Shanling SM1.3 High-end HiFi streamer – streaming client and D/A converter
Shanling is now expanding its product range in the field of desktop audio systems with a further solution, namely the new Shanling SM1.3 High-end HiFi Streamer. This heralds a new era in this area at Shanling, as this solution has been developed from scratch and is intended to prove itself as a streamer and D/A converter even for users with high expectations.
- It heralds a new era in streaming at Shanling, as it represents the latest generation in this class, the Shanling SM1.3 High-end HiFi Streamer.
In recent months, Shanling has been gradually expanding its range of classic HiFi components, although the company is very keen to bring flexible, high-quality, but above all compact solutions to the market that can be categorised as desktop audio. This also applies to the Chinese specialist’s latest offspring, the Shanling SM1.3 High-end HiFi Streamer.
Shanling claims that the new Shanling SM1.3 High-end HiFi streamer heralds a new era in this field, as it is a solution developed from the ground up that utilises state-of-the-art aequipment for flexible use and particularly appealing sound quality. The aim is to address a particularly broad customer base, as the company states.
Based on Google Android 12
At the heart of the new Shanling SM1.3 High-end HiFi streamer is a 64-bit ARM Cortex processor and the Google Android 12 operating system, which presents the user with a user interface developed by Shanling. When designing the interface, the manufacturer promises that it was deliberately designed to guarantee a structure that is as simple and intuitive to use as possible.
The focus of the operating concept of the new Shanling SM1.3 High-end HiFi streamer is therefore the generously sized 5.8-inch 1,080p touchscreen display, to the right of which there are several buttons for direct playback control and a rotary encoder.
The Shanling SM1.3 High-end HiFi streamer has an internal memory of 64 GB and an SSD M.2 slot for any memory expansions. External storage media can also be connected via USB ports, one of which is available as a USB-A port on the front and another in the form of a USB-A port on the rear. There is also another USB-A port for integrating an external D/A converter.
Connection to the network is either via an RJ45 Ethernet interface or the integrated WiFI module of the Shanling SM1.3 High-end HiFi streamer, which is dual-band WiFi 6.
Of course, Bluetooth is also included, whereby Bluetooth 5.2 is used and the codecs SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX LL, aptX Adaptive and DAC are supported.
Streaming via a wide range of platforms
The new streaming client from Shanling is equipped for all relevant streaming platforms, because in addition to the only industry standard UPnP and the ability to access content on the network directly via SAMBA, it can also rely on Apple AirPlay2 and has apps for playing content via Spotify, TIDAL, Qobuz, Apple Music, Apple Music Classic and Amazon Music as well as other services.
Converter from AKM
The new Shanling SM1.3 High-end HiFi streamer uses DACs from the specialist Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation for signal conversion, in a combination of AKM AK4191EQ and AK4499EX DAC chips. This enables the streaming client to process signals in Linear PCM with up to 32 bits and 768 kHz, as well as DSD up to DSD512.
However, the signal processing is not only available via streaming, it can also be used for external sources. The Shanling SM1.3 High-end HiFi streamer is equipped with both an optical and coaxial S/PDIF interface and also has a USB-C port, which can be used to connect this solution directly to a PC or Mac.
Flexible design for the outputs
It is interesting to note that the new Shanling SM1.3 High-end HiFi streamer also has a number of digital interfaces at the outputs, so that the manufacturer even talks about offering a so-called streaming transport here, as you can use an external D/A converter instead of the integrated one if you wish.
An optical and coaxial S/PDIF interface is available for this, as well as an HDMI port, which is designed as I2S.
The Shanling SM1.3 High-end HiFi streamer outputs analogue signals unbalanced via a pair of RCA sockets and balanced via a pair of XLRs.
It should also be emphasised that the Shanling SM1.3 High-end HiFi Streamer has high-quality integrated headphones that can be accessed directly from the front of the device via a 6.3 mm stereo jack and are based on a TPA6120 from Texas Instruments. The level can be adjusted to different headphones in three stages, with 19 mW into 32 ohms at low gain, 180 mW into 32 ohms at medium gain and even 1,015 mW into 32 ohms at high gain.
Finally, it should be mentioned that a so-called Dual Transformer Split Power Supply is used here to supply the digital section and the analogue circuits separately with power and thus prevent any negative influence on each other.
Prices and availability
According to the manufacturer, the new Shanling SM1.3 High-end HiFi streamer will be available from specialist retailers in a choice of silver or black, with an elegant design and solid metal housing. The recommended retail price is quoted at US$ 1.199,-.
Getting to the point
Shanling is successively expanding its range of desktop audio systems. The Shanling MCD1.3 Multifunctional CD Player and Shanling SCD1.3 SACD Player are now followed by the new Shanling SM1.3 High-end HiFi Streamer, which, as the name suggests, should not only prove itself as a pure streaming client, but also as a flexible D/A converter.
| PRODUCT | Shanling SM1.3 High-end HiFi Streamer |
|---|---|
| Price | US$ 1.199,- |
| Brand | SHANLING |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Shanling |
| Distribution | NT Global Distribution GmbH |
| More about this manufacturer at HIFI BLOG |
