'Budget' portable CD player for audiophiles launches at $319 — built-in CD ripping support, high-quality DAC, and amplifier

(Image credit: Shanling)

Shanling, a high-end audio manufacturer based in China, just released a ‘budget’ version of its Hi-Fi portable CD player. The device, called the Shanling EC Zero AKM, is a more affordable version of its $589 EC Zero T Hi-Fi portable CD player. The EC Zero AKM costs only $319, offering buyers a 45% discount on the purchase price of the more expensive model.

To save money, the company switched from an analog-like R2R DAC and tube output to a more affordable yet still high-quality AKM DAC and amplifiers. Aside from that, the CD player features a boxy retro aesthetic, utilizing a single-piece metal chassis and a tempered glass lid, along with tactile buttons and a volume slider.

Because this CD player is designed for audiophiles, it offers multiple audio output options — a 3.5 mm and a 4.4 mm headphone output, a 3.5 mm and a 4.4 mm line output, a 3.5 mm SPDIF coaxial/optical output, and Bluetooth 5.3 that supports aptX Adaptive, aptX, and SBC codecs.

And if you want to convert your music CDs into a digital file, it also offers a 1.0x CD ripping mode, allowing you to record your music onto a FAT32 USB-C drive. The EC Zero AKM is said to have a 10-hour battery life when using the 3.5 mm output, with this duration extending to 18 hours when using Bluetooth. And if you’re at home, you can switch it to external power to bypass the battery, helping it last longer.

This portable CD player is designed for audiophiles who have a massive catalog of music CDs and want to get the most out of them. There are some Hi-Fi music streaming services available on the market, like Tidal and Apple Music. Spotify is also getting on the bandwagon, rolling out its CD-quality Lossless Audio to its Premium subscribers. However, there’s still something about owning the music you’re listening to instead of relying on a subscription-based model.

Paying more than $300 on a dedicated Hi-Fi player is likely too much for most of us, especially those who use their device to drown out the world while working or exercising. After all, you can still enjoy your favorite artist on your iPhone and AirPods on YouTube. But for those who demand the very best for their ears, the EC Zero AKM might actually be a steal.

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Jowi Morales is a tech enthusiast with years of experience working in the industry. He’s been writing with several tech publications since 2021, where he’s been interested in tech hardware and consumer electronics.

10 Comments Comment from the forums

acadia11

I don’t say things are stupid … but this is stupid. CDs are digital you aren’t staying true to source by keeping a song in an already digital format on a CD. I see literally no point ,.. in this setup? And not just moving this already digital format to a more spacious and portable option like a good old portable drive or usb stick or proper digital-dac player?
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thestryker

I understand the concept of having quality output on a CD player, but the price on this one makes it questionable. It costs so much that a USB DAC that can accomplish the same output wise would probably be cheaper and definitely more usable. It may also be possible to get an equivalent digital audio player for about the same price.

While I think their "premium" one is also dumb it at least is using tubes and so hits a very specific niche user.
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tiredcrow

You can buy a Sony disc player that will play the max quality a CD can manage for half the price.
Ripping is nice, but a USB RW drive is like $50
Reply
YouRadicalized ME

Just a waste of resources.. Dude. I emptied out my closet yesterday and found some old CD's... I was like "Awesome " then I turned them over and they where all scratched beyond playable.. Soo No. AND HOW DARE YOU TRY TO CHARGE THIS MUCH?!?!?!?!?!? BOOOOOO
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Amdlova

I use on my computers a old Kenwood Car stereo with CD... has 4x22w Rms 4 Ohms, CD player has 140db Snr and the amplifier has 120db Snr and the price 100$
idle eat 10w maximum 60w at the wall
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bit_user

I dig the boxy retro style, although it's not as practical for jamming into a backpack as the more rounded styles that took hold in the 1990's.

My first audiophile-grade setup was a Sony Discman that had a toslink out (cleverly combined into the line out jack). I plugged that into a small desktop DAC and then a small headphone amplifier. Later, I think you could find some pocket-sized DACs with built-in headphone amplifiers. You had to disable the anti-skip protection, since that used lossy compression so it could fit more data in the memory buffer. Because of this, it would occasionally skip where some of the better desktop CD players might not. Furthermore, it didn't filter the output, when fast forwarding or rewinding (something I consider the mark of a proper CD transport), resulting in an extremely harsh sound.

These days, if I really wanted audiophile sound on the go, I'd look for a USB-C DAC + headphone amp I could plug into my phone. However, the main issue with listening on the go is background noise, and that's why I just get good noise cancelling headphones and call it a day.
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bit_user

YouRadicalized ME said:
I emptied out my closet yesterday and found some old CD's... I was like "Awesome " then I turned them over and they where all scratched beyond playable..
As long as the scratches are just in the plastic, you can use a resurfacing kit to improve playability. I had limited success with the cheap, consumer-grade scratch removal tools, but I'm sure it's possible to do better.
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bit_user

Amdlova said:
I use on my computers a old Kenwood Car stereo with CD... has 4x22w Rms 4 Ohms, CD player has 140db Snr and the amplifier has 120db Snr and the price 100$
idle eat 10w maximum 60w at the wall
Interesting concept. I once bought an Alpine DAC with parametric E/Q and time correction, but never installed it in my car because head units that had a digital output remained quite niche and expensive. I got it used, spur of the moment, which partially explains why I did so without a complete plan to use it in my car. Would be interesting to use it in home hi-fi setup, but I think it might use high-voltage on the line outs.

I've contemplated bringing my old Onkyo A/V receiver + a pair of bookshelf speakers into the office, but I'm no longer there much, after hours & on weekends. As old as it is (pre-dating HDMI by a couple years), it does have 24/96 DACs and an amplifier more than capable of driving such small speakers. However, the HVAC can be a bit noisy in that space, hence noise cancelling headphones remain the best option.
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Amdlova

@bit_user try find a ps3 power supply APS-226 with some mods can run without fan. The power supply has all the protection and the car devices have another protections to be a perfect combo... Some old stereo amplifiers have 100 110 db Snr =) It's cheap have tons of bass and don't burn because you changed the speakers. In my setup I have seven type of speakers almost sound like a headphone. (good ones)
Reply
Ducklipz

tiredcrow said:
You can buy a Sony disc player that will play the max quality a CD can manage for half the price.
Ripping is nice, but a USB RW drive is like $50
A big part of this is also the revival of 90s music, fashion and tech. Portable CD players from back were perfectly shaped to fit in pockets to match the era. This thing needs a special hip bag.

They will sell enough thanks to social Media trends. Most of them will be e waste in no time.
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