Shanling EC Zero AKM: A Modern Take on the Portable CD Player

Daily Technology

·

06/11/2025

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Today, when most people stream music, Shanling releases the EC Zero AKM, a machine that keeps the feel of real CDs yet adds modern tricks. It plays discs but also works as a Swiss-army knife for anyone who still values silver circles.

Its main job is to spin CDs with clean, steady sound. If you hate wires, pair your headphones over Bluetooth - the set uses AptX code so the signal sounds better than plain Bluetooth. If you prefer a cable, plug into either the 3.5 mm or the 4.4 mm jack. A coax socket waits on the back to feed a home stereo. The battery runs about ten hours with a cable or eighteen hours if you stay wireless.

Plug the unit into a computer and it turns into a high grade DAC. Files up to 32-bit/768 kHz pass through, far above the 16-bit/44.1 kHz of a CD - tracks gain extra detail. A USB-C socket charges the battery plus lets you rip CDs straight into the computer while the disc spins.

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Inside, a magnetic clamp grips the disc so the motor stays quiet and the shuttle skips less whir. The case is metal, the buttons are real clickers but also a 1.68-inch screen shows track, time and level. Price stands at three hundred twenty dollars, aimed at listeners who want one sturdy box that handles discs, wireless cans as well as high-res files without fuss.

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