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

[JooLoo]

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

Here’s hoping

 

[Jimmyblues1959]

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

It's nice to see a high quality dedicated transport whose sole purpose is the playback of CD and SACD physical media.
It reminds me of the early 1990's when high end audio companies had to finally acknowledge that digital was not going away, and that they would have to find a way of making the most of the medium, while making space for it along side their analogue playback systems.

 

[Shanling]

Can it be used to rip SACDs, also?

No ripping functionality on XST20.

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?

The internals are what makes it work this way for the SACD output. There will be no cheaper version.

If you are simply looking for a more basic SACD player, you can check Shanling SCD1.3, that one is about 60% of cost of XST20 and includes a very nice DAC.

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?

Apart from I2S, all outputs can provide PCM output for SACD playback.
CD playback is always PCM.

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?

If using DoP, output is 44.1 kHz.
There are no filters for this.

Looks like the Shanling ET3 has more benefits fot me!

Purely on specification, if you play just CDs and can use some of the wireless connectivity, ET3 is a great buy at lower price.
In practice, even with CDs the XST20 sounds better (if you believe in transport having an impact on sound quality of DAC).

 

[Cecala]

Simply gorgeous.

 

[The Schraeer]

Banger of a product, would love to see the internals.
For those with SACD's - really nice looking modern option.

 

[MisterMoJo]

Is an upcoming product a companion dac for this?

 

[modified dog]

This looks great. I wish it had been available when I bought the project rs2t, which does not match the i2s inputs on the holo spring 3 dac, much to my disappointment - a holo dealer told me that IT WOULD BE COMPATIBLE with the project transport lol : great salesmanship!
If the Zenith is not compatible with the spring 3 I'll eat my ...........

 

[Makiah S]

So there’s a product below this the ET3, but it uses a

CD Drive system: Philips SAA7824 servo & Sanyo HD850

So yeah, pretty nice OEM hardware for the CD drive system. I’ve been filtering through quite a few CD transports for a secondary system, and a few of them have had some real poor quality OEM components for the CD Drive. Happy to see that Shanling is nicer stuff even on lower prices models!

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.

Apart from I2S, all outputs can provide PCM output for SACD playback.
CD playback is always PCM.

If using DoP, output is 44.1 kHz.
There are no filters for this.

Purely on specification, if you play just CDs and can use some of the wireless connectivity, ET3 is a great buy at lower price.

In practice, even with CDs the XST20 sounds better (if you believe in transport having an impact on sound quality of DAC).

There’s also a lot of positive feedback for the ET3 elsewhere on the web so I’d have to say I’m pretty excited to see when the XST 20 hits the market! This seems to be an upgrade to that and it looks stunning.

 

[bigbeans]

Awesome love this product, thank you Shanling!!! Just got some SACDs in and this will be perfect for it.

 

[Spinning46rpm]

Given my limited SACD collection, I would have been willing to spend 1000€ for this SACD transport, but definitely not over 2k€.
It‘s interesting to see that nowadays Chinese companies are trying to enter the high-end audio market, but sometimes forget to deliver an adequate quality and customer support!
Just look at the user experience of various Shanling products in this forum…

BTW: If you want to rip SACDs spending less than 50€, then here is a solution that works great:
https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/...ing-an-oppo-or-pioneer-yes-its-true/#comments

 

[Makiah S]

Given my limited SACD collection, I would have been willing to spend 1000€ for this SACD transport, but definitely not over 2k€.
It‘s interesting to see that nowadays Chinese companies are trying to enter the high-end audio market, but sometimes forget to deliver an adequate quality and customer support!
Just look at the user experience of various Shanling products in this forum…

BTW: If you want to rip SACDs spending less than 50€, then here is a solution that works great:
https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/...ing-an-oppo-or-pioneer-yes-its-true/#comments

Well, don’t forget how much much larger the Chinese/east Asian market is than our own here in the US. Plus, Shanling has a few dealers here in the states that are often able to offer support. That said if you’re buying at the lowest possible price from Amazon and upset that the manufacturer isn’t able to respond, it may be advantageous to pay a little bit more to buy from a dealer who’s gonna have the staff and expertise to answer your questions in a more timely fashion.

Anyways, all of this buzz around the new transport actually prompted me to just go ahead and pick up the previous model as well since it’ll meet my needs and I certainly have the space for an extra CD transport haha.

An personally as a consumer, I’ve always had a pretty good experience with their digital products! I owned quite a few of their dabs back in the day and I really enjoyed them.

I saw that Darko posted a news article, but has anybody gotten hands on this to give some subjective impressions or real world feedback? I too have had some frustrations getting acceptable I 2S interconnects to work with my existing sources. So the idea of something with an FPGA that can adjust the pin out on the hardware side seems pretty advantageous.

 

[modified dog]

Well, don’t forget how much much larger the Chinese/east Asian market is than our own here in the US. Plus, Shanling has a few dealers here in the states that are often able to offer support. That said if you’re buying at the lowest possible price from Amazon and upset that the manufacturer isn’t able to respond, it may be advantageous to pay a little bit more to buy from a dealer who’s gonna have the staff and expertise to answer your questions in a more timely fashion.

Anyways, all of this buzz around the new transport actually prompted me to just go ahead and pick up the previous model as well since it’ll meet my needs and I certainly have the space for an extra CD transport haha.

An personally as a consumer, I’ve always had a pretty good experience with their digital products! I owned quite a few of their dabs back in the day and I really enjoyed them.

I saw that Darko posted a news article, but has anybody gotten hands on this to give some subjective impressions or real world feedback? I too have had some frustrations getting acceptable I 2S interconnects to work with my existing sources. So the idea of something with an FPGA that can adjust the pin out on the hardware side seems pretty advantageous.

Yes, the lack of an industry norm for I2s is a real bummer. This might seem like a petty comment, but I kind of hope that companies like Project start to lose business due to their secret and apparently unique I2s implementation. Unfortunately Project's dacs do not appear to be as good as their top cd transport. The Zenith will hopefully outperform the Rs2t, as I do not think Shanling will omit the Holo I2s settings in their 10 options. Fingers crossed............

 

[Makiah S]

Yes, the lack of an industry norm for I2s is a real bummer. This might seem like a petty comment, but I kind of hope that companies like Project start to lose business due to their secret and apparently unique I2s implementation. Unfortunately Project's dacs do not appear to be as good as their top cd transport. The Zenith will hopefully outperform the Rs2t, as I do not think Shanling will omit the Holo I2s settings in their 10 options. Fingers crossed............

Competition drives innovation! Fingers crossed for sure

 

[modified dog]

Competition drives innovation! Fingers crossed for sure

yes, competition SOMETIMES drives innovation

 

[sygnus21]

Well, don’t forget how much much larger the Chinese/east Asian market is than our own here in the US. Plus, Shanling has a few dealers here in the states that are often able to offer support. That said if you’re buying at the lowest possible price from Amazon and upset that the manufacturer isn’t able to respond, it may be advantageous to pay a little bit more to buy from a dealer who’s gonna have the staff and expertise to answer your questions in a more timely fashion.

In other words authorized dealers

It‘s interesting to see that nowadays Chinese companies are trying to enter the high-end audio market, but sometimes forget to deliver an adequate quality and customer support

Your generalization does not support my experience.

Denafrips, a "Chinese" company provides excellent support, has a servicing center in Texas (USA) which does outstanding work, and doesn't take eons to repair and ship your unit back. Been there, done that, have the gear

Awesome love this product, thank you Shanling!!! Just got some SACDs in and this will be perfect for it.

Have a few SACD's myself, these are the last 4 I bought. I have no SACD player; however, since these are hybrid SACD's they'll still play on standard CD players.

Anyway, the ONIX Zenith XST20 looks good, but I don't want a top loader as it restricts placement options. That's me.