John Darko
Shanling has announced the imminent availability of a high-end CD transport that is also – wait for it – an SACD transport. BYO DAC. According to the product notes provided by Shanling, the Zenith XST20 is being introduced under the Onix sub-brand to offer “a unique option to play any SACD in its true DSD quality to any external DAC with DSD capabilities”.
Like the more wallet-friendly and CD-only ET3 (review here), the Zenith XST20 is a top loader with a large glass disc that acts as a puck and a lid. At its business end (the rear panel), the new model offers six digital outputs: I2S, coaxial, BNC, AES/EBU, TOSLINK and USB. However, the I2S port is the only one that outputs DSD64 natively. The others do DSD64 DOP, but the USB is PCM only.
DOP? A protocol that allows DSD data to be transmitted over PCM interfaces.
Let’s summarise for clarity:
- TOSLINK CD PCM 44.1kHz // SACD: DSD64 DoP or D2P
- Coaxial CD PCM 44.1kHz // SACD: DSD64 DoP or D2P
- BNC CD PCM 44.1kHz // SACD: DSD64 DoP or D2P
- AES/EBU CD PCM 44.1kHz // SACD: DSD64 DoP or D2P
- I2S CD: PCM 44.1kHz // SACD: DSD64 Native
- USB CD: PCM 44.1kHz // SACD not supported
The unit’s I2S output is reportedly “FPGA-assisted” to offer 10 different pin-out configurations for the broadest possible compatibility with third-party I2S-input-wielding DACs. These settings – and more – are accessible from a 3.4″ touchscreen on the front panel.
Single- and multi-layer SACDs are supported and gapless playback is also part of the deal.
And even though the press notes say that the Zenith XST20 offers “no streaming, no wireless networks or complicated apps, just the pure lossless quality of the discs,” it will soon be joined by two other Onix products: a matching DAC and a Linux-based streaming transport.
Price? US$2299. Shipping begins in April.
Further information: Shanling | Onix
