Forte Distribution, a distributor of audio and audiophile music products, recently announced that the Shanling EC Zero T portable hybrid CD player is now available in the U.S. The EC Zero T (SRP: $649) combines the best of both solid state and analog tube technologies in a sleek, stylish chassis that fits easily in a backpack, bike pack, or other types of portable storage.
“With millions of CDs continuing to be sold every year, the format is gaining traction with a steadily growing market of music lovers who, after sometimes seeing their favorite tracks disappear from streaming services, see the value in owning their favorite recordings on physical media,” says Roger Fortier, VP and Director of Sales, Forte Distribution, U.S. distributor of Shanling Electronics. “The EC Zero T taps into the thriving market for compact discs with next-level sonics, thanks to a proprietary combination of tubes and a Shanling-developed R2R DAC.”
Flexibility is at the heart of the EC Zero T’s industrial design, making it an easy, aesthetically pleasing addition to desktops and rack systems thanks to its coaxial/optical SPDIF line output. Two headphone outputs – unbalanced 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm – make it compatible with nearly every lifestyle and audiophile-grade headphone on the market, in addition to connectivity with active speakers, AVRs, and more. The internal headphone amp will drive up to 1220 mW through the balanced jack, and 330 mW on the 3.5mm jack.
Similarly, Bluetooth 5.3 brings wireless listening to a level on par with wired options. High-performance earbuds, over-ear wireless headphones, and Bluetooth speakers are maximized with the EC Zero T. Rounding out the extensive feature set is a CD ripping function that saves files to an outboard USB drive.
The EC Zero T’s hybrid design allows users to choose between analog or digital output, thanks to the placement of an easily accessed toggle switch. In addition, the unit is designed for multiple applications: CD player, and outboard DAC when connected to a laptop via USB-C, handling up to 768kHz PCM and DSD512.
Shanling EC Zero T Specifications
- Shanling-developed R2R DAC with 192 precision resistors
- Dual JAN6418 tube output with transistor/tube mode switching
- Up to 1220mW @ 32Ω output power
- 3.5mm & 4.4mm headphone and line outputs
- Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Adaptive, aptX, and SBC support
- USB DAC functionality (PCM 768kHz/32bit, DSD512)
- CD ripping functionality via USB output
- Active magnetic CD clamp and advanced anti-skip system
- Aluminum chassis with tempered glass panels
- 1.68-inch color screen with hardware buttons and volume slider
- Dimensions: 158 x 150 x 28mm
- Weight: ~669g
- Battery: 5500mAh, up to 8 hours of playback
Visit https://forte-distribution.com for more information.
About Forté Distribution
Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec in Canada, Forté Distribution is a leading distributor of audio products in the United States. With a legacy that reaches back to the original XLO Electric and continued with Motet Distribution, Forté Distribution is committed to bringing a diverse portfolio of high-end audio brands to dealers and consumers. Current brands available through Forté Distribution include Eversolo, Shanling and several others.
About Shanling
Shanling is a well-established name in the high-fidelity audio industry, founded in 1988 in Shenzhen, China. Over the past 30+ years, Shanling has grown from a small audio manufacturer into a globally recognized brand, renowned for its innovative, high-quality audio products. Shanling’s product offerings include portable music players, amplifiers, DACs, CD players, and SACD/CD transports. For further information, visit https://en.shanling.com.
See also: Dirac Live Room Correction Now Available In The Marantz MODEL M1 And Denon Home Amp
