Shanling, a high-end audio manufacturer based in China, just released a ‘budget’ version of its Hi-Fi portable CD player. The device, called the Shanling EC Zero AKM, is a more affordable version of its $589 EC Zero T Hi-Fi portable CD player. The EC Zero AKM costs only $319, offering buyers a 45% discount on the purchase price of the more expensive model.
To save money, the company switched from an analog-like R2R DAC and tube output to a more affordable yet still high-quality AKM DAC and amplifiers. Aside from that, the CD player features a boxy retro aesthetic, utilizing a single-piece metal chassis and a tempered glass lid, along with tactile buttons and a volume slider.
