A Respected Audiophile Brand’s New Hi-Fi Player Is Primed for Compact Stereo Systems

It aims to bring high-resolution streaming and modern connections to your home’s hi-fi system.

Close-up of a streaming music center SM90 with a touchscreen interface and a large silver volume knob with blue LED ring.

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By Tucker Bowe

Published April 1, 2026

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Updated April 3, 2026

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Of late, Shanling has been on a bit of a CD kick, introducing a modern portable Discman in the EC Zero AKM, as well as a CD player for home hi-fi systems in the CD80 II.

Now, the well-known Chinese hi-fi manufacturer has turned its attention to high-resolution streaming with the introduction of the SM90 network player.

Shanling SM90

Black and silver streaming music center with touchscreen and two antennas on a wooden cabinet. — The Shanling SM90 aims to bring high-resolution streaming to traditional hi-fi systems.

The Shanling SM90 is a music streamer and network player that’s designed to work with the company’s “90” line of compact hi-fi components, which (so far) includes the CT90 CD transport.

It’s effectively a smaller and more affordable version of the Shanling SM1.3 network player, which costs $1,399.

Silver and black streaming music center SM90 with touchscreen and large volume knob on a desk with black headphones on a stand behind it. — The SM90 is effectively a smaller and more affordable version of the company’s $1,399 SM1.3 network player.

Stereo and home theater, unite

Like its larger and more expensive sibling, the SM90 has the same classic dual AKM architecture and runs the same Android operating system. It has native support for most major streaming apps, including Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music. It also supports Qobuz Connect and Tidal Connect, and is Roon Ready.

Additionally, the SM90 is more versatile than your average streamer. It supports local file playback and can function as a DAC for external digital sources thanks to USB, optical and coaxial inputs.

Black audio device with dual antennas, multiple analog and digital output ports, USB 3.0, and Ethernet on a rocky surface. — The SM90 features a wide range of connections, including optical and coaxial inputs and outputs, as well as balanced XLR and single-ended RCA outputs.

Unlike its larger sibling, Shanling integrated the SM90 with an HDMI ARC input, allowing it to be used between both your home hi-fi and home theater systems. (In fact, the SM90 is Shanling’s first-ever component with HDMI ARC compatibility.)

With this single component, not only can it bring high-resolution streaming capabilities to an older hi-fi system, but it can also bring your TV into the fold so its audio plays through that same two-channel system. It effectively eliminates the need for a soundbar- or an AV receiver-based system.

Two Shanling SM90 streaming music centers stacked, one in silver and one in black, each with a display screen and a large volume knob. — The SM90 features a 4.96-inch 1080p touchscreen and runs an Android operating system.

Availability and pricing

The Shanling SM90 will come in two different finishes, black or silver, and cost $969. It’ll be available to order starting in April 2026.

Shanling SM90

$969 at Shanling

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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