Marcus critiques the Shanling EC Zero T, the corporate’s first-ever “Kunlun” R2R DAC and JAN6418 micro-triode tube-based moveable CD participant. It’s at the moment priced at $589.00.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me in trade for my trustworthy opinion. Headfonics is an impartial web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or standing. I thank Shanling for his or her assist.
Click on right here to be taught extra about Shanling merchandise beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.
This text follows our present scoring tips, which you’ll be able to learn in additional element right here.
Shanling EC Zero T Evaluate
Abstract
The Shanling EC Zero T might be probably the most full moveable CD participant I’ve examined to this point. It has the facility, the analog, {smooth} sound desired by retro-enthusiasts, and loads of I/O to fulfill headphone and hi-fi followers alike.
Execs
Easy-sounding analog high quality
Loads of operational modes.
Prime loader with quick transport mechanism.
Cons
Excessive impedance degree headphone output
Fairly cumbersome, although most fashionable gamers appear to be fairly giant.
Transportable CD gamers grew to become ‘a factor’ simply over a 12 months in the past, pushed partially by the rise in Gen Z’s curiosity in all issues retro and bodily, and enthusiastically supported by elders like me with a sizeable CD Assortment.
Shanling ‘dipped their toes’ into the development with the EC Mini final 12 months, although maybe a tentative launch given its well-endowed digital capabilities, it may very well be argued the corporate was hedging its bets.
The launch of the $589 EC Zero T appears like Shanling goes all-in with a much more assured rendition of what made the moveable CD participant so particular.
It is a slick mixture of all the things analog wrapped into a contemporary bundle with R2R decoding, tubes, and sure, a aggressive moveable CD Participant. Modernity shouldn’t be forgotten both with wi-fi connectivity.
The ensuing output is nostalgic-smooth, starting from solid-state analog to tube heat, and a very good interpretation of a basic home sound that Shanling has been producing of their DAPs and dongles for fairly a while now.
Is the EC Zero T a step up on the EC Mini, and the way does it evaluate to putting alternate options such because the MOONDROP DISCDREAM 2 Extremely? I discovered in my full evaluate beneath.
Options
Utilization Choices
The Shanling EC Zero T is greater than only a moveable CD Participant with gapless playback functionality and an anti-shake system for headphone lovers on the go.
You need to use it as a contemporary USB-DAC or as a Bluetooth-capable transmitter, permitting you to hook up with TWS or wi-fi headphones.
You may also plug the EC Zero T right into a HiFi system and use it as a transport or commonplace DAC supply with provision for digital and analog line-level outputs.
Provided that a typical Redbook audio CD is often 74 minutes lengthy, and people with hi-fi setups usually interact in lengthy listening periods, Shanling has geared up the EC Zero T with a 5500mAh battery able to as much as 8 hours of moveable playback time and another USB-C energy port to bypass battery limitations.
Decoding & Amplification
Contained in the EC Zero T is a stable mixture of basic decoding and amplification applied sciences. For the DAC, Shanling has chosen their in-house ‘Kunlun’ R2R implementation, first seen within the EH2 desktop DAC and expanded out of their flagship fashions such because the high-end SCD3.3 SACD participant.
That is an all-to-PCM NOS/OS-capable 24-bit balanced DAC design with 192 precision resistors (48 x 2 per channel) able to as much as PCM 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512 decoding by way of its USB-DAC mode.
And since the EC Zero T is BT5.3-equipped, you may also transmit as much as aptX Adaptive, although sadly no LDAC functionality, which is a little bit of an omission for me.
For headphone customers, the EC Zero T has two amplification choices: solid-state (transistor) and tube by way of a pair of Jan6418 tubes, which is an identical setup to the not too long ago reviewed M7T DAP.
Output energy varies relying in your amplification and energy alternative, with as much as 1.2W balanced right into a 32Ω load in Transistor Mode, dropping down barely to 1087mW in tube mode utilizing the DC energy excessive achieve possibility.
Only one caveat, the EC Zero T’s PO output impedance is rated at 4.7Ω single-ended and 6.6Ω balanced, that means there’s potential for impedance skew with sure drivers.
The tube output possibility can also be lively for the EC Zero T’s balanced and single-ended lineouts.
Design
Aesthetically, the EC Zero T seems extra like a contemporary moveable CD Participant than the EC Mini, which had echoes of a 1-Din head unit.
It’s not fairly as flashy because the MOONDROP DISCREAM 2 Extremely’s brushed chrome steel, however with a clear top-loading lid and comparable glass over the tubes, it has sufficient speaking factors in any gathering to impress.
As with most of those new fashionable gamers, the shape issue is giant and comparatively boxy quite than modern and pocketable. Supplies are a mixture of CNC aluminum and tempered glass, with the controls and I/O to the entrance/high and rear.
If something, the EC Zero T design language jogs my memory of the basic moveable CD gamers, such because the Sony D-50 MKII (full with battery pack), quite than the latter-era flat spherical shopper variations.
At 669g and measuring 158 x 150 x 28mm, that is the kind of moveable machine that may go right into a bag when on the go. Fortunately, Shanling has seen match to supply an elective leather-based carry case to guard the EC Zero T throughout playback and transportation.
I/O
That is the place Shanling will get high marks from me as a result of the EC Zero T comes full of a great deal of connectivity choices for a transportable CD Participant, way more so than many competing alternate options.
Particular point out must be given concerning the quantity slider alongside the 4.4mm/3.5mm PO jacks on the entrance panel, a really analog interpretation certainly.
It jogs my memory of the quantity slider on my 15-year-old Colorfly C4 Professional DAP, producing a pleasant tactile and fascinating expertise over blander digital rocker buttons.
DUNU additionally makes use of one on their high-end Idea R CD Participant, a unit I’d dearly like to evaluate sooner or later. So, quantity sliders on CD gamers will not be essentially a brand new idea, however it’s an pleasant one all the identical.
The rear panel has a wonderful number of connectivity choices, together with separate USB-C sockets for energy and USB-DAC performance, balanced and SE line outs, SPDIF, and a small swap to manage the facility mode, be it battery or DC-powered.
Controls
The management suite on the EC Zero T is likely to be a bit more difficult for these in search of a easy setup, however I discover it simpler to grasp than the option-laden contact and swipe EC Mini system.
The EC Zero T has a small 1.6″ LCD display screen on the highest of the primary chassis close to the entrance, which gives a lot of the fundamentals for CD Playback, however is likely to be a contact too small to learn a few of the diminutive icons and characters on the high.
It does appear Shanling has a penchant for these tiny screens in audio units such because the H7 and H5 moveable amplifiers, so I’m not so stunned to see it right here.
The excellent news is that it’s brightly coloured with first rate viewing angles for the primary playback readout. Battery ranges and operational modes are fairly small, requiring you to maneuver nearer to see what’s going on.
Since it isn’t touch-capable, the mini-menu system is button-operated with loads of choices at your fingertips, together with achieve, timbre, and sampling modes, BT pairing, and a few environmental controls.
I’d advise studying the handbook for some facets, like easy methods to convey up the menu and navigate it for the primary time, and easy methods to BT pair, because it’s not instantly apparent.
The newly developed CD mechanism contained in the EC Zero T is a comparatively speedy disc reader with about the identical start-up and skim time because the DISCDREAM 2 Extremely, and undoubtedly quieter (and safer) than the EC Mini slot loader.
The EC Zero T additionally has a dependable laser, having the ability to learn new CDs recent out of their trays in addition to banged-up previous Memorex 700MB CDRs over 20 years previous.
Packaging & Equipment
The Shanling EC Zero T is packaged nicely, however the accompanying equipment are sparse. The field is comparable in dimension to the EC Mini, just a bit extra colourful on the outside, however with the identical sliding wrapper and copious quantities of protecting foam.
The participant is on a high layer inside an anti-static bag with the equipment field simply beneath, which comprises a USB-C to USB-A cable, guides, and guarantee playing cards.
That’s it for included equipment. A very powerful one is bought individually, the leather-based case/strap combo, which sells on Amazon for $110. You should purchase it in orange or grey, relying in your preferences, with our pattern being the orange one (firm colours).
For purple lovers, there’s a cheaper PU leather-based carry case possibility for round $40-50.
It’s a very good case with a neat match, most each management accessible, and first rate thickness to guard it in opposition to unintended knocks. Its lid design means you’ll be able to rapidly carry it to permit you to change CDs quite than having to slip the CD participant out of the case first.
I’m on the fence in regards to the case strap. It seems a bit foolish carrying it round in your shoulder, particularly in orange. Possibly it is a generational factor.
Click on on web page 2 beneath for my sound impressions and advisable pairings.
