Shanling M30 Pro High End Modular Digital Audio Player with original AKM AK4497 DAC

The Shanling M30 Pro is a modular, battery-powered desktop player and streamer. Its system, DAC, tube, amplifier and battery sections are separate modules that can be swapped or upgraded, with a spare slot for the future. Two AKM AK4497 DACs, from Shanling’s final supply, run fully balanced, and a discrete amplifier gives up to 3.8W into 32Ω for the most demanding full-size headphones.

Evolving for the future

Thanks to a special modular system, all the core components of the M30 Pro can easily be exchanged or upgraded, so new technologies can be added over time or the player customised for special uses.

• Digital player module: a tiltable 5.8-inch 1080 × 2160 Sharp touch screen and Qualcomm Snapdragon 665, running a closed, customised Android 10.
• DAC module: two AKM AK4497EQ DACs and two Texas Instruments OPA2211 amplifiers, with six digital filters.
• Tube module: two Korg 6P1 Nutube triodes for a tube output mode.
• Spare module: for possible future upgrades.
• Amplifier module: a discrete audio design, up to 3.8W into 32Ω.
• Battery module: five Panasonic 18650 cells, 16,500mAh, about 17.5 hours.

All your music in one place

The closed Android 10 system is deeply customised for sound quality and smooth operation, powered by the octa-core Snapdragon 665. It plays local files and streams from Spotify, TIDAL, Qobuz, Deezer, Apple Music and Amazon Music, and also plays from microSD (up to 2TB) and USB drives, and over Ethernet. Bluetooth 5.0 transmits LDAC, LHDC, aptX HD, aptX and SBC and receives LDAC and SBC, and Shanling’s app can control it remotely.

The highest levels of hi-fi

The sound draws on more than 35 years of Shanling’s high-end audio design, aiming for the highest sound quality with a calm, balanced presentation. The DAC module uses the last of Shanling’s AKM AK4497 DACs in fully balanced mode with TI OPA2211 amplifiers and a range of top-quality parts, including Sanyo solid capacitors.

Upgraded amplifier module

The upgraded high-power amplifier module uses a discrete design giving up to 3.8W into 32Ω (565mW into 300Ω) from the balanced outputs. It was designed with a clear focus on the most demanding full-size headphones and fine-tuned over many months of testing with the most high-end models. Four gain levels, from low to ultra-high, cover sensitive earphones too.

Clean, stable battery power

Running entirely from batteries gives the M30 Pro the cleanest, most stable power in all conditions, with no need for extra power conditioning. It charges from a 5–12V adapter (one is supplied) or at 5V/2A over USB-C.

Ready for all connections

Six headphone sockets cover every plug: XLR, 4.4mm, 3.5mm Pro and 2.5mm balanced, plus 3.5mm and 6.35mm single-ended. On the back are an RCA analogue input, RCA and balanced XLR line outputs (in bypass, transistor or tube mode), Ethernet, coaxial and optical digital inputs, a USB DAC input, a USB port for an external drive, a USB port for digital audio output or a second drive, USB-C for data and charging, and the charging socket.

Every detail matters

The chassis is CNC-machined from a single piece of aluminium for stability and resistance to interference. The internal wiring is monocrystalline copper for the smoothest signal path, 92 Panasonic tantalum-polymer capacitors give accuracy and temperature stability, and a pair of very precise KDS crystal oscillators reduce jitter.

Good to know

• In the box: metal carrying case, stand, power adapter, screwdriver and bolts, module removal tool, suction cup, gloves, USB-A to USB-C cable, cleaning cloth and manuals.
• For a mains-powered Shanling all-in-one, see the Shanling EM7.