ONIX Zenith XMT20 – Network Transport in the ONIX Zenith Series
07.02.2026 09:12 | ~2 minutes read
British audio brand ONIX (a sub-brand of China’s Shanling) has unveiled the third and final component of the ONIX Zenith audio system – the ONIX Zenith XMT20 network transport. The new model joins the previously introduced components in the lineup: the Zenith XST20 SACD/CD transport and the Zenith XDA20 DAC. The ONIX Zenith XMT20 streamer is based on an in-house developed Linux networking platform.
The ONIX Zenith XMT20 network transport is certified for Tidal Connect and Qobuz Connect, and it is also Roon Ready. In addition, it supports DLNA and AirPlay 2, and can work with local music libraries – for example, with an external USB storage device up to 2 TB. An M.2 NVMe SSD can also be installed inside the chassis. Playback is controlled via the brand’s Eddict Controller app for Android and iOS.
The ONIX Zenith XMT20 is equipped with six digital outputs: coaxial and optical S/PDIF, BNC, and AES/EBU – capable of outputting PCM up to 24-bit/192 kHz and DSD via DoP up to DSD64. In addition, the unit features USB Audio and I2S (HDMI) ports supporting PCM 24-bit/768 kHz and native DSD512. The I2S output is backed by FPGA support and offers ten pre-configured pinout options. This may look like flexibility, but in practice it reflects the fact that the format still suffers from the lack of a single standard. For clocking, two KDS crystal oscillators are used. The linear power supply is fitted with a 25 VA Talema transformer. The ONIX Zenith XMT20 weighs 5.2 kg, with dimensions 32 × 7.2 × 24 cm.
An additional feature of the transport is the ability to play and rip CDs. To do this, you need to connect a standard external CD drive to the USB port, such as the Shanling CR60. The XMT20 can play CDs directly or rip them to an internal SSD or an external USB drive – with automatic tag filling and cover art downloading.
The chassis design follows the styling of other Zenith family models: CNC-machined aluminum with the brand’s signature gold-toned front-panel knob. A 3.4-inch touchscreen allows control directly on the device.
The ONIX Zenith XMT20 will go on sale in Europe in February 2026, with a recommended retail price of €2,399.
Specifications
This product is in the Hi-Fi and High End Electronics and Acoustics database
CD / SACD players and transports — ONIX Zenith XST20
Model name
Zenith XST20
Transport
Yes
Player
N/A
SACD support
Yes
Engine
FPGA
Frequency response low +/- 3dB (for CD) (Hz)
N/A
Frequency response high +/- 3dB (for CD) (Hz)
N/A
Frequency response low +/- 3dB (for SACD) (Hz)
N/A
Frequency response high +/- 3dB (for SACD) (Hz)
N/A
Gain (dBu)
N/A
Output Level (balanced) (V)
N/A
Output Level (single-ended) (V)
N/A
Input Impedance (balanced) (Ω)
N/A
Input Impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
N/A
Output Impedance (balanced) (Ω)
N/A
Output Impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
N/A
Dynamic range (for CD) (dB)
N/A
Dynamic range (for SACD) (dB)
N/A
Signal to Noise Ratio (for CD) (dB)
N/A
Signal to Noise Ratio (for SACD) (dB)
N/A
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (for CD) (%)
N/A
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (for SACD) (%)
N/A
Dimensions (mm)
320 x 240 x 72
Weight (kg)
5.2
Official link
More content
