Lynn opinions the Shanling EC Play, a compact transportable CD participant with a CS43198 DAC, Bluetooth, and 700mW of 4.4mm balanced output energy. It’s at present priced at $220.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me in alternate for my trustworthy opinion. Headfonics is an unbiased 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 Audio 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 Play Assessment
Abstract
The Shanling EC Play transportable CD participant brings so much to the small, inexpensive CD market, from submenu decisions galore to the choice of 4.4mm balanced listening. It additionally delivers a enjoyable, and energetic sound that many extra reference-like CD gamers can lack.
Execs
Energetic and pleasing sound signature.
Battery lifetime of practically 12 hours is a particular constructive.
Helps gapless playback, which is all the time good.
Cons
The menus usually are not intuitive and are confounding with out repeated use.
A hinge broke, and hopefully it is a one-off.
Whereas the colours look good, they do draw fingerprints.
Shanling has lengthy been recognized for producing stellar dwelling CD gamers, and with this latest increase in compact disc gamers, Shanling has now taken that historical past and expertise to the extra transportable market.
Marcus got here away impressed with the EC Zero T, stating, “The Shanling EC Zero T might be probably the most full transportable CD participant I’ve examined so far.” Excessive reward from the pinnacle guru right here.
The Shanling EC Mini he reviewed earlier was a hybrid media heart and slot-loading mannequin that once more drew upon Shanling’s experience from prior releases.
The EC Play departs from the “strictly” desktop mode, making it transportable with an inside battery. Consider a modern-day Sony Discman, and you’re in the best ballpark.
Shanling and others are hoping to catch on to the most recent re-formatting of listening with this participant, particularly since it’s transportable.
The EC Play may also match right into a desktop state of affairs when referred to as upon, including to its versatility. How does it evaluate to the likes of the Fosi Audio Merak and SMSL’s PL100PRO? I came upon in my full evaluate beneath.
Options
Shanling makes use of the Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC paired with twin SGM8262 headphone amplifiers.
Shanling’s in-house audio engineers have carried out the tuning, with the DAC part balancing technical precision with a pure, vibrant sound, hoping to take advantage of out of your CDs.
The amplifier stage delivers as much as 700mW at 32Ω via the 4.4mm balanced headphone output, offering loads of energy for each delicate in-ear screens and lots of the extra demanding full-size headphones.
You possibly can select between 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced headphone outputs, with a selectable acquire setting to match the ability wants of your wired headphones. The submenus are quite a few and will likely be mentioned intimately beneath.
The EC Play additionally features a 3.5mm coaxial SPDIF digital output so you may simply add CD playback to your two-channel system or powered audio system.
Shanling has in-built a 1-minute buffer only for that function for shocks and stutter, in addition to a clamp that helps place the CDs
Bluetooth 6.0 allows two-way wi-fi connectivity, permitting the participant to perform both as a Bluetooth transmitter for wi-fi headphones and audio system or as a Bluetooth receiver for music streaming from smartphones and tablets.
BT Receiver mode helps LDAC, AAC, and SBC codecs, whereas the transmitter mode helps the SBC codec.
The Shanling EC Play may also function as a USB DAC, supporting PCM playback as much as 384kHz/32-bit and DSD256 via USB connectivity with laptops and telephones.
The 3450mAh battery is able to delivering as much as 12 hours of steady playback, Shanling’s longest-lasting transportable CD participant so far.
Design
The Shanling EC Play weighs 418 grams, measuring 142mm x 125.1mm x 26 mm. The EC Play additionally options an aluminum building, with a conventional sq. design to be used in your desktop, two-channel system, or whereas travelling.
The three finishes embrace Feather Inexperienced, Onyx Black, and Moonlight Silver. The Feather Inexperienced appears to vary colour relying upon mild conditions, very similar to a Peacock does.
The redesigned lively magnetic clamp system, tailored from the corporate’s earlier EC fashions, helps to maintain CDs in place.
The mechanism repeatedly adjusts stress and positioning on the CD to enhance playback stability whereas lowering mechanical vibration and noise.
Mixed with a customized CD drive system, EC Play repeatedly delivers correct CD studying and seamless gapless playback assist for CD, CD-R, and CD-RW codecs.
The lid does have a mechanical lock toggle, which must be for transportable use, in my view, and the end generally is a fingerprint magnet.
The tactility of the buttons is top-quality Shanling, however the total building falls beneath their strict requirements and another latest fashions I’ve reviewed.
Whereas these buttons work effectively, the lettering is tough to learn until you’re on the proper viewing angle because of glare. Making the lettering extra readable ought to have taken priority.
I do just like the modern, practically equal-sided design, and recognize the understated look to the EC Play, although.
I/O
The Shanling EC Play comes with twin headphone ports (3.5mm SE, 4.4mm balanced), an SPDIF digital out, and 6.0 Bluetooth for listening pleasures.
For the reason that EC Play can be prepared for cordless operation, the 3450mAh battery permits play with out connection, for transportable use.
The SPDIF output can be utilized for connection to lively audio system, your soundbar, or your two-channel system if relevant. I used the Shanling throughout all of the choices listed above, with out subject.
The EC Play may also work as a USB-DAC with a USB-C connection to be used as a “streamer,” supporting PCM playback as much as 384kHz/32-bit and DSD256 via connectivity with laptops and telephones.
Apart from CD playback, the Bluetooth 6.0 assist allows two-way wi-fi connectivity, permitting the EC Play to perform both as a Bluetooth transmitter for wi-fi headphones and audio system or as a Bluetooth receiver for music streaming from smartphones and laptops.
Controls
The small LCD display within the decrease left a part of the quilt is readable from shut vary. And since that is meant to be a conveyable unit, it capabilities simply superb within the EC Play. To the best are all of the enterprise buttons.
I discussed above how arduous it’s to view the lettering above these buttons until you’re at an ideal angle.
Tilting the EC Play up helped me view the buttons when utilizing it in a stationary place. The consumer’s “guide” considerably helped me via the capabilities of these buttons.
The symbols usually are not intuitive, although. It took me a very good lengthy bit to decipher them after which be taught the performance.
Granted, they did change into simpler the extra I used the unit, however there’s a studying curve.
As an illustration, accessing the submenus that change acquire, theme, filter, output, brightness, and different choices takes a protracted press on the rectangular center button. Then a single click on permits scrolling between every perform.
Altering every, although, requires you to make use of the FF and REW buttons subsequent to the perform button.
To me, that is akin to an previous PC the place performance required 4-5 steps to attain one thing that ought to take 1-2 at most. As soon as realized, the performance of the Shanling EC Play grew to become simpler, however it shouldn’t be that arduous within the first place.
Packaging & Equipment
Shanling has just about all the time been on the forefront of minimizing packaging with out dropping the protecting nature of the unit. The EC Play continues this theme, with a stable, smaller sq. field not a lot bigger than the unit itself.
Nestled inside a plastic sleeve and protecting foam inserts, the Shanling EC Play sits effectively protected.
And in a paperboard field beneath, you’ll discover all of the equipment. A single USB-A-to-USB-C cable is included, so the consumer might want to present their very own 3.5mm SPDIF cable.
Sound Impressions
Listening impressions for the Shanling EC Play had been made utilizing the Noble FoKus Status Encore (BT), Noble FoKus Apollo Professional, Noble Knight, and the Edifier M90 powered audio system.
Streaming was briefly carried out via my iPhone 16 Professional Max, however CD play took priority over all different strategies.
Abstract
The objective of the Shanling EC Play is to not promote top-class audio first.
As a substitute, the EC Play is tuned to supply a enjoyable, vibrant signature paying homage to the previous Discman gamers. Oriented in the direction of Gen Z, who might not have a CD participant but, the EC Play largely succeeds.
Selling an enthusiastic however not vivid or forceful signature, the EC Play represents a vibrant tonality, which is certainly audio high quality and enjoyable.
I discovered myself elevating the amount in conditions that had been fairly acceptable. Vibrantly produced CDs include a enjoyable signature that promotes an brisk sound, whereas holding element retrieval at a most.
Various the filter of alternative made small variations whereas utilizing the extra delicate Noble Knight, however I tended to stick with one filter.
The bass attain was dependent upon the supply CD, however on tracks with low-reaching bass, there was certainly rumble whereas utilizing the Noble FoKus Apollo Professional.
The midrange and treble promoted superb readability whereas permitting the separation of notes to advertise an ethereal and fulfilling sound.
Timbre
The Shanling EC Play presents a vibrant tonality, which presents superb element retrieval with a pure, energetic sound. The lows present rumble, however with superb management because of speedy decay.
CD high quality can typically be dry and analytical, however Shanling has instilled an vitality into the sound that presents itself as mild and enjoyable, with out dropping the accuracy and precision of notes.
I might not name the signature easy or wealthy, like lots of the Shanling DAPs, however once more, that enjoyable and energetic terminology comes into play.
There’s extra element, however the signature doesn’t lose both depth or weight of notes an excessive amount of within the seek for CD-like sound high quality.
The element retrieval and readability normally related to CDs is actually there, however a sure lilt comes via with the tuning in the direction of the enjoyable facet.
Once more, notice weight doesn’t parse into skinny or quick prefer it might, because of that tuning.
There’s air between the notes, and a speedy assault and decay come into the signature. However Shanling tunes the EC Play in order to not lose the character high quality of the sound. That is the place the enjoyable, energetic facet of the sound signature performs its half.
Consequently, there’s a sure loss in total element and readability. However, as acknowledged in Shanling’s personal literature, the EC Play is tuned for vitality, enjoyable, and a memory of transportable CD gamers of previous.
Staging & Dynamics
I discussed the sound dynamics considerably within the above part, however it will possibly actually be carried over into this part. With a enjoyable signature, the colourful, energetic tone can promote an untamed dynamic sound.
Consider an over-engineered manufacturing the place a lack of depth happens as a result of the sound is tuned too far in the direction of the enjoyable half.
The Shanling EC Play doesn’t promote this, balancing properly between element and enjoyable vitality via that vibrant character.
The tuning of my older Shanling M6 Professional is considered one of easy richness, nearly a polar reverse of the EC Play. Nevertheless it exhibits how Shanling can wield their tuning forks into a beautiful listening instrument in each. And it really works.
The soundstage of CDs has historically been the panacea of the medium. That’s, until you’re introduced with a high-quality urgent. Mass-produced CDs of previous represented the mainstream strategy, which led to many calling the expertise a step backwards.
Shanling has tuned the EC Play for vitality, which additionally occurs to increase the peak in a three-dimensional method, lending a high-ceiling strategy.
This permits the notes to increase upwards, however with out dropping definition as width and depth are fairly satisfactory, too.
The Shanling EC Play is at first about enjoyable. And the dynamic presentation supplies the listener with a enjoyable, expansive manufacturing.
Click on on web page 2 beneath for my really useful pairings and chosen comparisons.
