Introducing ONIX Zenith XST20 - High-End SACD Transport with true DSD output

[Shanling]

International Price: 2099 USD
USA Price: 2299 USD

Available in April 2025

​

Start of New Line

Zenith XST20 represents the beginning of a new product line, soon featuring a trio of matching desktop components and focusing on the High-End market.

XST20 comes as the first one in line, serving as the traditional SACD / CD transport for the setup. It will soon be paired with a top-of-the-line DAC and later joined by a Linux-Based Streamer Transport.

SACD with True DSD Output

Designed to unlock the full potential of SACD discs, Zenith XST20 offers a unique option to play any SACD in its true DSD quality to any external DAC with DSD capabilities. Utilizing either I2S connection for full native DSD64 or DSD64 DoP over the Coaxial / Optical / AES / BNC. (Note: USB Output does not support SACD Playback)

​

Highly Optimized Disc Playback

Combining a top-loading design, a classic disc clamp and the highest-quality disc drive components, Zenith XST20 stands among the finest SACD / CD transports on the market. With full support of Single-layer and Multi-layer SACDs, standard CDs and even MQA-CDs, all with smooth track transitions thanks to its fully gapless playback.

FPGA-Assisted I2S Output

While many audiophiles are looking for a reliable I2S transport for their High-End DACs, the lack of standardization in this part of market would previously cause many compatibility issues. However, our Zenith XST20 features special hardware that allows switching between 10 I2S pinout modes, significantly expanding its compatibility to virtually all I2S DACs on the market.

​

Single-Purpose Focused Transport

Zenith XST20 focuses on the ultimate Hi-Fi playback of SACD and CDs and that is its only purpose. There is no streaming, no wireless networks or complicated apps, just the pure lossless quality of the discs. A convenient 3.4-inch touch screen provides direct access to a simple UI for core settings and the unit comes with our premium remote control.

Classic ONIX Look

A robust aluminium body, exquisitely crafted by CNC machines to match the stunning ONIX design, enhanced with a few golden elements to elevate the overall aesthetic.

​

Specification

Dimensions: 32 x 24 x 7.2 cm

Weight: 5.2kg

Display: 3.4-Inch Touch Screen

System: Basic System UI

Power Supply: 25VA Talema Transformer

Disc Support: CD, Multi-layer SACD, Single-layer
SACD, MQA-CD

–

Digital Outputs

Optical / Coaxial / AES / BNC:

CD Playback 44.1 kHz
SACD Playback DSD64 via DoP or D2P

I2S:

CD Playback 44.1 kHz

SACD Playback native DSD64

USB:

CD Playback 44.1 kHz

SACD NOT Supported

 

[SGarfinkle]

Can it be used to rip SACDs, also?

 

[Skev]

SACD not supported via USB so probably can’t rip

 

[Bones13]

Looks like no USB output of the DSD or DoP stream. SACD playback only from SPDIF and I2S. I am not knowledgeable enough about Ripping SACDs enough to know if you can inport the DSD / DoP stream directly, and convert them to FLAC or other playable computer file. Im not sure if that is the mechanism for the folks that were ripping SACDs on the Oppo players.

 

[JooLoo]

Well if they’re making desktop devices I can’t wait for a desktop style hpa amp

 

[Bones13]

In the write up, they mentioned a matching DAC and Streamer. No headphone amp (yet)

 

[XERO1]

Wow.

It's taken 25 years for a dedicated SACD player/transport like this to finally be released that can output the native DSD/DoP datastream directly from all of the player's digital outputs (not just the I2S output). Up until now, the only way you could get the raw DSD datastream out of the player/transport was to use a DVD or Blu-ray player that supported SACD playback (like the now discontinued Oppo players) and connect it via HDMI to a GeerFab D.BOB (which originally cost $1000, but now costs 'only' $700). And that's it. There are no other options, at least to my knowledge. And while I’m not a huge fan of top-loading players, at least we finally get another transport option, and one that's dedicated only to CD/SACD playback.

Bravo, Shanling!

 

[SGarfinkle]

Looks like no USB output of the DSD or DoP stream. SACD playback only from SPDIF and I2S.... I'm not sure if that is the mechanism for the folks that were ripping SACDs on the Oppo players.

No, that's not it. The Oppo (and a few other) players could use the USB *input* to start a local server running, then go to a PC or Linux (or Mac? I forget) app that does the ripping over the LAN. Works well for me on my BDP-103, so I don't really care; I just thought it might be another reason to buy this player, as well.

 

[Wildcatsare1]

It looks fantastic; I know one of my DACs does native DSD, but I’ll have to check on the other. Will there be a “trickle-down” unit in a less fancy case, with more modest internals at a lower price?

 

[ZoNtO]

This looks amazing! For those of us with PCM-only DACs, it would be nice maybe in a future version 2 to offer high-quality DSD-to-PCM conversion within the unit itself, so that one can output the converted signal into a PCM-only DAC. Similar to the Audiopraise upgrade cards for Oppo players or their separate outboard converter box.

For now, with this version is there an option to play at least the CD/stereo layer of SACDs so that PCM will be transmitted via the output of choice?

 

[chesebert]

Wow.

It's taken 25 years for a dedicated SACD player/transport like this to finally be released that can output the native DSD/DoP stream directly from all of the the player's digital outputs (not just the I2S output). Up until now, the only way you could get the raw DSD datastream out of the player/transport was to use a DVD or Blu-ray player that supported SACD playback (like the now discontinued Oppo players) and connect them via HDMI to a GeerFab D.BOB (which originally cost $1000, but now costs 'only' $700). And that's it. There are no other options, at least to my knowledge. And while I’m not a huge fan of top-loading players, at least we finally get another transport option, and one that's dedicated only to CD/SACD playback.

Bravo, Shanling!

I doubt Sony has amended their licensing agreement to permit native SACD over digital output (except for proprietary i2s that’s unique to each manufacturer). The SACD bitstream is encrypted and the dac has to be able to decode the encrypted stream. I think what’s happening is the SACD bitstream is decoded to another format inside the unit and then reencoded to DoP/D2P.

This looks amazing! For those of us with PCM-only DACs, it would be nice maybe in a future version 2 to offer high-quality DSD-to-PCM conversion within the unit itself, so that one can output the converted signal into a PCM-only DAC. Similar to the Audiopraise upgrade cards for Oppo players or their separate outboard converter box.

For now, with this version is there an option to play at least the CD/stereo layer of SACDs so that PCM will be transmitted via the output of choice?

D2P means it outputs PCM from converted DSD.

 

[LFC_SL]

Wow.

It's taken 25 years for a dedicated SACD player/transport like this to finally be released that can output the native DSD/DoP stream directly from all of the the player's digital outputs (not just the I2S output). Up until now, the only way you could get the raw DSD datastream out of the player/transport was to use a DVD or Blu-ray player that supported SACD playback (like the now discontinued Oppo players) and connect them via HDMI to a GeerFab D.BOB (which originally cost $1000, but now costs 'only' $700). And that's it. There are no other options, at least to my knowledge. And while I’m not a huge fan of top-loading players, at least we finally get another transport option, and one that's dedicated only to CD/SACD playback.

Bravo, Shanling!

Reads the same as the PS Audio SACD transport? Raw DSD over I2S output, DoP other outputs. Obviously this is cheaper

 

[ZoNtO]

D2P means it outputs PCM from converted DSD.

Oh, thanks! I am clearly not up to date on my audio acronyms. This is great news.

@Shanling, do you have any measurements or other information regarding the DSD-to-PCM conversion that this new unit does? Any selectable filters in that respect?

 

[InvisibleInk]

Gapless playback! Excellent

 

[Sharppain]

International Price: 2099 USD
USA Price: 2299 USD

Available in April 2025

​

Start of New Line

Zenith XST20 represents the beginning of a new product line, soon featuring a trio of matching desktop components and focusing on the High-End market.

XST20 comes as the first one in line, serving as the traditional SACD / CD transport for the setup. It will soon be paired with a top-of-the-line DAC and later joined by a Linux-Based Streamer Transport.

SACD with True DSD Output

Designed to unlock the full potential of SACD discs, Zenith XST20 offers a unique option to play any SACD in its true DSD quality to any external DAC with DSD capabilities. Utilizing either I2S connection for full native DSD64 or DSD64 DoP over the Coaxial / Optical / AES / BNC. (Note: USB Output does not support SACD Playback)

​

Highly Optimized Disc Playback

Combining a top-loading design, a classic disc clamp and the highest-quality disc drive components, Zenith XST20 stands among the finest SACD / CD transports on the market. With full support of Single-layer and Multi-layer SACDs, standard CDs and even MQA-CDs, all with smooth track transitions thanks to its fully gapless playback.

FPGA-Assisted I2S Output

While many audiophiles are looking for a reliable I2S transport for their High-End DACs, the lack of standardization in this part of market would previously cause many compatibility issues. However, our Zenith XST20 features special hardware that allows switching between 10 I2S pinout modes, significantly expanding its compatibility to virtually all I2S DACs on the market.

​

Single-Purpose Focused Transport

Zenith XST20 focuses on the ultimate Hi-Fi playback of SACD and CDs and that is its only purpose. There is no streaming, no wireless networks or complicated apps, just the pure lossless quality of the discs. A convenient 3.4-inch touch screen provides direct access to a simple UI for core settings and the unit comes with our premium remote control.

Classic ONIX Look

A robust aluminium body, exquisitely crafted by CNC machines to match the stunning ONIX design, enhanced with a few golden elements to elevate the overall aesthetic.

​

Specification

Dimensions: 32 x 24 x 7.2 cm

Weight: 5.2kg

Display: 3.4-Inch Touch Screen

System: Basic System UI

Power Supply: 25VA Talema Transformer

Disc Support: CD, Multi-layer SACD, Single-layer
SACD, MQA-CD

–

Digital Outputs

Optical / Coaxial / AES / BNC:

CD Playback 44.1 kHz
SACD Playback DSD64 via DoP or D2P

I2S:

CD Playback 44.1 kHz

SACD Playback native DSD64

USB:

CD Playback 44.1 kHz

SACD NOT Supported

Looks like the Shanling ET3 has more benefits fot me!