Shanling EM5 and Shanling EA5 – The new Shanling Desktop Line

Shanling is now introducing two new solutions as the starting signal for the so-called Shanling Desktop Line, namely the Shanling EM5 and Shanling EA5 systems. Both are flexible systems, namely a streaming DAC/AMP and a music streaming centre.

Shanling EM5 and Shanling EA5, these two systems form the basis of the new Shanling Desktop Line. With this, the Chinese company wants to return to its early roots and no longer focus solely on solutions in the area of personal audio devices.

According to the manufacturer, Shanling was founded as a traditional hi-fi manufacturer, dedicated to the development and production of electronic components and loudspeaker systems.

Back to the roots

In recent years, however, the focus has shifted more and more to the area of personal audio devices, and the product range has almost completely shifted to portable D/A converters, portable headphone amplifiers, portable hi-res audio players and, last but not least, headphones.

According to Shanling, this is now to change, with the year 2021 marking a turning point. The company wants to return to its roots and thus to the field of home audio.

Shanling M30 Modular Desktop System as the starting signal

Already a few weeks ago, Shanling presented the Shanling M30 Modular Desktop HiFi Streaming Player, which is supposed to mark the re-entry into the area of high-quality home and desktop hi-fi.

Now, further product announcements follow, which follow the same approach, i.e. they are also to be understood as so-called desktop audio systems, namely the Shanling EM5 as well as the Shanling EA5.

Shanling EM5 Streaming DAC/AMP and Shanling EA5 Music Streaming Centre

Both new solutions of the Shanling Desktop Line are essentially so-called Digital Player Systems, the Shanling EM5 Streaming DAC/AMP and Shanling EA5 Music Streaming Center systems are thus based on the same principles.

Focus on streaming

The focus here and there is on music streaming, based on the industry standard UPnP. The solutions Shanling EM5 Streaming DAC/AMP and Shanling EA5 Music Streaming Center are thus designed as dlna-certified streaming clients.

In addition, Shanling states that the products are also equipped for Apple AirPlay and can of course access a wide range of streaming services.

How could it be otherwise, a suitable app on the smartphone or tablet takes over the control. However, as an alternative, a display is also available directly on the top of both systems, a touchscreen display, so that a comfortable control of all functions should also be guaranteed directly on the device.

Shanling EM5 Streaming DAC/AMP and Shanling EA5 Music Streaming Center are also equipped with Bluetooth, so that mobile devices can be directly connected as sources without having to use a network infrastructure.

Shanling EM5 Streaming DAC/AMP

The Shanling EM5 Streaming DAC/AMP is primarily designed for use with headphones, and offers a wide range of flexible connection options to suit a variety of headphone models.

In addition to the most common options for unbalanced headphones, there is also a balanced connection option in the form of XLR and 4.4 mm jack.

As the name suggests, this solution is also intended to function as a versatile D/A converter, as well as a preamplifier, so that it can serve as a flexible interface for a power amplifier or simply active speaker systems.

Shanling EA5 Music Streaming Center

The Shanling EA5 Music Streaming Center, on the other hand, is actually designed as a particularly compact all-in-one system. According to Shanling, it does without the above-mentioned balanced outputs for headphones, but instead offers a fully-fledged stereo integrated amplifier.

More details to follow

Shanling has not yet revealed too many details about the two Shanling EA5 Music Streaming Centre systems. The current announcement is only a first teaser. Further details will be announced around the time of the market launch of the two systems.

However, it is already certain that the Shanling EA5 Music Streaming Centres will be priced in the upper price segment at less than US$ 1,000 each.

Getting to the point

Shanling wants to go back to the roots of the company, and this means that it will no longer concentrate solely on solutions in the area of personal audio devices, but will once again focus on classic hi-fi systems. However, the innovations are not quite so “classic”, it is rather about the product range Desktop Audio, this is shown by the new Shanling Desktop Line, which is founded with the solutions Shanling EA5 Music Streaming Center.