Shanling’s most popular the Product, the M0 has received more than just a face lift. When the original M0 was first released it occupied the space left behind the iPod Nano and was an affordable, portable, real Hi-Fi Player loved by many. It’s finally had the revamp it deserves and is now known as the M0 Pro. Available via Hifiheadphones today!
Features
Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Audio Wireless certified
Equipped with two ESS ES9219C DAC chips
Bluetooth 5.0 with bi-directional signal transmission
A very interesting new feature on M0 Pro is the addition of a second DAC/AMP chip. This new chip allows for balanced output with better measurements, greater sound and higher power output. To utilize that balanced output, while keeping the overall size of M0 Pro same as its predecessor, Shanling put their thinking caps on and have invented a brand-new type of 3.5mm connector altogether. This new connector combines both single-ended and balanced connections into one. It works perfectly with all standard single-ended 3.5mm connectors, while allowing for a proper balanced connection through their new, special 5-pin 3.5mm to 4.4mm adapter.
M0 Pro 4.4mm Balanced Adapter
Designed for on the go, wherever you go
Still tiny, the M0 Pro follows closely its predecessor’s footsteps. But this time they managed to squeeze in a second DAC/Amp chip as well as upgrading the Bluetooth capabilities. This means that the M0 Pro will be able to provide improved sound quality and provide increased output power. Making Shanlings (potentially the worlds) most portable player sounds even better for the everyday listener and ensures solid connectivity with wireless devices.
The Shanling M8 has been announced, and it looks to be a very impressive portable audio solution. With all of the latest specs and packed with features, the Shanling M8 is definitely a DAP to look out for.
The M8 adopts a brand new system of interchangeable headphone sockets, developed by Shanling themselves. This system makes it possible to provide all the needed connection standards, while keeping cleaner looks and a better optimized internal design. Four different options are available and come supplied with the M8 – 2.5, 3.5, 4.4 and 3.5 pro.
With a massive 7000 mAh battery, the M8 can manage up to 14 hours of continuous playback once fully charged. The M8 also comes with a bigger, brighter and sharper screen than their previous models – for an even better user experience in all conditions.
The analogue circuit of the Shanling M8 was designed around a pair of high-performing AKM flagship DACs, with in house developed I/V conversion stage and fully balanced amplifier. Offering reference class performance, while keeping to Shanling’s smooth, pleasing and slightly warm sound.
Qualcomm’s Bluetooth 5.0 chipset assures stable connection and low latency. And the best sound quality is achieved thanks to the support of advanced Bluetooth Codecs.
The MW200 is a neckband Bluetooth cable that allows you to convert your MMCX earphones into a Bluetooth set. It’s a flexible rubber neckband with solid plastic end parts that house the electronics and controls, these are finished with a tempered glass faceplate. It’s a well built, and good looking neckband that is also comfortable in use. The cable sections I feel are a little too long though, and could have about 3-4cm cut off without hindering the fit. The cable section has moulded ear hooks so it is for use with earphones that fit over-ear rather than straight down.
Feature wise you get full controls on the left side of the MW200, with volume controls (these are separate from the sources volume), play/pause and on/off. You can also use the play/pause to skip tracks, and there is a microphone on the unit for calls. The MW200 supports all the latest Bluetooth codecs for the highest quality Bluetooth playback (Aptx and LDAC etc…). The MW200 paired easily and the range seems very good, battery life is also great at up to 11hrs in LDAC mode and 14 in SBC. There is plenty of volume to power most IEM’s currently on the market too.
Sound
I’ve mainly been using the MW200 with Final’s flagship IEM the A8000, because they really are ruthlessly revealing of the source material and also enjoy a bit of power behind them. I’m glad to report that the MW200 doesn’t have any problems with noise, and there isn’t any noticeable hiss when using it. I will mention that I have also been using it with LDAC from my Pixel 3a using Qobuz streaming.
The MW200 has good power and volume, there is plenty of detail and an overall crisp and clean sound. Of course, Bluetooth is still limited and there was a drop in resolution over playing the A8000 out of a high-end DAP. However when out and about this drop is not as noticeable as when critically listening, and the MW200 does a truly great job at decoding and amplifying the signal. I was really testing the limits of the MW200 by using it with the A8000, but pair it with something a bit more affordable like the Oriveti OH300 and you get a superb sounding wireless setup for under £500. Much better than any current wireless offering on the market at least.
The MW200 really doesn’t impart much of it’s own sound on to the IEM’s of choice, which is great in my opinion, you can get the Shanling app though which includes an EQ. This EQ does not work when using LDAC codec though. If you are used to using your IEM’s with an excellent source, please remember there will be slightly lower resolution, mostly in the treble region, again this is more a limitation of Bluetooth and not necessarily the MW200’s fault.
Conclusion
There are not a lot of good solutions for making wired IEM’s wireless, at least not with good quality anyway. The MW200 is excellent when it comes to the sound and functionality, it is also comfortable. The only drawback I see if the length of cable that goes to your ear, it is just a little too long. If you have good IEM’s and want a convenient solution for portable use, the MW200 comes highly recommended, with only a slight dip in sound quality over wired use.
Simply put, every device that allows you to plug in headphones has an amp built in. The amp takes the audio signal and boosts it, allowing us to hear sound through the headphones. Amps don’t only boost volume; they can add and improve qualities like soundstage and separation. Adding an amp to a setup can also bring extra warmth or clarity. This all depends on the quality of the amp and how it has been designed. The reality is that most people won’t need an external headphone amp. That’s not to say that they wouldn’t benefit from one, though. Smartphones are now a very common music source, and with the technology getting better and better, they do a decent job of delivering good quality sound to most portable headphones and earphones. There are plenty of headphones designed to be used with mobile phones and other low powered portable devices. These headphones generally have a low impedance of up to 32ohm, and high sensitivity of around 100db, so they are very easy to drive and are more likely to go louder. Remember though: not only do amps add extra power but they can also improve the quality of the sound. So, once you start looking at higher quality headphones, improving your amp will start to make more sense as you will want to get the most out of them. No matter how good your headphones are, the sound quality will be limited by how good the amp is.
How to choose a headphone amp
If you’ve decided to go for a headphone amp, you now need to decide which one to go for. There are many to choose from, and they go for anything between £20 to £2000 and more. Amps can be split into two main groups: portable and desktop. If you want to add some power to your phone or laptop, then you will want to look for a portable amp. These amps can be charged, and will run off batteries, making them ideal for using on the move. They are also small in size, and there are some out there (like the Shanling UP4) which can connect to the source wirelessly using Bluetooth.
If you only use your headphones at home, or intend to use headphones that are particularly hard to drive, then you will probably want to go for a desktop amp as they are generally more powerful. Not only are they more powerful, they also tend to have a larger amount of inputs and outputs, making them very versatile. They will need to be plugged it at all times, so will need a power socket to work. As amps can bring their own character to the overall sound quality, it’s worth making sure you choose wisely and pick an amp that will compliment your headphones. For example, if your headphones have a warm or bassy sound then it’s a good idea to go for a neutral or bright sounding amp. This also works the other way around; a warm sounding amp will complement bright headphones and help to balance the sound out.
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If you have any questions about choosing the right amplifier then please feel free to comment below! We’ll be happy to offer advice on this.
Our pick of the 10 best digital audio players for all budgets and uses
We know how important it is to find the right player; whether it is for your mp3 collection, hi-res music or streaming apps such as Tidal or Spotify.
Whether you call them DAPs, players, music players, portable players, mp3 players or anything else, this is the post for you. We’ve gathered our picks for the best digital audio players that you can buy!
If you fancy getting better sound on the move, but don’t want to add a large device to your setup – the Shanling M0 could be just what you’re looking for. This tiny player delivers top quality Hi-Res audio and can be used in two different ways. The SD card slot allows you to store your own library of tunes, from mp3 to DSD – it can handle it all. The M0 can also act as a Bluetooth amp and DAC for your headphones. So, if you prefer using Spotify or Tidal on your phone, then wirelessly connect to the M0 to boost the audio quality while using an interface you are comfortable with.
Stepping up the game, Shanling UP4 builds on its acclaimed predecessor Bluetooth headphone amp UP2 with balanced output for better sound and more power. All the features of UP2 have been retained and improved upon in the UP4 extracting the best possible sound and listening experience from your pocket. Powerful, wireless high-resolution audio that supports all major codecs in a fully portable design.
Shanling Q1 packs abundant audio performance into pocket-sized magnitude with this newest addition to their portable audio player range. Compelling features of the Q1 include aptX Bluetooth, lossless file playback and headphone amplifier and DAC functionality. Shanling Q1 is a highly advanced digital audio player with a multitude of features to make portable listening in high-fidelity effortless.
Shanling’s impressive M2x is our choice for under £200. The impressive build quality and easy to use software makes the M2x an enjoyable experience. Sound quality is well balanced and clean, with superb detail retrieval. Then the addition of Tidal streaming via the app, opens up the listening possibilities.
Once again FiiO have taken the hailed X5 to the drawing board and upgraded key elements and design features to create the X5 3rd Gen digital audio player. Now equipped with two top-tier DAC chips, one for each channel. Part of a new generation of high-quality 32-bit DACs, they are able to supports all PCM and DSD audio formats with stunning accuracy and detail.
New realms of high-resolution portable listening are within reach with the iBasso Audio DX150 digital audio player. Armed with advanced dual USB chipset and driver, the DX150 audio player is a talented device that can act as a stand-alone high-performance USB DAC. Running on Android OS optimised for audio, the DX150 avoids the usual sample rate limitation and allows for installation of third-party applications.
Shanling has long flexed its muscles in the portable audio player scene, and M6, the latest digital audio player offering takes its place at the top of Shanling’s Hi-Res audio player line-up. M6 is the first Shanling audio player to run Android OS and is armed with Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Wireless Audio certification taking your audio to the next level.
A&norma sets the standard of Hi-Fi audio for novice listeners. The SR15, the first model of A&norma, is the beginning point of the Hi-Fi Audio experience that allows you to enjoy the philosophy and technologies of Astell&Kern, which is accoladed by audiophiles around the world. The A&norma SR15 uses two audio DAC chips for a Dual-DAC setup. These chips are known for their use in Home Hi-Fi systems which offer greater presence compared to the inferior DAC chips designed for mobile devices.
A step up from the successful M6 digital audio player, Shanling introduces the upgraded M6 Pro with improved design and audio elements. This new version has more power, more connections and more sleek design. Armed with Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Wireless Audio certification the M6 Pro audio player takes its place at the top of Shanling’s Hi-Res audio player line-up.
KANN CUBE is the second model of the KANN line, which focuses on high fidelity with powerful output and low noise. The newly designed powerful amplifier and audio circuitry have been strategically implemented to offer a very low noise floor, even with its massive power output, making it an Audio Powerhouse capable of driving the most power-hungry headphones.
Our pick of the 8 Best Digital Audio Players for all budgets and uses:
We know how important it is to find the right player; whether it is for your mp3 collection, hi-res music or streaming apps such as Tidal or Spotify.
Whether you call them DAPs, players, music players, portable players, mp3 players or anything else, this is the post for you. We’ve gathered our picks for the best digital audio players that you can buy!
BEST DAP UNDER £100
1. Shanling M0 – £99
Shanling M0
If you fancy getting better sound on the move, but don’t want to add a large device to your setup – the Shanling M0 could be just what you’re looking for. This tiny player delivers top quality Hi-Res audio and can be used in two different ways. The SD card slot allows you to store your own library of tunes, from mp3 to DSD – it can handle it all. The M0 can also act as a Bluetooth amp and DAC for your headphones. So, if you prefer using Spotify or Tidal on your phone, then wirelessly connect to the M0 to boost the audio quality while using an interface you are comfortable with.
Shanling’s impressive M2x is our choice for under £200. The impressive build quality and easy to use software makes the M2x an enjoyable experience. Sound quality is well balanced and clean, with superb detail retrieval. Then the addition of Tidal streaming via the app, opens up the listening possibilities.
The Cowon Plenue D2 may seem simple to look at, this is certainly not the case though. Cowon are very well known and admired for the sound quality of their players. Bringing life and energy to music, as well as impressive customisation with their well developed EQs. The Plenue D2 is solid and very easy to use, with impressive battery life giving up to 30 hours of HD audio playback.
A new addition to the iBasso family, the DX160 sports an updated design to previous models and the addition of a 4.4mm balanced headphone output. The large touch screen is very clear, with vibrant colours and responsive touch control. As for sound, the DX160 provides a well balanced and organic sound with an emotional quality to it.
5. FiiO M11 – £449.99
FiiO M11
FiiO have really upped their game with the release of the M11. The impressively designed and built player houses some impressive technology. Dual AKM DAC chips and their custom made op-amp helps make the most of the aptX HD, LDAC and LHDC compatibility. Then the flexible headphone connectivity brings 2.5, 4.4 and 3.5mm ports to accommodate all popular jack sizes.
Shanling has long flexed its muscles in the portable audio player scene, and M6, the latest digital audio player offering takes its place at the top of Shanling’s Hi-Res audio player line-up. M6 is the first Shanling audio player to run Android OS and is armed with Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Wireless Audio certification taking your audio to the next level.
We feel that the iBasso DX220 hits the ultimate price and performance point in the higher end of the digital audio player market. The DX220 is superbly built, with solid software and an easy to use design. The dual Sabre DAC chips help to achieve a clean and neutral sound, and the replaceable amp modules provide a level of customisation that is not common at this level.
Astell & Kern were not sure whether it was possible to come up with a product that is different from the SP1000 while delivering the same sound quality, but they decided to take up the challenge so that more people could experience their products’ fidelity. There were many trials and tribulations in making the SP1000, A&K’s best product, smaller. They were determined to not compromise sound quality in the process, and ultimately developed the second A&ultima product, the SP1000M.
Our pick of the Best DAC and Headphone Amplifier for all budgets and uses:
Not to be overlooked, a good quality DAC and amp can do wonders to any setup. We have seen huge growth in interest towards DACs and amps, so it makes sense that we put together our favourite headphone amplifiers and DACs to help make that decision easier.
Whether you want to use them with your TV, computer, laptop, smartphone or hifi system. We’ve gathered our picks for the best DACs and headphone amplifiers that you can buy!
BEST DAC / AMP UNDER £100
1. Shanling UP2 – £79.99
Shanling UP2
The Shanling UP2 is the perfect way to bring added power and audio quality to your smartphone, tablet or computer. Using Bluetooth, the UP2 will connect wirelessly to your phone – or any Bluetooth compatible audio device – and thanks to the on board dedicated headphone amplifier and high quality Sabre DAC chip – you’ll be able to get high fidelity audio wherever you go.
JDS Labs has mastered the art of making high quality amplifiers and DACs at affordable prices – and the Atom is their most impressive yet. For just over £100, the Atom desktop headphone amplifier will drive any headphone you throw at it and will bring improved soundstage, depth and dynamics to your setup. All in a neat and tidy desktop design.
This one’s for the purists out there. On the outside, the Periodic Audio Ni seems like a very simple and basic headphone amplifier – plug it into your source and you’ll soon see that it most definitely isn’t simple or basic. This amp brings added power, punch and improved dynamics to whichever device it gets used with. Those that really appreciate good sound will love the Nickel.
The xDSD from iFi Audio is a portable amplifier and DAC that can connect to your audio source wirelessly. So if you like to use your phone, but want to plug in some high quality headphones – then the xDSD will allow you to get the most from them, without adding more cables. The xDSD will take over the amp and DAC roles, so you will know that you’re getting the best sound no matter the source device.
If it is a desktop option you need, then the JDS Labs Element II will not only bring an audio upgrade – it will look great too. Beautifully designed with a simple yet striking look – the Element II will fit into any setup. Historically, JDS Labs has been known for their functional design and great sound – now with the Element II, they have shown that they can make great looking equipment too.
BEST DAC / AMP UNDER £1000
6. iFi Audio Micro iDSD BL – £599
iFi Audio Micro iDSD BL
For the ultimate amp and DAC solution, look no further. The 2 Burr-Brown DAC chips provide a solid foundation for the custom op-amps, which help to deliver an impressive amount of fidelity and power. Using sensitive IEMs? This amp/DAC handles these superbly, with no noise or distortion. Whether used on a desktop or on the move – the iFi Audio Micro iDSD BL does it all… really well.
The M2x follows in the footsteps of most other Shanling products, a curved body with tempered glass on the back and the touchscreen on the front. The buttons on the side control FF/REW/Play-Pause and the wheel on the other side functions as a volume control and power button. On the bottom you have the 3.5mm output, 2.5mm balanced output and USB-C connector. Overall the M2x is a small, solid and well-designed player that feels great in the hand.
The mix of tempered glass and aluminium make the M2x feel solid and well build, although with all that glass it is advisable to get a case for it. All the sockets are tight and I cannot find a single issue with the build quality.
Features:
The M2x is first and foremost a portable player that supports high-res audio, PCM up to 32bit/384kHz and DSD up to DSD256. The M2x like its siblings, relies on external storage in the form of a single MicroSD card slot.
The M2x has Bluetooth with all the latest high-quality codecs including AptX and LDAC, along with AAC and SBC, it can also be used as a Bluetooth receiver should you wish to use it as a DAC/Amp between your phone and your wired earphones.
It can be used as an external DAC when plugged into a computer, it can also output digital audio via its USB-C port allowing it to be used as a digital transport.
You have WiFi for OTA updates along with Tidal online support, sadly there is no Tidal Offline support like on the M5s.
The touchscreen is easy to use and responsive, with all the usual options like customisable EQ, High/Low gain, shuffle/repeat mode. You also have line-out mode when you want to connect it to an external amplifier. Battery life is around 8-10.5 hours depending on the volume and output you are using.
One of the best things about the UI is the fact you can select what icons you want, and which you want to hide. This makes it easy to customise to your tastes, and makes it easy to find Album/Artist/Tracks etc…
Sound:
The M2x is exceptionally clean with virtually no hiss even with sensitive in-ears like the Andromeda. The low gain setting should be more than enough for most in-ears and sensitive over ears, yet in high gain the M2x does a very respectable job at driving harder to drive loads like the Sennheiser HD6XX series. Shanling have done an excellent job at implementing the AK4490 with a complementary amp circuit to bring out a natural and clean sound that really does sound better than its price would suggest.
Shanling may have packed the M2x full of features, but plug a pair of headphones in and you can hear that they have not forgotten about the sound quality, with excellent extension on both ends, plenty of resolution and layering and a neutral sound stage. It doesn’t have the hyper revealing nature of some top end players, yet it does not sound veiled or congested like some of the lower priced models can.
The M2x is honest, it presents the music in a neutral, detailed yet ultimately fairly neutral way that is enjoyable without becoming fatiguing. You can change the EQ if you wish to alter the sound, along with changing the digital filter which will bring about very subtle changes in the sound.
Conclusion:
For £199 the M2x is pretty much the perfect portable player for general daily use, it lacks the streaming capabilities of more expensive devices but it has a neutral and detailed sound backed up by a powerful internal amplifier and clean background. There is a lot of functionality, yet the sound quality has not been forgotten, it really is an impressive little DAP.
Well what can I say, Shanling know how to make a great looking product and the UP2 is no different. Tempered glass in the front and back with subtle branding and a machined aluminium shell and volume knob/button. On the bottom you have a single USB-C port for charging and DAC duties, on the top you have the headphone socket and small hole where the internal microphone is located. It is sleek, slim and just looks great in person.
Build quality is great, the tempered glass should hold up well over time, along with the main aluminium body feeling strong. Having a USB-C connector is excellent as most new devices have now moved over to this connector. I really cannot fault the UP2 in terms of build.
Features:
Well the UP2 is first and foremost a Bluetooth receiver, it supports all the latest codecs too including LDAC and AptxHD. This really does make a difference when compared to devices that only support SBC and AAC.
The UP2 can also be used as a USB DAC with a PC and does not require drivers to work. The internal headphone amp is powerful enough for most IEM’s and easy to drive headphones.
You can quite easily control the music via the UP2, the volume wheel can be pressed in to play/pause, double click to skip a track forwards, and triple to skip back. You can pick up phone calls and the UP2 has a built-in microphone for that duty. The UP2 has around 11hrs battery life on SBC, when using LDAC or Aptx it is slightly lower.
Sound:
The UP2 is an excellent sounding Bluetooth receiver, using a separate Bluetooth receiver and DAC chip means you really do get high quality Bluetooth audio. I’ve been using the UP2 with some Campfire Audio Andromedas and there is absolutely zero background hiss, match that with the low output impedance and you have an impressive wireless setup. The UP2 doesn’t really have much of a sound signature of its own, being neutral and detailed depending on what you pair it with.
With LDAC playing it’s getting harder and harder to tell between Bluetooth and CD quality wired from a DAP (of course you have to be playing CD quality over Bluetooth for LDAC to do its magic). No longer do we have to put up with mushy highs, and one tone bass notes over Bluetooth, now we can have excellent dynamics and detail retrieval, it is making me rethink the whole Bluetooth thing, and that’s a £79 product paired with a £1049 pair of earphones.
Of course, there is still an argument to have a dedicated DAP, with a better amplifier and better components, but usually at a much higher cost. For daily use however the Shanling is perfect, the difference in sound quality really isn’t that big and one that is easy to live with if you value convenience. Yes the UP2 + earphones isn’t as slick as a pair of true wireless earphones but the sound quality is superior to all true wireless models we have tested, along with having better battery life.
Conclusion:
Well the UP2 really is a great little device, the sound quality when paired with a device that can transmit LDAC or Aptx HD really is closing the gap between wireless and wired, with no substantial drop in audio quality. The UP2 is the perfect on-the-go partner for a pair of quality earphones or easy to drive headphones, I forgot to add that the UP2 is clean and neutral sounding to boot.
The ME500 are shiny, very shiny at that with a polished housing and tempered glass faceplates. They stand out and are not the most low-key IEM’s out there, but they do look great in person and feel substantial too. The cable is a made of SPC OFC and lokos great, overall the ME500 do stand out but in a good way.
Build quality is superb, the brass housings have good weight to them and are very well finished. The cable feels strong and have good strain relief all round, the MMCX connectors are nice and tight and I cannot find any issues with the build of the ME500.
Comfort and Isolation:
The ME500’s are pretty small but slightly heavy, luckily once you find the right tips they fit snug in your ear and stay securely fitted during use. The comfort is great and they can be worn for long periods of time.
Isolation is really good, perfect for commuting and daily use. The vent for the dynamic driver doesn’t seem to affect the isolation on the ME500 much.
Sound:
Bass: The ME500’s bass is tight yet articulate with great transient response. They have tuned the dynamic driver to fit with the snappier response of the BA drivers. This is a controlled and taught response down low, but one that digs down into the sub-bass when required. I have found these to play best with slightly slower instrumental tracks where they fill out nicely. Even though they have the speed to keep up with quick and busy tracks, they sometimes sound a little too flat. The ME500 is not for those who crave warmth and body, they are for those looking for clarity and control.
Midrange: Here is where the clarity shines through with great openness and an airy presentation. Both male and female vocals sound excellent without any major dips or peaks, there is plenty of energy and detail retrieval is superb. The midrange is well layered and the upper midrange doesn’t suffer from sibilance issues. I really like the presentation of female vocals on the ME500, they just sound very natural and effortless. Electric guitars have really power and energy yet the layering means nothing becomes congested. The tonality is a little on the cooler side, but the midrange is never recessed.
Treble: These will appeal to treble heads a bit; the overall sound is borderline bright and the highs can become a little overwhelming on certain tracks. They are present in full force, luckily the midrange and bass prevent them from sounding too thin. During slower tracks that are well recorded the ME500’s present an airy and incredibly detailed top end, but put on anything a bit heavier that isn’t as well mastered and they can become a little too hot, bordering on harsh. So play them good quality recordings and you’ll be greeted with an incredible upper end response, but anything that is recorded a little hot could be troublesome without EQ.
Soundstaging is excellent, a nice wide stage with pinpoint accuracy, great separation and layering all creates a very holographic presentation.
Conclusion:
The ME500 are very transparent and energetic with a snappy sound that has great control. However, they are also ruthless and will not hold back when you play some poorly mastered music. The top end can be borderline harsh however foam tips and EQ are very handy if you find them a little overenthusiastic up top. Or you could pair them with a cable like the Effect Audio Ares II+ to bring out a little more body.
Greetings, headphone enthusiasts! Is there anything better than cracking open a fresh new bit of audio kit? We propose that there is not.
That’s why we’re gathering all our new unboxing videos under one roof, for those times when you just want to curl up with a good bit of vicarious audio product consumption.
Let us know if you have a suggestion for a future unboxing! We want to open everything we can get our grubby hands on.
We’re running a giveaway to coincide with the release of our new video on hi res audio! To enter, watch our giveaway videoand make sure you’re subscribed to the Hifiheadphones YouTube channel. Then, follow the instructions in the video. Best of luck!
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The ME100 is Shanling’s first step into the world of earphones. Their history goes back a long way, starting off making high-end hifi equipment and then more recently becoming very well known for their portable music players. Now they’ve decided to apply their years of experience to the earphone market.
BUILD
It’s clear to see that Shanling mean business with the ME100. The housings are made using aluminium with a tempered glass outer coating. The aluminium has a matt black finish, which is a nice contrast to the glossy finish of the tempered glass. giving the earphones a very stylish look and feeling like they are built to last. Inside the housing is a 10mm dynamic driver. The drivers have been developed by Shanling themselves, with a nanocomposite diaphragm and a lightweight voice coil, providing more control and speaker efficiency.
COMFORT
Due to the size, weight and finish of the housings, comfort is very good with the ME100. They fit with the cable going over the ear: a typical in-ear monitor design. This provides a secure fit as well as deep insertion into the ear canal which helps with the sound performance and isolation. You also get a range of different eartips, with silicone and foam options. There’s a range of different sized silicone tips; the foam tips are supplied in medium size only. The large range of tips help to ensure that you’re getting a good seal, which is extremely important. I recommend you try all of the tips to make sure you are getting the most from the earphones, as a poor seal will result in a lack of bass and a tinny sound, which nobody wants.
FEATURES
Shanling haven’t scrimped when it comes to the accessories. The replacement cable is made using high purity oxygen free copper, with 8 wires all made up of 18 conductors each. The cable is coated in a TPE material which helps reduce microphonics, meaning cable noise is kept to a minimum. You also get a hard carry case which looks very posh. it’s a shame there isn’t a smaller pouch as well as the case supplied is fairly large. Once you’ve found the best fitting eartips, isolation is decent with the ME100.
SPECS
At 16ohms, the ME100 is designed to be driven well by portable devices, and the 111dB sensitivity means that they can go nice and loud from a phone or laptop. Plug them into a high quality player or amplifier, and the ME100 brings even more in terms of dynamics and soundstage, showing just how well the ME100 has been designed and built.
SOUND QUALITY
Now for the sound quality! The ME100 has really impressed me here. Bass is full and deep with a really enjoyable warmth. The bass stays where it needs to. It re-enforces the midrange without getting in the way. Shanling have nailed the midrange. It’s clear and crisp with a musical tone that’s on the brighter side, so it’s not as rich sounding as some other models out there, yet they do work well with both male and female vocals. There’s a good amount of body there and for me, I experienced no fatigue or sibilance. Up top, the treble extends far and keeps things exciting. Soundstage is very impressive. There’s a lot of space with well defined separation and clear imaging going from left to right.
CONCLUSION
For just under £100, I think the Shanling ME100 is extremely competitive, if not a bit of a steal. There are millions of earphones out there for under £100, including models from big brands like Shure, SoundMAGIC, RHA, Beyerdynamic and more. I think you’d struggle to find another earphone at this price that has the same level of build, with a replaceable cable, and sound verging on audiophile quality. The ME100 isn’t going to please bass heads, or those who want Bluetooth (even though you could attach a Bluetooth cable to the ME100’s MMCX connectors). The Shanling ME100 is well worth considering. You may not have heard of the brand before, but don’t let that put you off. You’ll thank me for it.
The new M5s from Shanling has all the features you could need, yet it doesn’t cut corners when it comes to the sound quality.
Aesthetics, Build Quality and UI:
The M5s is a sleek looking DAP with well thought out placement of buttons and ports. The front panel is mainly filled by the touch screen; however, the screen doesn’t fill the whole panel, there is a space at the bottom that is blank. The rear panel is glass, the right-hand side has the volume knob/power button on it and the left side has playback controls and the microSD card slot. On the bottom you have the 3.5mm single-ended headphone out, 2.5mm TRRS balanced headphone output and the USB-C connector.
The overall build quality is excellent, but with all that glass I would advise you get a case and possibly a screen protector for the front. The main chassis is made out of aluminium, the buttons and sockets all feel sturdy and it has a reassuring weight to it.
The M5s uses Shanling’s own MTouch firmware which is super intuitive and easy to use. It is based around swiping certain directions to go back and forth between menus, you can customise the home screen and overall it is bug free and smooth in use. There are plenty of sound tuning options, digital filter/EQ/Gain etc… When you dig deep into the settings you can really set it up to how you want it to work, but even out of the box it is really easy to get used to. The now playing screen shows the album art along with the track title and artist, if you want to see the bit rate and other info you can click on the album art and scroll across to the detailed info. Overall the MTouch firmware is sleek, fast and easy to use.
Features:
The M5s has Bluetooth, with which is can be used as a transmitter or receiver, it supports LDAC/AptX/AAC. You can use it as a USB DAC, you can use the USB-C as USB Audio out into an external DAC making the M5s a transport only.
There is WiFi for DLNA, Airplay & OTA update for now, with more features possibly coming in the near future.
16 hours playback in single ended, 9 hours balanced is pretty good for a player of this calibre and price. There are a few more settings and features when you dig into the player, but the above should give you a brief overview of some of the key features.
Sound:
The M5s upon first listen sounds like any good DAP should, clean and detailed without any obvious colouration going on. When you spend a little more time with it you begin the discover that it has a hint of warmth to it with a fairly easy to listen to sound signature. The M5s is a really easy DAP to get on with during day to day life, it just kind of does its thing in a very easy and effortless way. There is no noticeable roll off, there is also no real colouration anywhere even if it does err slightly on the smoother side over a more analytical sound signature. There is no loss of detail, soundstaging and separation are excellent and the main thing that comes to mind is just natural. The M5s sounds natural, not strained, not trying to throw every little detail at you. It wants you to forget about it and listen to the music.
Power wise the M5s is really impressive, it has a pitch-black background with sensitive IEM’s and the low output impedance means it plays well with multi BA setups, yet the high gain setting means you will get enough volume and most likely power for all but the most demanding of headphones.
Conclusion:
The M5s is a great DAP for the price, packing tons of features into a solid and aesthetically pleasing device. The UI is snappy and responsive, the sound quality is neutral and balanced without being too analytical.
Audeze have created a superb all rounder in the Mobius. Whether music, films or gaming is your thing – the Audeze Mobius does it all extremely well. Inside the housings are planar magnetic drivers, providing sound quality that even the audiophiles out there will appreciate. Then the 3D emulation technology delivers a superb surround sound experience, perfect for watching films or playing Fortnite and thanks to the integrated head tracking – you’ll hear sound effects as if they’re really there.
The B&WPX is the ultimate portable headphone. With the latest aptX HD Bluetooth technology, wireless sound quality is of the highest level. Providing a very well balanced sound with tight bass – bass heads may want to look elsewhere – crystal clear clarity and superb soundstage. The PX also has adaptive noise cancelling and uses six microphones to help block out external sounds – allowing you to focus on the music. Along with the advanced technology – the PX has superb build quality and comfort – making them our go to recommendation for wireless headphones.
At under £40 – the SoundMAGIC P22BT Bluetooth headphone provides high quality at a low price. The design is sturdy and comfortable, with a lightweight foldable headband which is great for portable use. These headphones are easy to use with controls conveniently placed on the left earcup. The most impressive feature is the sound quality – audio is crisp and punchy with plenty of energy, making them a lot of fun to listen to.
SoundMAGIC seems to have nailed the under £50 earphone. If you’re looking for a wired earphone and want to keep the price down, then we believe that the E11C is the one. SoundMAGIC have gone for a mature design, and used a silver plated copper cable to deliver superb sound quality which will compete with earphones over £100. The E11C has plenty of energy and punch with a dynamic and well detailed sound. There is also a 3 button inline control and mic, which is fully compatible with Apple and Android smartphones.
Now, if you’re looking for an earphone with a more aggressive sound then the Flares Jet 2 could be the one. These earphones go loud, and they provide thumping bass and sharp clarity. The housings are made of aluminium and are built to last. There is also an in line single button remote to take calls and the cable itself is strong and tough. The design of the Jet 2 definitely stands out and the shape makes them very comfortable.
For those that appreciate their music a bit more and are happy to up their budget, Final’s E4000 is a superb place to start. Final have been in the audio game for a long time, and their E series shows us what they can do. The E4000 is the sweet spot for me – musical and well balanced sound quality that draws you in, great comfort and design and a nicely made replaceable cable – all for just over £100.
For something so small, the ShanlingM0 manages to pack in a load of features. Starting with the design, the M0 looks and feels great. The display is made by LG and is very crisp – and thanks to Shanling’s own MTouch software, the player is extremely easy to use. The sound from the M0 is clear with good bass-weight, punch and fine detail. Thanks to the on board EQ settings, you can add some warmth or sharpness to suit your taste. The M0 can pair with Bluetooth headphones, and the 2-way Bluetooth feature will allow you to connect to your phone to use the player as an external DAC/amp – very clever.
The NuForce BE Sport4 is widely regarded as the go to Bluetooth earphone – and we would agree. At just under £90, they combine good value with superb sound quality – the Graphene coated drivers deliver a crisp and punchy sound with plenty of clarity. The BE Sport4 is IPX5 water resistant and can provide up to 10 hours or battery life. And to top it off, you get 2 hours of charge in just 15 minutes thanks to their Fast Charge feature.
Whether you like to listen to your headphones at home using your computer, laptop or hifi system – the JDS LabsElement will breathe life into your setup. For a long time now, JDS Labs have been making high quality headphone amplifiers and DACs with a simple design and superb value. The Element shows that not only do they have the technical knowhow – they have a great eye for design too. With analogue RCA inputs and digital USB – the Element is extremely versatile and as expected, provides a clean, expressive and powerful sound.
Ever wondered if you could have a high quality headphone amplifier connect to your phone or laptop wirelessly? Well wonder no more. The iFi Audio xDSD is the perfect way for you to get the most from your headphones and chosen device – without adding more wires. Use your phone to listen to Spotify, your favourite podcast or play PUBG and let the xDSD wirelessly drive your headphones, giving them all the power they would need to deliver a balanced and dynamic sound.
