don’t read manuals) is that if you fold it out completely and turn it over you get a fairly attractive-looking poster with a blown-up version of the smaller image on the front of the retail box.
What is missing? I would have liked a 3.5mm optical adaptor or an analog lineout cable alternative to be included. Even a cheap one to get the DISCDREAM 2 Ultra 100% ready ‘out of the box’ for HiFi users.
Click on page 2 below for my sound impressions and recommended pairings.
