Streaming may rule the charts, but physical media clearly didn’t get the memo. Vinyl keeps spinning its comeback story, and now CDs—the format everyone supposedly buried a decade ago—are staging their own resurrection. With companies like FiiO and Shanling rolling out sleek new portable players, it’s clear that people still want to own their music, not just rent it from the cloud. The latest example? Shanling’s ECZero AKM portable CD player, now hitting the U.S. thanks to Forte Distribution, and giving disc diehards one more reason to keep those jewel cases within reach.
Following the Shanling ECZero T hybrid tube/solid-state portable CD player, the new ECZero AKM strips out the tubes for an all-solid-state design—without ditching the sound quality or core features that made the original interesting. It delivers much of the same sonic character and digital flexibility but at a lower price point, making it a more accessible entry into Shanling’s portable CD lineup. eCoustics Editor-in-Chief Ian White has the ECZero AKM inbound for review, so expect his unfiltered thoughts and listening impressions in the coming weeks.
“The ECZero AKM is designed to be an audiophile-grade portable CD player at a real-world price,” said Roger Fortier, VP and Director of Sales at Forte Distribution, U.S. distributor of Shanling Electronics. “Its DAC brings out every detail of a well-recorded piece of music.”
Shanling ECZero AKM Portable CD Player Overview
The ECZero AKM keeps its mission simple—it plays CDs, and does it with clean, balanced sound whether you’re plugged in with headphones or running it through a desktop or main audio system. Inside, it uses an AKM DAC and dual SGM8262 amplifiers to keep the signal path tight and distortion low.
You get both unbalanced 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm headphone outputs, so it’ll handle everything from efficient IEMs to power-hungry cans. The 3.5mm jack also doubles as a digital coax/optical SPDIF output for system integration, and Shanling includes a 100-step volume control to fine-tune output levels for just about any setup.
Bluetooth 5.3 support lets you stream directly from the ECZero AKM to wireless headphones or speakers that support aptX Adaptive, aptX, or SBC codecs. And for those who still like to archive their collections, the built-in CD ripping function lets you save tracks directly to a connected USB drive. It’s a thoughtful nod to convenience in a player that clearly wasn’t built for the Spotify generation.
The ECZero AKM keeps portability front and center with an internal 5500mAh rechargeable battery that delivers up to eight hours of playback on a full charge. When used at home, it can switch over to a USB-C power adapter for continuous operation without draining the battery.
All that hardware lives inside a compact, well-finished chassis that slips easily into a backpack or travel case. Shanling’s magnetic disc mechanism maintains consistent pressure on the CD, minimizing vibration and noise for stable playback—something every commuter or traveler will appreciate when the road gets bumpy.
The ECZero AKM’s metal body and tempered-glass lid give it a premium, durable feel. At 575g (1.27 lbs.) and measuring 158 x 150 x 28mm (6.2 x 5.9 x 1.1 in.), it’s solid but still travel-ready. Up front, a 1.68-inch color LCD display sits near the volume slider and control buttons, keeping essential playback info within easy view.
Comparison
| Brand/Model | Shanling ECZero AKM | Shanling EC Zero T | FiiO DM13 |
| Product Type | Portable CD Player | Portable CD Player | Portable CD Player |
| Price | $319 | $589 | $164.99 |
| Disc Playback Formats | CD, CD-R, CD-RW | CD, CD-R, CD-RW | CD, CD-R, CD-RW, CD layer of SACDs, and MQA CDs. |
| Dual JAN6418 Tube Output | No (Solid State Only) | Yes (Tube – Solid State Hybrid) | No (Solid State Only) |
| Headphone Amplifier | Dual SGM8262 amplifiers. | TPA6120 | Dual SGM8262 amplifiers. |
| DAC | AKM AK4493S | R2R DAC Module | CS43198 x 2 |
| USB DAC Support | 768kHz/32-bit & DSD512 | 768kHz/32-bit & DSD512 | N/A – USB is only used for ripping to an external drive, not as a source input. |
| External Power Input | USB-C 5V/2A | USB-C 5V/2A | USB-C 5V/2A |
| Headphone and Line Outputs | 3.5mm & 4.4mm | 3.5mm & 4.4mm | 3.5mm & 4.4mm |
| Digital Output | 3.5mm combined coaxial/optical SPDIF | Coaxial and optical SPDIF | Coaxial and optical SPDIF |
| Bluetooth | Ver 5.3 | Ver 5.3 | Ver 5.2 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | aptX, aptX Adaptive, SBC | aptX, aptX Adaptive, SBC | SBC/aptX/aptX Low Latency/aptX HD |
| THD+N | 0.0004% | 0.02% | ≤0.0025% (1kHz/0dB@32Ω |
| Dynamic Range | 119dB | 117dB | Not provided |
| Channel Separation | 103dB | 103dB | Not Provided. |
| Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) | 119dB | 117dB | > 124dB (A-weighted) |
| USB DAC Frequency Response | 20Hz- 40kHz (+/-0.5dB) | 20Hz- 40kHz (+/-0.5dB) | N/A |
| CD Player Response | 20Hz-20kHz (+/- 0.5dB) | 20Hz-20kHz (+/- 0.5dB) | 20Hz-20kHz (+/- 0.5dB) |
| 3.5mm Line Out Frequency Response | 20Hz-40kHz (+/- 0.5dB) | 20Hz-40kHz (+/- 0.5dB) | 20Hz~20kHz: attenuation<2.3dB |
| 4.4mm Line Out Frequency Response | 20Hz-40kHz (+/- 0.5dB) | 20Hz-40kHz (+/- 0.5dB) | 20Hz~20kHz: attenuation<2.3dB |
| Supported Audio Formats | DSD, DXD, APE, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, AIF, DTS, MP3, WMA, AAC, OGG, ALAC, MP2, M4A, AC3, M3U, M3U8, OPUS | DSD, DXD, APE, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, AIF, DTS, MP3, WMA, AAC, OGG, ALAC, MP2, M4A, AC3, M3U, M3U8, OPUS | FLAC, WAV, WMA, AAC, and MP3 |
| Output Power (Transistor) | Low Gain 211mW@32Ω High Gain 525mW @32Ω High Gain 836mW @32Ω (external power) | Low Gain: 57mW@32Ω High Gain: 158mW@32Ω High Gain: 330mW@32Ω (DC power) | 3.5mm headphone output: L+R≥180mW+180mW (32Ω, THD+N＜1%) 4.4mm balanced headphone output:L+R≥660mW+660mW (32Ω, THD+N＜1%) |
| Output Power (Tube) | N/A (Solid State Only) | Low Gain: 47mW@32Ω High Gain: 158mW@32Ω High Gain: 268mW@32Ω (DC power) | N/A (Solid State Only) |
| CD Ripping Functionality | Yes – Via USB Output | Yes – Via USB Output | Yes – Via USB Output |
| Active magnetic CD clamp and advanced anti-skip system | Yes | Yes | Not indicated |
| Aluminum chassis | Yes (with Tempered Glass Panels) | Yes (with Tempered Glass Panels) | Yes |
| Status Display | 1.68-inch color screen | 1.68-inch color screen | 1.5-inch color screen |
| Hardware Buttons and Volume Slider | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery | 5500mAh, up to 8 hours of playback | 5500mAh, up to 8 hours of playback | 3750mAh Cobalt-lithium, up to 8 hours |
| Dimensions (WDH) | 158 x 150 x 28mm 6.22 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches | 158 x 150 x 28mm 6.22 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches | 137.5 x 144.7 x 28.7mm 5.41 x 5.7 x 1.13 |
| ·Weight | 575g / 1 lbs 4oz | 669g / 1 lbs 8oz | 450g / 15.9 oz |
The Bottom Line
The Shanling ECZero AKM proves that the humble CD still has some fight left in it. With its AKM DAC, dual headphone outputs, Bluetooth 5.3 streaming, and onboard CD ripping, it bridges the gap between analog nostalgia and digital convenience without feeling gimmicky. Add in the sturdy metal chassis, rechargeable battery, and travel-friendly size, and it’s clear Shanling designed this for listeners who still care about both fidelity and music ownership. Streaming might be easier, but the ECZero AKM makes the case that holding your music—and hearing it properly—still matters.
Price & Availability
The Shanling ECZero AKM is available for $319 at Amazon or $349 at Forte Distribution.
Also available:
- The Shanling EC Zero T is available for $589 at Amazon
- The FiiO DM13 is priced at $164.99 at Amazon
Related Reading
- Nostalgia Tech Returns: Gen X Leads Revival of CD Players, Walkmans, and Retro Cameras — because streaming feels like eating soup with a fork.
- Shanling Rolls Out Upgraded CD80 II That’s More Than Just A CD Player
- Shanling’s CR60 CD Transport and Ripper is an Affordable Way to Breathe New Life into Your CD Collection
- Shanling’s ONIX Zenith XST20 SACD/CD Transport is Resurrecting a “Dead” Audiophile Format—And We’re Somehow Okay With It
