Introducing Shanling EC Zero T - Portable Tube & R2R CD Player

Jun 5, 2025 at 5:22 PM Post #61 of 77
I got another reply from Shanling Liu on their YouTube Short. They claim that the anti-skip buffer does not use ADPCM compression, I guess they misinterpreted my question as asking about time compression and not data compression. If they’re telling the truth, then the EC Zero T is fully redeemed in my eyes.
 
Jun 5, 2025 at 9:28 PM Post #62 of 77
Your link to the PDF of the manual on your website is not working. Could you provide an alternative link,

Thanks

Noted, asked IT to fix it.

First two reviews I see on the local marketplace - one positive and one negative. The negative one mentions issues with CDs from around 70 mins of playtime - skipping and freezing. I wonder if he was just unlucky with QC or is it a real problem with the model?

We are not seeing such reports from other users so far. Will keep checking on it.

“Custom CD Drive and System”

Is this the CD drive used in my Shanling CR60 which was supposed to have a “Phillips/Sony” “CD Drive”
I would be careful in buying any Shangling CD player unless they make good on the alleged false representation as to the CR60 CD transport and accept returns and refunds or at least offer a credit towards another Shangling product

No, it's different driver and system.

I got another reply from Shanling Liu on their YouTube Short. They claim that the anti-skip buffer does not use ADPCM compression, I guess they misinterpreted my question as asking about time compression and not data compression. If they’re telling the truth, then the EC Zero T is fully redeemed in my eyes.

Please note that Liu is not part of Shanling company, he is just an external Amazon seller.

According to our engineers, the output on EC Zero T even with anti-skip is lossless, just with optimization of the read speed.
 
Shanling Have any question about our players? Just PM me or send me email. Stay updated on Shanling at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
 
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Jun 6, 2025 at 8:47 AM Post #63 of 77
First two reviews I see on the local marketplace - one positive and one negative. The negative one mentions issues with CDs from around 70 mins of playtime - skipping and freezing. I wonder if he was just unlucky with QC or is it a real problem with the model?
I have a unit coming soon so I'll test with a couple CD's I have that are 70+ minutes. This has been a common issue with CD players from Moondrop and FiiO (eventually fixed via firmware in FiiO's case) so I'm really hoping the EC Zero T doesn't inherit the various issues those devices have.
 
Jun 6, 2025 at 12:28 PM Post #64 of 77
Hi Shanling, are you planning to have the same R2Rdac with tube output and battery but WITHOUT CD drive in it? meaning standalone DAC with all the same technology like EC Zero T? I am interested, because I have ET3 from you and this transport is literally AWESOME! would be happy to add similar form factor DAC to it.... (OK, you can add nice streamer to it :) )
 
Jun 6, 2025 at 1:39 PM Post #65 of 77
Hi Shanling, are you planning to have the same R2Rdac with tube output and battery but WITHOUT CD drive in it? meaning standalone DAC with all the same technology like EC Zero T? I am interested, because I have ET3 from you and this transport is literally AWESOME! would be happy to add similar form factor DAC to it.... (OK, you can add nice streamer to it :) )
It may be using this R2R ladder
https://skybygramophone.com/product...N1jLmadTT_19Zhm50P0mEwfwAgdg45ahRNxVLcJrGHD_U
 
Jun 6, 2025 at 1:54 PM Post #66 of 77
Hello @Shanling !

I'm having a problem with my EC Zero T that I'm hoping you can provide som guidance on. I cannot get the digital output to work normally. I can get the appropriate bit rate to negotiate, but the output level is EXTREMELY low. Like I have to turn the volume up all the way on the receiver dac/amp system to hear anything.

I have tried multiple cables and multiple DACs and get the same result no matter the system used.

Is there something else that I should try or is my unit malfunctioning? I am still in the return window from Amazon.

Thanks!
 
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Jun 6, 2025 at 2:06 PM Post #67 of 77
Jun 8, 2025 at 9:07 PM Post #68 of 77
Hi Shanling, are you planning to have the same R2Rdac with tube output and battery but WITHOUT CD drive in it? meaning standalone DAC with all the same technology like EC Zero T? I am interested, because I have ET3 from you and this transport is literally AWESOME! would be happy to add similar form factor DAC to it.... (OK, you can add nice streamer to it :) )

Not at this time.

Hello @Shanling !

I'm having a problem with my EC Zero T that I'm hoping you can provide som guidance on. I cannot get the digital output to work normally. I can get the appropriate bit rate to negotiate, but the output level is EXTREMELY low. Like I have to turn the volume up all the way on the receiver dac/amp system to hear anything.

I have tried multiple cables and multiple DACs and get the same result no matter the system used.

Is there something else that I should try or is my unit malfunctioning? I am still in the return window from Amazon.

Thanks!

Can you please let us know which cable you using, if there is some adapter?
And example of which DAC was used?

And I assume you switched the output setting on EC Zero T to digital, correct?
 
Shanling Have any question about our players? Just PM me or send me email. Stay updated on Shanling at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
 
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Jun 8, 2025 at 9:47 PM Post #69 of 77
T
Not at this time.



Can you please let us know which cable you using, if there is some adapter?
And example of which DAC was used?

And I assume you switched the output setting on EC Zero T to digital, correct?
I did switch the output to digital. As I mentioned I see the bit ratę negotiate correctly, but the sound level is low. This was with my Technics Sl-1700 CD player and Wiim pro.

With the optical cables I tried some had 3.5mm adapters and others didn't. I've used these adapters successfully with the Fiio and Moondrop cables

The cables were all generic but tested working with other devices.
 
Jun 9, 2025 at 3:26 AM Post #70 of 77
T

I did switch the output to digital. As I mentioned I see the bit ratę negotiate correctly, but the sound level is low. This was with my Technics Sl-1700 CD player and Wiim pro.

With the optical cables I tried some had 3.5mm adapters and others didn't. I've used these adapters successfully with the Fiio and Moondrop cables

The cables were all generic but tested working with other devices.
Checked with engineers, there is an issue on the current firmware version, where the digital output is affected by volume control.

For your current situation, please make sure that the volume is set to 100 when using digital output.

Engineers says that this will be fixed on next firmware update.
 
Shanling Have any question about our players? Just PM me or send me email. Stay updated on Shanling at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
 
https://www.facebook.com/Shanling-Audio-603230783166845/ https://twitter.com/ShanlingAudio https://www.instagram.com/shanlingaudio/ http://en.shanling.com/ frankie@shanling.com
Jun 9, 2025 at 8:14 AM Post #71 of 77
Checked with engineers, there is an issue on the current firmware version, where the digital output is affected by volume control.

For your current situation, please make sure that the volume is set to 100 when using digital output.

Engineers says that this will be fixed on next firmware update.
Thank you, I will try ASAP.
 
Jun 11, 2025 at 3:24 AM Post #72 of 77
Guys, do your battery charge when you use it as a normal desktop DAC/Amp connected through USB DAC mode, with set EXT DC switch and plugged external 5V power adapter to USB DC input? Mine charges while I try to use it and the device gets a bit hot, should I worry?

Edit: Shanling told me that the part of the manual that says “avoid using it while charging” should not be in the manual, so it seems normal to charge the battery and use the player in USB DAC mode at the same time and I shouldn’t worry.
 
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Jun 11, 2025 at 6:38 AM Post #73 of 77
Guys, do your battery charge when you use it as a normal desktop DAC/Amp connected through USB DAC mode, with set EXT DC switch and plugged external 5V power adapter to USB DC input? Mine charges while I try to use it and the device gets a bit hot, should I worry?

Edit: Shanling told me that the part of the manual that says “avoid using it while charging” should not be in the manual, so it seems normal to charge the battery and use the player in USB DAC mode at the same time and I shouldn’t worry.
The desktop mode was designed to be used plugged in while playing. That mode bypasses the battery according to the manual. If you are using the tubes, the unit will get warm as well. You shouldn’t worry.
 
Jun 11, 2025 at 8:52 AM Post #74 of 77
Got mine yesterday but only had a short time to be able to set it up and use it. For those concerned about issues with discs longer than 70 minutes, I listened to Tool's Lateralus (78:51 total length) for about 25 minutes and had no issues at all. Gapless playback also works perfectly so far. Going to test out some other things like Enhanced CDs and ones with copy protection just to make sure they all play fine.

Here's a few pictures. Can't get to deep into sound impressions yet, but so far it really sounds good, especially with the tubes.

20250611_002048229_iOS.jpg
20250611_002403310_iOS.jpg20250611_002140997_iOS.jpg20250611_002503460_iOS.jpg
 
Jun 11, 2025 at 10:35 AM Post #75 of 77
Lateralus (78:51 total length) for about 25 minutes and had no issues at all.

The glitch that happens is at the 70 minute mark from what I've read.
 

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