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Shanling readies M30 Pro ‘Modular Streaming Player’

  • Shanling is referring to its latest streaming product – the M30 Pro – as a ‘Modular Streaming Player’. Let’s break it down…

    The M30 Pro is:

    • a microSD card / Bluetooth / network streamer
    • a DAC
    • and a headphone amplifier

    Its headphone outputs number six:

    • Balanced XLR
    • Balanced 3.5mm PRO
    • Balanced 2.5mm
    • Balanced 4.4mm
    • Single-ended 3.5mm
    • Single-ended 6.4mm

    For connecting the M30 Pro to an outboard amplifier we use the following rear-panel hook-ups:

    • RCA
    • Balanced XLR

    For connecting the M30 Pro to an external DAC we use:

    • USB

    Hard-wired inputs for external sources include:

    • TOSLINK
    • coaxial
    • USB for PC/Mac
    • USB for storage devices
    • Analogue RCA

    Now comes the twist: many of the hardware sections inside the M30 Pro are slide-in modules that permit future upgradability:

    • A customised Android 10 digital player module running on a Qualcomm 665 chip with a tiltable 5.8″ 1080 x 1920px touchscreen. The operating system is closed – so no Google Play Store – but apps for Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, Apple Music and Amazon Music will run out of the box
    • A DAC module built around twin AKM4497 chips
    • A discrete amplifier module promising up to 3.8 Watts into 32 Ohms
    • A tube module featuring twin Korg 6P1 Nutubes
    • A 16,500 mAh battery module with 5 x 18650 batteries

    Yes, the M30Pro runs on rechargeable batteries.

    Yours for US$4999.

    Further information: Shanling

    Written by John Darko

    John currently lives in Berlin where he creates videos and podcasts for Darko.Audio. He has previously contributed to 6moons, TONEAudio, AudioStream and Stereophile.

    Follow John on YouTube or Instagram

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