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Shanling EM7 High-end Desktop Streamer DAC/AMP

The new Shanling EM7 high-end desktop streamer DAC/AMP is a desktop audio system that Shanling now announces and which the Chinese specialist for personal audio devices describes as a particularly outstanding solution for demanding hi-fi enthusiasts.

Shanling EM7 High-end Desktop Streamer DAC/AMP, the latest solution of the Shanling Desktop Line. The Chinese specialist for personal audio devices, Shanling, sees this product as a particularly compact, yet extremely powerful solution for hi-res audio streaming at the highest level and wants to inspire even the most demanding hi-fi enthusiasts. By the way, the new Shanling EM7 high-end desktop streamer DAC/AMP ranks at the top of the aforementioned Shanling Desktop Line.

Shanling EM7 High-end Desktop Streamer DAC/AMP – The new reference of the Shanling Desktop Line

It was last year that Shanling launched the new Shanling Desktop Line, with the Shanling M30 Modular Desktop System and subsequently the Shanling EM5 Streaming DAC/AMP and Shanling EA5 Music Streaming Center.

The intention behind this new product line was, and still is, to expand the company’s range more in the direction of classic hi-fi systems, an area from which Shanling actually originated before gradually devoting itself entirely to the personal audio devices segment.

The exciting thing about the Shanling Desktop Line is that it is based on the expertise from the Personal Audio Devices segment, i.e. it focuses primarily on solutions that are quite similar to portable systems.

This also applies to the newly presented Shanling EM7 high-end desktop streamer DAC/AMP, because, as the name suggests, it is a solution that offers the same functions as a modern DAP, but in the form of a particularly compact desktop audio system.

Desktop streamer on a completely new level of quality

The new Shanling EM7 high-end desktop streamer DAC/AMP brings a desktop streamer to a completely new level of quality, is the promise made by Shanling at the presentation of this solution.

Essentially, it combines a streaming solution, a D/A converter and a headphone amplifier, whereby the Shanling EM7 High-end Desktop Streamer DAC/AMP is supposed to offer significantly better sound quality, more performance due to a faster CPU and even easier operation than the systems offered by Shanling so far.

A DAP as a desktop audio solution

As described, it is essentially a DAP, but in this case it comes in the form of a desktop audio system, which gives the developers considerably more scope for integrating high-quality components and designing the circuitry. Compared to classic hi-fi systems, the new Shanling EM7 high-end desktop streamer DAC/AMP is much, much more compact.

The display on the top, which can be folded upwards, is particularly striking here; in combination with the rotary encoder on the front, it should ensure intuitive operation. After all, it is a touchscreen display with a diagonal of 5.8 inches and 1,080p display.

For particularly convenient control, a suitable app is also available, as the manufacturer states.

The connections for headphones are also located directly on the front, all others on the back of the aluminium housing, which is optionally available in black or silver.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 CPU at its heart

The new Shanling EM7 high-end desktop streamer DAC/AMP is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 CPU as well as the corresponding platform from the specialist Qualcomm, thus offering sufficient performance for the playback of high-resolution content as well as the smooth navigation through even very extensive media libraries.

This platform also provides essential other components, such as Bluetooth and WiFi for communication with the outside world and USB.

In addition to 4 GBytes of RAM, the Shanling EM7 high-end desktop streamer DAC/AMP has another 64 GBytes of internal memory available for content, and the storage capacity can be easily upgraded almost at will using microSD cards.

Google Android as operating system

The operating system of the new Shanling EM7 high-end desktop streamer DAC/AMP is, of course, Google Android, but it must be emphasised that the manufacturer speaks of a closed Google Android system, i.e. it relies on its own user interface. Nevertheless, users should be able to access a wide range of streaming services.

Transducer from ESS Technology Inc.

The converter of the new Shanling EM7 high-end desktop streamer DAC/AMP comes from the specialist ESS Technology Inc. and is said to be an ESS ES9038Pro DAC, which can process audio signals in Linear PCM with up to 32 bits and 384 kHz as well as content in DSD and MQA.

Headphone amplifier equipped for almost all headphone models

The output stage of the new Shanling EM7 high-end desktop streamer DAC/AMP features unbalanced 3.5 mm stereo minijacks and 6.3 mm stereo jacks, but there is also an XLR and a 4.4 mm PENTACONN for the balanced control of headphones.

It is remarkable that Shanling specifies a power of not less than 7 W at 32 ohms for the balanced connection option, for 300 ohms still 1 W is to be offered. The Shanling EM7 High-end Desktop Streamer DAC/AMP is thus guaranteed to be able to drive almost any headphone without any problems.

Prices and availability

Unfortunately, we do not yet have an exact price for the new Shanling EM7 High-end Desktop Streamer DAC/AMP, but the manufacturer promises that it will be available on the market in the course of the summer. As already mentioned, you will be able to choose between a silver and a black version.

Getting to the point

The Shanling Desktop Line has been a very exciting product line so far, but now the new Shanling EM7 High-end Desktop Streamer DAC/AMP is being added as a particularly interesting solution. The Shanling EM7 High-end Desktop Streamer DAC/AMP is clearly at the top of the range of desktop audio solutions from Shanling, combining hi-res audio streaming with a D/A converter and headphone amplifier, and is said to offer outstanding sound with intuitive operation and a compact, elegant design.

PRODUCTSHANLING EM7 HIGH-END DESKTOP STREAMER DAC/AMP
PriceN/A
BrandSHANLING
ManufacturerShanling
DistributionNT Global Distribution GmbH
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Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

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