This retro-inspired portable CD player looks super-sleek, has audiophile credentials including a headphones amp for spicier cans, lasts 12 hours, and offers Bluetooth, 3.5mm, 4.4mm and Coax output too

Date:
Mon, 11 May 2026 15:59:37 +0000

Description:
The Shanling EC Play offers a retro design and a range of connectivity tools, to make it useful for on-the-go listening as well as in your home hi-fi setup

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Shanling releases new, retro EC Play portable CD player Lightweight, but with many connection options Sells
in May for $199 / 209 (about AU$420) CD players have remained in vogue
despite the rise (and fall?) of streaming, but now retro audio tech is making a comeback ( including cassette players, somehow ), so too are '90s-inspired CD players.

Chinese hi-fi company Shanling has just announced the EC Play, a new and understated disk machine coming in silver, black or green. It's set to sell from May, for $199 / 209 (about AU$420), less than the firm's higher-end portable players like the ECZero AKM which goes for $319 (about 244 /
AU$490). Latest Videos From You may like Cute name? Check. Plays cassettes? Yep. Aimed at the young 'digital detox' market? Oh yes Panasonic combined a portable TV with a CD player, and it's kinda charming This elite hi-res MP3 player offers listening tests via its bundled IEMs

As you'd hope for a portable CD player, it's a little thing. It measures 14.2 x 12.5 x 2.6 cm little more than a CD itself and weighs 418g. That makes it lighter than the average regulation FIFA soccer ball, which are allowed to be between 410g and 450g. [Editor's note: I have no idea why we are now
measuring our CD players in soccer balls, but I have decided to allow it.]

It has a clean shell, rather like the FiiO DM13 , without the see-through section or design flair we often see from this kind of tech.

Yet a glance at the above picture shows various buttons, displays and ports. The thing may be lightweight, but it hides plenty of features. A CD player with plenty of tricks (Image credit: Shanling) The Shanling EC Play doesn't just work with your standard 3.5mm headphones, but also has a 4.4mm port, and a Coax output too. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox
Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from
us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

If you like retro but you've not gone all the way to the wired-only life, it also handles Bluetooth playback. It supports AAC, LDAC and SBC codecs, and is on the Bluetooth 6.0 standard.

The Cirrus Logic DAC supposedly is designed for a "natural and fun sound",
and there's a built-in dual headphone amp that can cater for IEMs and headphones that need a bit more oomph, as well as your standard wired bud.

You can also plug the player into a PC, laptop or phone via USB, and it'll
act as a DAC for PCM 32-bit/384kHz and DSD256 playback. What to read next Maxell Wireless Cassette Player review: a delightful analog blast from the past just don't rely on the Bluetooth 'Affordable' it is not Nagra's music streamer and DAC costs thousands, but you know you want it anyway Oakcastle MP300 review: the super-cheap MP3 player that can

The EC Play's battery life is, according to Shanling, 12 hours. Naturally this'll vary based on how you listen to your music, but it's above average
for this kind of gadget.

According to Shanling, the EC Play is designed not for top-end audio specs
and unique features, but "to recreate the days of old", which is apparently "when portable CD players were convenient and a common part of daily life".

I'm not holding my breath to see this kind of tech commonly used on public transport, but Shanling's right in one way. Its EC Play seems convenient to use on the go or at home, with that versatility likely to win over some buyers. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/portable-media-players/this-retro-inspired-por table-cd-player-looks-super-sleek-has-audiophile-credentials-including-a-headp hones-amp-for-spicier-cans-lasts-12-hours-and-offers-bluetooth-3-5mm-4-4mm-and -coax-output-too


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)