Meet the Shanling SM90
The Shanling SM90 is a streaming DAC that pulls two important jobs into one tidy chassis. It brings your music library and streaming services onto a large, responsive screen, and it converts those signals to analogue with a serious digital section. If you have been running a separate streamer into a separate DAC and want to simplify, this is the kind of component that tidies a rack while keeping the sonic ambitions high.
Measuring 280 by 230 by 83.1 mm and tipping the scale at 3.3 kg, it has real presence on a shelf without dominating it. The standout visual feature is the 4.96-inch 1080p touch screen, which makes browsing artwork, playlists and settings feel more like using a well built tablet than a traditional hi-fi menu.
The Technology Inside
Dual AKM conversion
The SM90 uses a pair of AKM AK4493SEQ DAC chips paired with OPA1612 output stages. Running the DAC in a dual configuration is a deliberate design choice that lets each chip handle a channel, which supports clean channel separation and a composed presentation. The AK4493SEQ is well regarded for a natural, slightly warm voicing that resists sounding clinical, and the OPA1612 output op amps are a trusted choice for low noise and low distortion.
Linear power supply
Digital sources live and die by their power. Shanling specifies a 35 W linear power supply here rather than a switching design. A linear supply is chosen to keep the noise floor low and give the DAC section a stable, quiet foundation to work from. In practice this contributes to the sense of a black background behind the music.
Connectivity and network
On the network side you get Wi-Fi 6 and gigabit LAN, so you can stream wirelessly or hardwire for the most stable connection. Digital inputs are generous for a unit this size, with coaxial, optical, USB DAC and HDMI ARC. That HDMI ARC input is worth calling out, because it lets the SM90 take audio directly from a compatible television, making it a genuine hub for both music and screen based content. Analogue outputs cover both RCA and balanced XLR, so it will connect happily to single ended and balanced amplification.
Sound Character
The SM90 leans toward a smooth, refined and organic presentation rather than an aggressively etched one. The AKM voicing tends to render vocals and acoustic instruments with body and ease, while the linear supply and dual DAC layout keep imaging stable and the noise floor low. This is a source you can listen to for long sessions without fatigue, which suits listeners who value tone and flow over relentless analysis. It is detailed, but it presents that detail politely.
Where It Sits in the Shanling Range
Within the Shanling streaming family, the SM90 is the more feature rich, display forward option. If your priorities are a compact streamer with a focus on core streaming duties, the Shanling SM1.3R is worth considering as a more streamlined member of the lineup. The SM90 steps up with its large 1080p touch screen, its dual AK4493SEQ DAC section, its linear power supply and its wider input set including HDMI ARC and balanced XLR output. If you want the more complete all in one digital front end from Shanling, the SM90 is the fuller expression of that idea.
Ideal System and Use Case
The SM90 is at its best as the digital heart of a separates system. It has no built in speaker amplification, so you feed its RCA or XLR outputs into an integrated amplifier or a power amplifier and let it focus purely on streaming and conversion. It is ideal for the listener consolidating from multiple boxes, for someone building a fresh system around a clean digital source, or for a household that wants one component to handle streaming services, a stored library and television audio through HDMI ARC.
Pairing Thoughts
Integrated amplifiers
For a warm, cohesive setup, the LEAK Stereo 130 Integrated Amplifier is a characterful partner that complements the SM90 easygoing nature. If you want a feature packed receiver style hub, the Yamaha R-N800A Network Receiver gives you plenty of connectivity to sit alongside the SM90 as your dedicated streaming source. For a compact all in one integrated path, the Onkyo Muse Y 50 Network Streamer and Integrated Amplifier is another option to consider.
Power amplifiers
If you prefer a dedicated power amp fed straight from the SM90 balanced outputs, look at the TEAC AP-505 Stereo Power Amplifier for a neat, capable match, or step up to the Audiolab 9000P Amplifier when you want more headroom for demanding speakers.
Speakers and cable
On the speaker side, the Mission 750 Bookshelf Loudspeakers are a musical, room friendly choice that suits the SM90 tonal balance. To connect them, the AudioQuest Rocket 44 BiWire is a sensible cable pairing. If you would rather keep the box count very low, the Klipsch The Fives II Powered Speakers can take the SM90 output directly for a compact, high energy result.
How It Compares Within the AEA Range
The SM90 is one of several fine streaming solutions we carry, and the right one comes down to your priorities. The Audiolab 7000N Play Network Streamer and the Cambridge Audio CXN100 appeal to listeners who want established streaming platforms with their own app ecosystems. The Silent Angel Munich M1 and the Silent Angel Bremen SL1 Plus focus on low noise network delivery for the listener who wants to optimize the digital chain carefully. The Advance Paris WTX-StreamTubes brings a tube flavored analogue stage for those chasing that character. Against all of these, the SM90 distinguishes itself with its large 1080p touch interface, its dual AKM DAC section and its HDMI ARC television input. It is less about being ranked above or below any of them and more about matching how you like to browse, listen and connect.
Come and Listen
All Elite Audio is an authorized Shanling dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Demo units rotate and not every model is always set up, so please contact us to arrange a listen and we will do our best to have the Shanling SM90 ready for you.