The last time something often happens that at the same time out 2 very similar models from different manufacturers. The Hidizs ‘ AP60 pair with Shanling M1, and now to Cayin N3 out new M2s from Shanling, the continued development of the vector taken by the company back in M1.
Shanling M1, of course, was itself a breakthrough model in the company’s portfolio. Of course, he was a good and M2 with M3, but “small” player has shown tremendous potential developers, who managed to combine compact dimensions with easy controls. It is not surprising that the model became a hit, despite the relatively high price. The company understood perfectly where you need to move on, and have updated their previous “budget” model M2 by performing it in a similar style: maximum screen control “knob”, comfortable, versatile interfaces and so on. Pulled the amp and the battery (now not necessary so strongly to save on size). The price tag decided to retain approximately the same level that was at M2 (after all, the market relentlessly makes its own laws), to purchase Shanling M2s cost about $ 200.
Specifications
- DAC: AK4490EQ
- OH: MUSES8920 + TPA6120
- Output power: 130 mW @ 32Ω, 112 mW @ 300Ω
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (-0.2 dB)
- Distortion: <0,003%
- The ratio signal-to-noise ratio: ≥108 dB
- Dynamic range: ≥108 dB
- Output impedance: 4,8 Ω
- Channel separation: 75 dB @ 32Ω
- Battery: 1800 mAh, Li
- Operating time with one charge: >9 hours
- Memory card: MicroSD up to 256 GB
- Bluetooth: 4.0 with APT-X
- USB: USB-C support USB OTG, USB Audio (supporting Native DSD and DoP D2P), USB DAC (up to 32 bit/192 kHz)
- Format support: ISO, DSF, DFF, DTS, APE, FLAC, ALAC, WMA, AAC, OGG, MP3, WAV, AIFF
- Maximum supported resolution: 32 bits 384kHz, DSD256
- Screen: 3″, 480 × 800
- Dimensions: 53 mm × 14.5 mm × 85,6 mm
- Weight: ~100 g
Packing and delivery
At the Shanling did not bother with box used and tested on M1 the decision — heavy black cardboard with silver inlay depicting the outline of the player. Inside, of course, is M2s, instruction and garantinis, a pair of protective films and a USB C cable. To add to the set of “extra everything”, the developers put in the box USB card reader and plug to 3.5 mm socket.
By the way, the M2s have good covers, but they will have to buy separately, fortunately they are very inexpensive.
Design and management
The appearance is exactly what will motivate potential buyers the most. The M2s looks very impressive — body frame made of aluminum, front and rear panel closed 2.5 D-glass, almost the entire front panel is occupied only by the screen, in General in front of us, without false modesty, one of the most stylish players in the history of these devices. At the moment, M2s is available in two colors — black and blue, but I think adding other options in the offing. Of course, the build quality of the Shanling at traditionally happy, no flaws, scratches, or, say, play close to here and there.
Controls not much. On the left side there are three buttons to control playback, MicroSD card slot and reset hole (use has never had). On the top face expected is a power button and a lock on the bottom — USB-C connector and a headphone output (switchable via menu in the mode line output). USB-C it’s very versatile: charge, access to the memory card, USB DAC, audio output-digital and even reading USB OTG flash drives — this is what will please the owner of M2s. Unlike the nearest competitor Cayin N3, there is not concluded the figures on the coax, but, hand on heart, who is he really needed?
On the right side is the control wheel, it is rotated to navigate through menus and pressed to confirm the selection, under it was placed the button back. And that’s what the wheel is a major stumbling block. First, its encoder is not, the sensitivity is higher than it should be, and so sometimes the rotation on a single click sometimes leads to the displacement of more than one item. Secondly, the orientation of the wheel slightly complicates the rotation with one finger, a variant of M1 Shanling still more comfortable (at least in my hand). Of course, it’s not the biggest problem, and little accustomed to manage the M2s still a bit better than the Cayin N3, but the feeling of disappointment from the fact that the ideal was so close, but still unattainable, is still present. Also slightly mixed feelings leaves the screen: on the one hand — great resolution and color reproduction, large diagonal. On the other hand, in the sun a lot of supply on brightness and touch control there is clearly benefit to ergonomics. In addition, sometimes it seems that Shanling is not invented, how would they make use of the increased screen area, and she just “walks”, it is primarily noticeable on the playback screen.
The player menu continues the tradition started in the days of the first M2 (pardon the tautology), rather, the menu is the same, so the potential buyer will have to get used to the logic of management, it remained the same. Even a little maddening miscalculation, which adjust the volume only on the playback screen (Twister-one for volume, for navigation).
The first three menu options are strictly doing what is expected of them: to return to the playback screen (similar to the triggers and pressing the back button), browse the files by tags (there is everything from styles to a playlist) and view files by folders. The media library is updated quite quickly, is organized, everything is logical, so there’s no questions.
Playback settings include everything related to sound volume limit, remembering position, playback without pause, EQ, gain, equalization volume, balance, playback and skip to the next folder when playing. System settings keep all options that were not included in the previous section. Here you will find options library upgrade, Bluetooth, timers, sleep and screen brightness, the choice of topics, update firmware and everything else you expect from a player.
On the playback screen, according to tradition, there is an additional submenu called by long pressing on a knob, where you can delete a track, add it to your favorites, to select the playback mode, etc.
One of the main features of the player is its versatility. Multi-functional USB connector and the presence of Bluetooth working on the reception and transmission allow you to use many unusual scenarios: digital transport streaming music from your smartphone to the player and more.
Work time from a single charge was around 9 hours and 15 minutes (MEE Audio P1 in the role of load, volume 50, Gain low, FLAC with a resolution of 44.1/16). Of course, this is not the Cayin N3, but still very good.
By the way, the player has already made a lightweight firmware, with repackaged graphics and fonts that had a beneficial impact on speed. Interested fans of the experiments at your own risk can inquire here. And another funny observation while I was writing this review: Shanling appeared the new beta version FOR Hibylink (namely Hiby write software for M2s), judging by the description, it will allow you to control the player from a smartphone, so we are waiting for “a new era of convenience” in the world of portable sound.
Sound
To listen to the device used the following headphones: iBasso IT03, 99 Meze Classics, Audio Zenith PMx2, Noble Kaiser Encore, Campfire Audio Andromeda, 64 Audio U12, HUM Pristine and others.
In the presentation of the Shanling player tried to achieve two goals at once: to take the sound from the previous generation M2 and make it less vintage, adjusting the basic “features” because they were not to just make a good sound, but to exceed this parameter M1. Turned out to be quite interesting. This time I won’t many times to repeat the obvious about the price range, I think it is clear that for a player in this segment expect some flaws in the sound — quite normal, quite expected no serious problems in the sound of the M2s no.
The bass has a slight emphasis in the midbass region, the speed of the medium typical of the initial price range, NCH is there not crazy fast, but their speed is sufficient for the most complex compositions. Deep bass is present, but it partly lacks of structure and control, but it’s still better than the complete absence of this range. LF here a well build texture and have a pleasant solidity.
Slightly accented midrange, they will appeal to those who like smooth music the middle, often mistakenly attributed to chip 4490 series. Due to the emphasis on mid-range player well the vocals and the emotional component of the composition, slightly losing in microdialysate (although personal experience of the past years have convinced me that the harsh and sterile “VHR data from” the sound is not what one should aspire at any cost). Imaginary scene average in both directions, the player separates good plans in depth and carries the tools in width, building a very credible space.
The high-frequency range M2s is capricious, with some bright headphones it is possible to get some brute force, which does not please Vchalov. However, careful selection of headphone enables this problem to face. Resolution treble higher, but the attacks practiced good (attenuation is slightly worse, but fine, too).
Traditionally, some quick thoughts on the comparison of the player with similar models.
Cayin N3. Losing the ergonomics, Cayin also wins in the sound, better defined bass (especially deep), better control of the treble and results in a more “serious” sound, however, is the difference great just will not work.
Shanling M1. The case, when clearly audible, as the sound is sacrificed to the compact size. The M2s are better in terms of weight to the bass, more detailed midrange and better for working on HF in General, doing whatever more powerful solutions.
Shanling M2. Owners of previous generation iPods, the company probably will be all the more disappointed, a little bit vintage signature feeder with smoothed treble is almost nothing left, M2s brighter, more detailed and partly even aggressive.
xDuoo X10. Overall, offers a fairly similar transmission of SCH, NCH X10 just collected, but HF wins M2s, as he has in this range is still smaller features, which should be carefully closed eyes.
Fiio X3-2. In many ways, the Shanling players are hostages of design and related issues. Classy case and high quality screen dictate increased relative to its competitors a price that allows you to buy a player better sound, albeit with easier usability. It is thus X3-2 from Fiio is a smoother, more natural flow, but, of course, not such a spectacular appearance.
Hidizs ‘ AP100. Perhaps the most “long-playing” the star in the sky portable audio. Of course, it is quite large, and not as glamorous as modern models, but by the sound of it clearly bypasses M2s, featuring more organic and natural flow throughout the range with some emphasis in a dark sound.
Compatibility
Shanling M2s has a fairly high output impedance, which may affect the supply of some hybrid and megadriver reinforcement models, so picking up the headphones for him, try to avoid low-impedance models (except dynamic, of course), but megadriver usually not affected by source impedance. For background noise M2s slightly better than the Cayin N3, but very sensitive IEM, it will still be heard, fortunately, such models are not many. The power capacity of the player is enough for any IEM and most of the “Panoramio” will be the player under force.
Stylistically player versatile enough even for styles with artificial pumping of the WOOFER it will not be the best choice. Sensitivity to the quality of the recording I would rate scores 7 out of 10.
According to tradition — a few tracks as example
Roger Waters — It’s a Miracle. About the work of fresh waters, I wrote in the previous review (and again and again return to it, it’s worth it), and now back to solo most significant milestone of the past — “Amused to Death”. On this track, Roger shows us a wonderful contrast between the calm, peaceful music and a very sarcastic text, which has got “on nuts” everyone, from doctors to Lloyd Webber (and did not have to steal from Pink Floyd tune). In General, the essence of what we love of this powerful man. With the Shanling M2s get to enjoy the musical part (which is one code).
Iced Earth — Clear The Way (December 13th, 1862). Only a few days left until the release of the new album classics heavy plant, received megapafosnyh title Incorruptible. Judging by this track, “ISA” remain true to its traditions — a long epic, the Civil war in the United States (or rather the battle of FREDERICKSBURG), dray reefs, beautiful retreat — all the things that we love company. Shanling M2s shows his best side, playing a driving and energetic.
Mogwai – Coolverine. Somehow never presented itself under the hands of this team, and really for nothing. Some of the apologists of the genre post-rock was not in vain his legendary status. Complex, multi-layered melodies reminiscent of a dream in a hot summer’s day, fell immediately and did not let go. Judging by this track from their album “Every Country’s Sun”, scheduled for release September 1, the group is confidently moving towards art rock, flavoring it with his trademark shoegazing. Complex, multi-layered track that benefits from M2s accented midrange, allowing you to enjoy separate batches for each instrument without losing musicality.
Insights
Very interesting player, immediately birth your design, surprising breadth of capability and versatility functions. Not far behind, of course, and sound, quite able to compete with other solutions in this segment. And for me personally, especially interesting is the future integration with Hibylink, I hope to see a decent budget rival solutions from A&K.
A review of the Shanling player M2s on clothes met
Pavel Dmitriev