Shanling has spent the better part of two decades earning a reputation among portable audio enthusiasts, first through CD players and later through a celebrated line of digital audio players and desktop sources. The company has always occupied an interesting middle ground, combining engineering ambition with a design language that favors dense, tactile, well finished hardware. The SM90 continues that tradition, but it aims squarely at the desktop and the living room rather than the pocket. It is a streaming DAC, meaning it merges a network renderer, a digital to analog conversion stage, and a set of analog outputs into a single chassis intended to sit at the heart of a system.
What exactly is the Shanling SM90?
The Shanling SM90 is a streaming DAC that combines network playback, multiple digital inputs, and both single ended and balanced analog outputs in one desktop unit. In practical terms, this means you can feed it music from a network share or streaming service over your home network, or connect a transport, television, or computer directly, and it will convert that digital signal into an analog line level output for an amplifier or active speakers. It is not a headphone amplifier or an integrated amplifier, so it is designed to be the source component in a chain rather than the endpoint.
Where does the SM90 sit in the Shanling lineup?
The SM90 sits in Shanling's desktop source category, distinct from the brand's portable digital audio players and its dedicated headphone amplifiers. Shanling's portable devices prioritize battery efficiency and pocketable form factors, which forces compromises in power supply size and output stage headroom. A desktop unit like the SM90 removes those constraints. It can dedicate space and mass to a proper linear power supply, a larger display, and a full complement of physical connectors, none of which would be feasible in a device meant to be carried. Think of it as the stationary anchor of a system, complementing rather than replacing the portable players Shanling is known for.
Conversion and Output Stage
What DAC chips does the SM90 use and why two of them?
The SM90 uses dual AKM AK4493SEQ converter chips, one for each channel. Running a DAC in a dual mono configuration, with a separate converter dedicated to left and right, is a deliberate engineering choice. When a single stereo DAC handles both channels, the two signal paths share internal reference voltages, ground currents, and analog sections, which can introduce a small amount of crosstalk and channel interaction. Assigning a full chip to each channel gives each side its own reference and its own analog output, improving channel separation and lowering the noise that comes from the two channels influencing one another. The AK4493S is part of AKM's Velvet Sound family, a line long favored for a slightly warmer, more organic voicing compared to some competing converter architectures, and running it in dual mono lets that character come through with better stereo focus and image stability.
What does the OPA1612 output stage do?
The OPA1612 op amps handle the analog output stage, taking the low level signal from the DAC chips and buffering it to a robust line level suitable for driving cables and downstream inputs. The raw output of a converter chip is delicate and cannot drive real world loads without degradation, so an output stage is required to provide current, low output impedance, and gain structure. The OPA1612 is a well regarded bipolar input op amp known for very low noise density and low distortion, which makes it a sensible match for a converter whose appeal rests on clean, low glare presentation. Its low output impedance also means the SM90 can drive longer interconnects and less than ideal input impedances on the receiving amplifier without rolling off the treble or losing dynamic snap.
What is the difference between the RCA and XLR outputs?
The RCA outputs are single ended and the XLR outputs are balanced, and the balanced connection carries the audio signal on two conductors of opposite polarity plus a ground. The advantage of a balanced output is common mode noise rejection. Any interference picked up along the cable run appears equally on both signal conductors, and the differential input on the receiving component subtracts that shared noise, cancelling it. This matters most in systems with long cable runs or in electrically noisy environments. Because each channel already has its own dedicated AK4493SEQ, the SM90 is well suited to feeding a truly differential signal into a balanced amplifier. The single ended RCA outputs remain the right choice for amplifiers and active speakers that only accept unbalanced inputs, and they keep the signal path simpler where noise is not a concern.
Power Supply and Build
Why does the SM90 use a linear power supply?
The SM90 uses a 35 W linear power supply because linear regulation produces cleaner, lower noise power than the switching supplies common in compact devices. A switching power supply chops incoming mains at high frequency to step voltages up or down efficiently, which is excellent for size and heat but generates high frequency switching noise that can leak into sensitive analog and conversion stages. A linear supply instead uses a transformer and regulation stage to deliver a smooth, continuous voltage with far less high frequency contamination. For a source component whose entire job is to preserve low level detail and a black background, that noise floor advantage is meaningful. The tradeoff is size, weight, and heat, which is precisely why this approach belongs in a desktop chassis rather than a portable one.
How is the SM90 built and how heavy is it?
The SM90 weighs 3.3 kg and measures 280 by 230 by 83.1 mm, giving it the substantial, planted feel of a proper desktop source. Mass in an audio component is not merely cosmetic. A heavier chassis resists vibration, which can otherwise couple into circuit boards and connectors and smear fine detail, and the weight here reflects the linear transformer and the metal enclosure that shields the electronics. The footprint is compact enough to fit on a desk or a shelf while leaving room for the connectors and cooling that a linear supply requires. A rigid metal chassis also serves as electromagnetic shielding, keeping external radio frequency interference out of the conversion stage and keeping the unit's own emissions contained.
Interface and Connectivity
What is the display and how does it work?
The SM90 has a 4.96-inch 1080p touch screen, a full color high resolution panel that serves as the primary interface for browsing, playback, and configuration. A 1080p resolution on a screen this size yields a very high pixel density, so album art, text, and menus render sharply rather than looking coarse. The touch interface removes the need for a cluttered array of physical buttons and lets the unit present context sensitive controls, so playback, input selection, and settings each get an appropriate layout. On a desktop source this is genuinely useful, since you can operate the device directly rather than depending entirely on a phone app, and you get immediate visual confirmation of sample rate, input, and track information.
What digital inputs does the SM90 offer and when would you use each?
The SM90 offers coaxial, optical, USB DAC, and HDMI ARC digital inputs, covering effectively every common desktop and living room source. Coaxial (S/PDIF over a 75 ohm connection) and optical (TOSLINK) are the classic choices for CD transports, older streamers, and game consoles, with optical providing full galvanic isolation since it carries no electrical connection. USB DAC mode lets a computer send audio directly, typically the highest resolution path and the natural choice for a desktop workstation setup. HDMI ARC is the standout inclusion here, because it lets the SM90 receive audio directly from a television, so the unit can serve as the digital hub for a two channel system that also handles TV and movie sound. That combination makes it flexible enough to bridge a dedicated listening setup and a media room.
How does the SM90 connect to a network?
The SM90 connects over Wi-Fi 6 or gigabit LAN, giving you both a fast wireless option and a wired one. Streaming high resolution audio and browsing large libraries benefits from bandwidth and stability, and Wi-Fi 6 improves throughput and handles congested networks better than earlier wireless standards, which reduces the chance of dropouts on dense home networks. For the most robust connection, the gigabit LAN port provides a wired path that is immune to wireless interference and ideal when the unit sits near a router or switch. Having both means you can place the SM90 wherever it makes sense in a room and still get a reliable network feed.
System Integration and Interpretation
How does the SM90 fit into a real system?
The SM90 fits into a system as the source and network hub, feeding an integrated amplifier, power amplifier, or active speakers through its RCA or XLR outputs. Because it handles streaming, wired digital inputs, and television audio in one place, it can consolidate several boxes into one and reduce cable clutter. A typical arrangement pairs the balanced XLR outputs with a balanced amplifier to exploit the dual mono converter topology, while the RCA outputs remain available for a second zone or a headphone amplifier that lacks balanced inputs.
What do the specifications tell us about the SM90's design priorities?
Read together, the specifications point to a source built around low noise and clean conversion rather than raw feature count. The dual AK4493SEQ layout signals a priority on channel separation and imaging, the OPA1612 output stage signals a low distortion, low noise buffering philosophy, and the 35 W linear power supply confirms that Shanling chose supply cleanliness over the convenience of a switching design. The 3.3 kg weight and metal chassis support that theme with vibration control and shielding. The inclusion of HDMI ARC alongside a large 1080p touch screen and Wi-Fi 6 shows Shanling positioning the SM90 as a modern, do everything desktop and living room source, not a stripped down purist box. It is a component designed to be both technically serious and genuinely convenient to live with, which is a fitting evolution for a brand that made its name balancing engineering and everyday usability.
