It’s 2025, and yes, portable CD players are still a thing—at least according to Shanling. The company just launched the EC Zero T, a high-end, travel-ready CD player that’s doing something pretty different: combining an old-school R2R DAC with vacuum tubes, Bluetooth, and a sturdy aluminum body. If you thought spinning discs were dead, Shanling’s new device says otherwise.

The EC Zero T follows up on Shanling’s EC Mini from 2023, but this time, it’s slimmer, lighter, and even more focused on portability. It weighs just under 700 grams and measures about the size of a small paperback book. So yes, it’ll fit in a bag—and with its anti-skip tech and magnetic clamp holding the disc in place, it’s built to handle movement, whether you're on a train or sitting on a park bench.

The body is made from machined aluminum, giving it a solid, no-nonsense feel. Shanling has also added a few mechanical touches like a top-loading CD tray, making it feel more like a piece of gear and less like a gadget.

What makes the EC Zero T stand out is what’s inside. Instead of the typical digital-to-analog converter (DAC) found in most modern players, this one uses a self-developed R2R DAC called “Kunlun.” It’s a resistor ladder design—a more traditional approach that some audio enthusiasts swear by for its smooth, analog-like sound. Whether you’ll hear a difference depends on your ears and your headphones, but it’s definitely not your average CD player setup.

Then there are the vacuum tubes. Two JAN6418 micro-triodes are tucked into the EC Zero T’s output stage, and you can switch them on or off depending on whether you want a tube-like sound or a cleaner, transistor-based output. Having the option to toggle between the two gives you some flexibility to tailor the sound to your taste or mood.

You’ve got options when it comes to listening. The EC Zero T includes both 3.5mm and 4.4mm headphone outputs, along with line-out ports if you want to hook it into something else. The internal headphone amp is strong enough to drive most headphones—up to 1220 mW through the balanced output and 330 mW on the standard jack.

You’re not stuck with CDs either. Plug it into your laptop via USB-C, and it works as a standalone DAC, handling high-res files up to 768kHz PCM and DSD512. You can also stream wirelessly thanks to Bluetooth 5.3, with support for aptX Adaptive and other modern codecs. There are even coaxial and optical outputs if you want to plug into a larger setup.

Battery life is pretty decent too. Shanling says you’ll get around 8 hours of CD playback and up to 20 hours over Bluetooth. And if you’re using it at home, you can run it directly off USB power without touching the battery at all.

There’s no touchscreen here, which is actually kind of refreshing. Instead, the EC Zero T keeps things simple with physical buttons, a small 1.68-inch screen, and a good old-fashioned volume slider. The look is clean, with brushed metal surfaces and a small window that shows off the tubes inside. It feels like a mix between modern industrial design and a nod to classic portable players from the past.

The EC Zero T is available now for $649 on Amazon and through Shanling’s authorized dealers. Shanling has also listed an MSRP of $589, though prices may vary depending on where you are. The player will make its official debut at High End Munich 2025, where Shanling will also showcase its full lineup of digital and analog audio gear.