Shanling EC Zero T Portable CD player with R2R DAC and Tube Output - Black

A Portable CD Player With Valves In It

Two JAN6418 sub-miniature tubes sit in the output stage of the EC Zero T, running on battery power in a case 28mm thick. You can switch to a transistor stage instead, so the character is yours to pick.

Feeding them is Shanling's own R2R converter, called Kunlun. It uses 192 precision resistors to build a 24-bit ladder, which is the oldest approach to conversion and the one people describe as sounding most like analog.

A ladder converter and a valve stage in something that weighs 669 grams is not a combination anyone has offered before. The whole point is that a portable no longer means a compromise.

Eight Hours, and Four Ways to Use It

A 5,500mAh battery runs the disc for up to eight hours. Headphone outputs are 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced, and on DC power the balanced jack delivers up to 1,220 milliwatts into 32 ohms.

There are line outputs on the back, in 3.5mm and 4.4mm, so the EC Zero T can serve as a source in a full-size system. A 3.5mm combination jack carries coaxial or optical S/PDIF to a converter.

As a USB DAC it handles PCM to 768kHz and 32-bit, and DSD512. It also rips discs to a USB drive. A 1.68-inch color screen runs the lot, and Bluetooth adds aptX Adaptive.

Who Is This CD Player Best For?

• You want valve sound away from the rack — two JAN6418 tubes run on battery, and a transistor stage is a switch away when you would rather have the other character.
• Ladder converters are your preference — the in-house Kunlun R2R uses 192 precision resistors, which is a very different approach from the chips in almost everything portable.
• Your headphones are demanding — up to 1,220 milliwatts into 32 ohms from the 4.4mm balanced jack on DC power will drive far more than a phone ever could.
• You travel with music — 5,500mAh gives up to eight hours of CD playback, and 669 grams goes in a bag without a thought.
• It has to work at home too — rear line outputs, a digital output and USB DAC duty to DSD512 cover that. See our headphones.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Plug headphones into the 3.5mm or 4.4mm jack on the front and it is a complete system. Choose the tube or the transistor stage on screen, and pick a gain setting to match.

At home, the rear line outputs feed an amplifier, or the 3.5mm digital jack feeds a converter. Connect a computer over USB and it becomes a DAC for that instead.

Pairs Well With

Building around the EC Zero T? Here are some great companions:

• Headphones: Balanced 4.4mm is waiting — see our Headphones.
• Headphone Amplifier: For a bigger pair at home — see our Headphone Amplifiers.
• DAC: For the digital output — see our Digital to Analog Converters.
• Integrated Amplifier: For the rear line outputs — see our Integrated Amplifiers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Kunlun converter?

Shanling's own R2R ladder design, built from 192 precision resistors at 24-bit, rather than an off-the-shelf converter chip.

Are the tubes always in circuit?

You choose. Two JAN6418 sub-miniature tubes or a transistor stage, switchable on the screen, so you can match the output to the recording or the headphones.

How long does the battery last?

Up to eight hours of CD playback from a 5,500mAh cell.

How much headphone power is there?

Up to 1,220 milliwatts into 32 ohms from the 4.4mm balanced output, on transistor high gain with DC power connected.

Can it rip discs?

Yes, to a connected USB drive, so a disc can become a file without a computer involved.

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

Currawong takes the EC Zero T apart conceptually:

And Passion for Sound compares it with a well-known portable DAC:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about R2R ladder converters, valve output stages, or portable listening? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.