SHANLING SM1.3R In-House R2R DAC Hi-Fi Network Streamer

A Second-Generation In-House R2R Streamer

Specifications only tell part of the story with the Shanling SM1.3R. On paper it is a desktop network streamer built around the second generation of Shanling’s own R2R DAC platform — the same high-end conversion solution that debuted in the SCD3.3 SACD player — paired with a closed Android 12 streaming platform, a dedicated headphone amplifier and an internal SSD slot. In practice that combination produces a broad soundstage with absorbing precision, smooth tonality and a welcome touch of warmth, all from a compact 280 × 280 × 110mm (11 × 11 × 4.3in) aluminium chassis offered in black or silver.

R2R Conversion Without the Digital Roughness

Shanling builds the 24-bit ladder from 212 resistors matched to 0.01% tolerance, then runs a 19-bit architecture with a 4-bit compensating code and an assistive push-pull differential circuit. Because the conversion is resistive rather than modulated, the signal takes a shorter path and the hardness associated with Delta-Sigma designs is absent — transitions float smoothly, and the deeper warmth of the recording comes through intact. Measured performance is equally convincing: a signal-to-noise ratio of 120dB with harmonic distortion held to 0.003%, so the smoothness costs nothing in clarity or detail retrieval.

Split Power Supply, Dual 31W Toroidal Transformers

Power is divided into two independent systems, one serving the streaming platform and the other the analog audio section, so neither half of the device can contaminate the other. A pair of custom-wound 31W toroidal transformers anchor that arrangement, chosen for low noise and high efficiency and then put through an additional potting process that damps the vibrations which would otherwise blur fine detail. Feeding the analog stage from a linear supply rather than a switching one keeps the output cleaner and more stable — a distinction that shows up most clearly in quiet passages and long listening sessions.

Accurate Clocks and a Two-Circuit Analog Output

Timing relies on a pair of ACCUSILICON AS318-B clocks at 45.1584MHz and 49.152MHz, one covering each sample-rate family, so high-resolution material is decoded with substantially lower jitter. Working alongside Shanling’s AGLO bit-perfect path on Android, the SM1.3R handles PCM up to 32-bit / 768kHz and native DSD512 from both its internal player and the XMOS XU316 USB input. The analog stage is split into two dedicated circuits: a MUSES8920 section providing a clean line-out for an external amplifier or powered speakers, and a TPA6120 amplifier driving the 6.35mm headphone socket directly.

A Closed Android Platform Tuned for Music

The streaming side runs on a Rockchip 64-bit ARM Cortex processor with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, using a closed Android 12 build that Shanling has rewritten around audio rather than borrowed from a phone. The result is a system that stays stable and responsive instead of accumulating clutter. The interface is deliberately shallow, with fewer layers and clearer labels, so the main menu puts playback control, the local library, playlists, NAS and streaming sources within one tap. The same layout carries across to the Eddict Controller app, which mirrors the screen on a phone or tablet.

Streaming Apps On-Device, Protocols for Everything Else

Because the SM1.3R runs streaming services natively on its touch screen, nothing has to be routed through a telephone: Spotify, TIDAL, Qobuz, Apple Music, Apple Classical, Amazon Music, Presto Music and KKBox are all available directly on the device. Listeners who prefer to drive playback from a handset get full TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect and Roon Ready support, with AirPlay 2 and DLNA covering the remaining sources. Point the streamer at a NAS and it behaves as a network library, with CUE sheet support for large album rips.

Stable Networking and a Serious Bluetooth Receiver

A gigabit LAN port and a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 module covering 2.4GHz and 5GHz keep the data path quick and steady, which matters far more when pulling 768kHz files from a server than when playing a compressed stream. Wireless input is handled by a dedicated Qualcomm QCC5125 receiver running Bluetooth 5.2, with the full set of codecs on board — LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX Low Latency, aptX, AAC and SBC — so a phone or tablet can be dropped into the system without a cable and without an obvious penalty.

Refined Aluminium Build with Full Remote Control

Following the standard set by Shanling’s SACD and CD players, the SM1.3R uses a minimalist aluminium chassis with a glass top panel, softly rounded edges and a 5.8-inch 1080p Sharp touch screen that remains legible across a room. Black and silver finishes are both available, and the footprint — 280mm square, 110mm tall including feet, 6.4kg (14.1 lb) — sits comfortably on a desk or shelf. The Eddict Controller app for Android and iOS adds swift control of local playback plus full-screen mirroring when you want to operate the streaming apps remotely.

A Multifunctional Digital and Analog Core

Designed as the hub of a modern Hi-Fi rack, the SM1.3R accepts digital sources over optical, coaxial, USB, Bluetooth and the network, and sends digital audio out on optical, coaxial, USB and I2S. That FPGA-assisted I2S output is the standout: its broad compatibility lets the SM1.3R work as a pure transport into an external DAC. An M.2 NVMe slot takes an internal SSD so a large library can live inside the unit, and USB-A covers external drives. Analog output runs to RCA and XLR alongside a 6.35mm headphone socket, and the MUSES8920 pre-out / line-out can operate in preamplifier mode to drive a power amplifier directly or feed an external preamp or integrated amplifier.

Certification and What’s in the Box

The SM1.3R carries both Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Wireless Audio certification from the Japan Audio Society, confirming its measured performance against that standard. The package includes the streamer itself, a remote control, a power cable, three Bluetooth/Wi-Fi antennas, a USB-A to USB-C cable, a quick start guide, a warranty card and the Shanling 1988 badge.

Specifications

• Model: SHANLING SM1.3R
• Product Type: High-end Hi-Fi network streamer with built-in R2R DAC and headphone amplifier
• DAC System: Shanling in-house R2R assembly, second generation (24-bit module)
• R2R Array: 212 × 0.01% ultra-precise resistors; 19-bit architecture + 4-bit compensating code; assistive push-pull differential circuit
• Processor: Rockchip ARM CPU
• CPU Architecture: 64-bit ARM Cortex-A55
• Operating System: Closed Android 12, deeply customised Hi-Fi system
• Memory / Storage: 4GB RAM / 64GB ROM internal memory + SSD M.2 slot
• External Drive Capacity: Up to 2TB
• Display: 5.8-inch 1080P Sharp touch screen
• Clocks: ACCUSILICON AS318-B 45.1584MHz & 49.152MHz
• USB Input Chipset: XMOS XU316 dedicated USB input
• Hi-Res Support: 768kHz / 32bit, DSD512
• Supported Audio Formats: DSD, DXD, APE, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, DTS, MP3, WMA, AAC, OGG, ALAC, MP2, M4A, AC3, OPUS, TAK and more; supports CUE
• Network: Gigabit LAN; dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (2.4G / 5G)
• Streaming Protocols: ROON Ready, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, AirPlay 2, DLNA
• On-Device Streaming Apps: Spotify, TIDAL, Qobuz, Apple Music, Apple Classical, Amazon Music, Presto Music, KKBox
• Bluetooth Version: 5.2 (Qualcomm QCC5125 module)
• Bluetooth Codecs: LDAC, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX LL, aptX, AAC, SBC
• Power Supply: Split supply, 220V or 110V region locked
• Power Transformers: Dual custom 31W toroidal transformers with vibration-damping potting
• Analog Outputs: RCA / XLR / 6.35mm headphone output
• Line-Out / Pre-Out: MUSES8920 pre-out / line-out — usable as a preamplifier, or to feed an external preamp or integrated amplifier
• Headphone Amplifier: Dedicated TPA6120 headphone amplifier circuit
• RCA Output: Output level 2.2V; 20Hz–40kHz (±0.5dB); THD+N 0.003%; dynamic range 118dB; channel separation 116dB; SNR 118dB
• XLR Output: Output level 4.4V; 20Hz–40kHz (±0.5dB); THD+N 0.003%; dynamic range 120dB; channel separation 117dB; SNR 120dB
• Headphone Output — Low Gain: 17mW @ 32Ω
• Headphone Output — Medium Gain: 159mW @ 32Ω
• Headphone Output — High Gain: 900mW @ 32Ω; 130mW @ 300Ω
• Headphone Frequency Response: 20Hz–40kHz (±0.5dB)
• Headphone THD+N: 0.003% @ 32Ω
• Headphone Dynamic Range: 116dB @ 32Ω
• Headphone Channel Separation: 70dB @ 32Ω
• Headphone Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 116dB @ 32Ω
• Headphone Noise: 111dB
• Headphone Output Impedance: 4.7Ω
• Digital Inputs: Optical, coaxial, USB, Bluetooth, LAN, Wi-Fi
• Digital Outputs: Optical, coaxial, I2S, USB
• Coaxial Input: PCM 192kHz / 24bit
• Optical Input: PCM 192kHz / 24bit
• USB Input: PCM 768kHz / 32bit, DSD512
• Coaxial Output: PCM 192kHz / 24bit
• Optical Output: PCM 192kHz / 24bit
• USB Output: PCM 768kHz / 32bit, DSD512
• I²S Output: PCM 768kHz, DSD512 (FPGA-assisted)
• Drive Playback: Internal M.2 SSD slot; USB-A for external drives
• Dimensions (including feet): 280 × 280 × 110 mm / 11 × 11 × 4.3 in (W × D × H)
• Weight: 6.4 kg (14.1 lb)
• Colours: Black, Silver

What’s Included

• Shanling SM1.3R streamer
• Remote control
• Power cable
• Bluetooth / Wi-Fi antennas (3)
• USB-A to USB-C cable
• Quick start guide
• Warranty card
• Shanling 1988 badge