Greetings!
Today we are going to be checking out a compact but extremely feature rich little Digital Audio Player (DAP) from Shanling, the M1. Shanling isn't new to the audio world, releasing their first product in 1988. Their decades of expertise is readily apparent in the M1. It's a very versatile product that can act as a standalone DAP, amp, or even a Bluetooth receiver. Let's check it out in greater detail.
Disclaimer:
The M1 was initially sent to me as part of Shanling's M1 tour. Huge thanks to @joebloggs, @nmatheis, and Lily for the inclusion. There is no financial incentive for writing this review. The thoughts within are my own and do not represent Shanling or any other entity. Also keep in mind that I liked the M1 enough to purchase the review unit.
You can check out the M1 here on Shanling's site: http://www.shanling.com/Product/Detail?id=fe144c3b8eca414f9b1e0cdf0a135b38
My Gear and I:
I'm a 30 year old professional working for what is currently the largest luxury hotel chain on the planet. I have a background in Psychology which probably explains my somewhat dry writing style. My entry into the world of portable audio was due primarily to a lack of space for a full-sized stereo system during my university years, and truly began with the venerable JVC HA-FXT90. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread, reviews from other established reviewers, and thus being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own.
Fast forward a couple years and I'm thankful to have had the opportunity to write about products for wonderful companies like RHA, Accutone, ADVANCED, NarMoo, Brainwavz, Meze and many more. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because this is my hobby and I enjoy it. If my reviews can help guide someone to an earphone that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done and payment enough.
Specifications and Features:
Dimension: 60mm × 50mm × 12.8mm
- Net weight: about 60g
- Screen: 2.35 inches TFT HD screen
- DSD playback: DSD64, DSD128
- DAC: supported up to 192kHz--24bit
- Bluetooth: 4.0 with APT-X
- D/A converter: AK4452
- Amplifier: MAX97220
- Gain: high gain/low gain
- Supporting format: APE, FLAC, ALAC, WMA, AAC, OGG, MP3, WAV, AIFF, DSF, DIFF
- Sampling rate: 44.1kHz--192kHz
- Output: headphone output (3.5mm)
- Output power: 35mW @ 32ohm
- Frequency response: 20Hz--20kHz-0.5dB
- THD+N: 0.006%A-weighting, outputing 500mV
- SNR:>105dB(A-weighting)
- Dynamic range:>105dB
- Output impedance: 0.1Ω
- Channel separation:>70dB(32Ω,1kHz)
- Referenced clock jitter: 200 femtosecond
- External memory: supported up to 256G TF card
- Capacity: 950mAH lithium battery
- Playing hours: about 9-10 hours(3-4hours charging time)
- Supported OS: Windows XP, Windows 7, 8, 10 (32/64bit), MAC OS X10.7 and later versions
Unboxing and Accessories:
Shaning's subtle matte black packaging looks wonderful with a silver outline of the M1 on the front. Sliding off the lid reveals the M1 itself nestled into a felt-covered foam sheet. A small ribbon peeks out from beneath and is used to remove the M1. Lifting out the foam insert you find a small back cardboard box which contains the accessories;
- USB-c charging cable
- microSD card reader
- four screen protectors (2 front, 2 rear)
- warranty card
- Quick Reference guide
- instruction manual
Overall a nice little package. I especially appreciate the inclusion of multiple screen protectors.
Build Quality, Ergonomics, and UI:
The Shanling M1 is a very solidly built little device with a front glass panel and plastic rear panel, ringed by a durable aluminum shell. Let's put some emphasis on little. At only 60mm × 50mm × 12.8mm in size the M5 is pretty easily dwarfed by the palm of my hand. It's not much larger than the SanDisk Sansa Clip, pretty amazing considering the extensive feature list and functionality.
Other reviews have noted the outer shell is an all-plastic affair, but I'll have to respectfully disagree. It transfers heat like metal, and my tour unit arrived with a convenient chip in the paint that reveals the aluminum beneath. Fit and finish is immaculate with very low tolerance between the M1's individual parts. It's pretty impressive, even more so when compared to more expensive devices like the HTC One M8 or Apple iPod 4th Gen. I would like to see some strategically placed knurling added to the exterior shell to provide extra grip for those who use it while working out. With the rounded edges it gets a bit slippery.
The buttons and scroll wheel, also metal, depress and twist with a satisfying tactile response. Placement of this physical interface is also well-designed with the buttons and scroll wheel being equally easy to reach and use regardless of your hand dominance. As a lefty, I truly appreciated the ability to control the device with nothing more than my thumb and index finger. I never had to stretch to reach anything, or twist my fingers at an awkward angle. The scroll wheel was a little cumbersome to use at times, particularly when moving through the UI in small increments. I found myself routinely overshooting what I was looking for. I'd rather the M1 use buttons for navigation.
While I really like the UI, it could use a bit of polish. Not to make it easier to use, but to remove redundancies and odd quirks. The radial design of the opening menu and the menu titles all make sense and give you a clear indication of what to expect when you move further into the menus. The wasted space to the left showing off the Shanling logo and a record bothers me a bit. There's no valuable information there, and the the menus are forced far enough to the right for the need for 'File Browser' to scroll so you can read the entirety of the word Browser. Just move the menu a few pixels to the left and problem solved.
The 'Now Playing' and 'My Music' menu are completely redundant, containing the exact same menu options; recent play, open all, my favorites, album, genre, artist, and playlist. This redundancy is indirectly addressed by the player itself. When you enter then back out from the 'Now Playing' menu, it defaults you to 'My Music.'
Overall the M1 is very well-built and feels like it could take a beating. Ergonomics are equally excellent regardless of your hand dominance. The UI is clean and well laid out in a manner such that I never found myself hunting down options, or struggling to figure out what a particular feature does, but it could use a touch more attention to reduce some unnecessary menus and layout quirks.
Bluetooth:
One of the more appealing features of the M1 for me is it's apt-X enabled, 4.0 Bluetooth support. While the more recent update to the 2.0 firmware has hindered functionality with some earphones, namely the ADVANCED Model 3, it's still more-or-less excellent.
The M1 locates and connects to Bluetooth devices with ease, and outputs a very clean signal. Even nicer is that the M1 can act as a Bluetooth receiver. I've had no issues with range or connectivity strength, able to leave the M1 on my desk and walk around my apartment worry free.
If you're looking for a durable, compact, light player with strong Bluetooth performance and a very crisp, clean sound signature, the M1 is well worth consideration.
Sound:
The M1 immediately impressed me on first listen with just how clear and crisp everything was. After pairing them with a wide variety of headphones and earphones from budget KZs to multi-driver hybrids like the FLC 8S, I hear this player as having a relatively neutral stock sound, with a mild treble emphasis and a note presentation leans towards the thin, analytic side with excellent extension. This is made more evident comparing the M1 to what has been my primary mobile driving force for a while now, an XDuoo X3 with Rockbox firmware installed. The X3 in comparison is much thicker sounding with a smaller soundstage, less pronounced detail, staging, and imaging qualities.
Given the M1's stock sound, I found it paired best with neutral or darker earphones and headphones with lesser treble prominence. Pairing it with the JVC HA-FXD60 and FXD80 somewhat exaggerated their thin, prickly signatures. On the other hand, pairing them with the more weighty and darker Fischer Audio Dubliz Enhanced or thinksound On2 was near perfect. It gave the Dubliz Enhanced a bit of additional upper end kick and mellowed out what could occasionally be an overbearing mid-bass presence (track dependent). The On2 just came across more open and somehow even clearer. I enjoy the M1 with the FLC 8S hybrid, but found myself moving to filters that tamed the treble a bit. They also came across a touch thin for my preferences when paired together.
Overall the M1 is a great sounding little player with few aural downfalls that I can think of. Thankfully it has a handy 10 band EQ which can be used to tweak the sound, optimizing their pairing capabilities. While I never found any need to use it, there is also a high gain setting to add a bit of extra driving power if necessary.
Final Thoughts:
The M1 is a great DAP, be it your first, second, or whatever. Want to use it as your primary player? It does that just fine with it's powerful sound, solid battery life, handy Bluetooth and DAC functions, and great build quality. Looking for something to keep you entertained while you exercise? It can do that too. It's small size and light weight ensures it stays out of the way and avoids taking up a ton of space in your pocket of gym bag. Plus, it's not so expensive that if you do happen to damage it you're not out what it would cost to replace, say, a cell phone.
You really can't go wrong with the M1. Great job Shanling. 4.5 out of 5 stars!
Thanks for reading.
- B9Scrambler
Today we are going to be checking out a compact but extremely feature rich little Digital Audio Player (DAP) from Shanling, the M1. Shanling isn't new to the audio world, releasing their first product in 1988. Their decades of expertise is readily apparent in the M1. It's a very versatile product that can act as a standalone DAP, amp, or even a Bluetooth receiver. Let's check it out in greater detail.
Disclaimer:
The M1 was initially sent to me as part of Shanling's M1 tour. Huge thanks to @joebloggs, @nmatheis, and Lily for the inclusion. There is no financial incentive for writing this review. The thoughts within are my own and do not represent Shanling or any other entity. Also keep in mind that I liked the M1 enough to purchase the review unit.
You can check out the M1 here on Shanling's site: http://www.shanling.com/Product/Detail?id=fe144c3b8eca414f9b1e0cdf0a135b38
My Gear and I:
I'm a 30 year old professional working for what is currently the largest luxury hotel chain on the planet. I have a background in Psychology which probably explains my somewhat dry writing style. My entry into the world of portable audio was due primarily to a lack of space for a full-sized stereo system during my university years, and truly began with the venerable JVC HA-FXT90. After reading pretty much the entirety of IjokerI's multi-earphone review thread, reviews from other established reviewers, and thus being greatly inspired, I took a chance and started writing my own.
Fast forward a couple years and I'm thankful to have had the opportunity to write about products for wonderful companies like RHA, Accutone, ADVANCED, NarMoo, Brainwavz, Meze and many more. I don't do it for money or free stuff, but because this is my hobby and I enjoy it. If my reviews can help guide someone to an earphone that makes them happy, I'll consider that a job well done and payment enough.
Specifications and Features:
Dimension: 60mm × 50mm × 12.8mm
- Net weight: about 60g
- Screen: 2.35 inches TFT HD screen
- DSD playback: DSD64, DSD128
- DAC: supported up to 192kHz--24bit
- Bluetooth: 4.0 with APT-X
- D/A converter: AK4452
- Amplifier: MAX97220
- Gain: high gain/low gain
- Supporting format: APE, FLAC, ALAC, WMA, AAC, OGG, MP3, WAV, AIFF, DSF, DIFF
- Sampling rate: 44.1kHz--192kHz
- Output: headphone output (3.5mm)
- Output power: 35mW @ 32ohm
- Frequency response: 20Hz--20kHz-0.5dB
- THD+N: 0.006%A-weighting, outputing 500mV
- SNR:>105dB(A-weighting)
- Dynamic range:>105dB
- Output impedance: 0.1Ω
- Channel separation:>70dB(32Ω,1kHz)
- Referenced clock jitter: 200 femtosecond
- External memory: supported up to 256G TF card
- Capacity: 950mAH lithium battery
- Playing hours: about 9-10 hours(3-4hours charging time)
- Supported OS: Windows XP, Windows 7, 8, 10 (32/64bit), MAC OS X10.7 and later versions
Unboxing and Accessories:
Shaning's subtle matte black packaging looks wonderful with a silver outline of the M1 on the front. Sliding off the lid reveals the M1 itself nestled into a felt-covered foam sheet. A small ribbon peeks out from beneath and is used to remove the M1. Lifting out the foam insert you find a small back cardboard box which contains the accessories;
- USB-c charging cable
- microSD card reader
- four screen protectors (2 front, 2 rear)
- warranty card
- Quick Reference guide
- instruction manual
Overall a nice little package. I especially appreciate the inclusion of multiple screen protectors.
Build Quality, Ergonomics, and UI:
The Shanling M1 is a very solidly built little device with a front glass panel and plastic rear panel, ringed by a durable aluminum shell. Let's put some emphasis on little. At only 60mm × 50mm × 12.8mm in size the M5 is pretty easily dwarfed by the palm of my hand. It's not much larger than the SanDisk Sansa Clip, pretty amazing considering the extensive feature list and functionality.
Other reviews have noted the outer shell is an all-plastic affair, but I'll have to respectfully disagree. It transfers heat like metal, and my tour unit arrived with a convenient chip in the paint that reveals the aluminum beneath. Fit and finish is immaculate with very low tolerance between the M1's individual parts. It's pretty impressive, even more so when compared to more expensive devices like the HTC One M8 or Apple iPod 4th Gen. I would like to see some strategically placed knurling added to the exterior shell to provide extra grip for those who use it while working out. With the rounded edges it gets a bit slippery.
The buttons and scroll wheel, also metal, depress and twist with a satisfying tactile response. Placement of this physical interface is also well-designed with the buttons and scroll wheel being equally easy to reach and use regardless of your hand dominance. As a lefty, I truly appreciated the ability to control the device with nothing more than my thumb and index finger. I never had to stretch to reach anything, or twist my fingers at an awkward angle. The scroll wheel was a little cumbersome to use at times, particularly when moving through the UI in small increments. I found myself routinely overshooting what I was looking for. I'd rather the M1 use buttons for navigation.
While I really like the UI, it could use a bit of polish. Not to make it easier to use, but to remove redundancies and odd quirks. The radial design of the opening menu and the menu titles all make sense and give you a clear indication of what to expect when you move further into the menus. The wasted space to the left showing off the Shanling logo and a record bothers me a bit. There's no valuable information there, and the the menus are forced far enough to the right for the need for 'File Browser' to scroll so you can read the entirety of the word Browser. Just move the menu a few pixels to the left and problem solved.
The 'Now Playing' and 'My Music' menu are completely redundant, containing the exact same menu options; recent play, open all, my favorites, album, genre, artist, and playlist. This redundancy is indirectly addressed by the player itself. When you enter then back out from the 'Now Playing' menu, it defaults you to 'My Music.'
Overall the M1 is very well-built and feels like it could take a beating. Ergonomics are equally excellent regardless of your hand dominance. The UI is clean and well laid out in a manner such that I never found myself hunting down options, or struggling to figure out what a particular feature does, but it could use a touch more attention to reduce some unnecessary menus and layout quirks.
Bluetooth:
One of the more appealing features of the M1 for me is it's apt-X enabled, 4.0 Bluetooth support. While the more recent update to the 2.0 firmware has hindered functionality with some earphones, namely the ADVANCED Model 3, it's still more-or-less excellent.
The M1 locates and connects to Bluetooth devices with ease, and outputs a very clean signal. Even nicer is that the M1 can act as a Bluetooth receiver. I've had no issues with range or connectivity strength, able to leave the M1 on my desk and walk around my apartment worry free.
If you're looking for a durable, compact, light player with strong Bluetooth performance and a very crisp, clean sound signature, the M1 is well worth consideration.
Sound:
The M1 immediately impressed me on first listen with just how clear and crisp everything was. After pairing them with a wide variety of headphones and earphones from budget KZs to multi-driver hybrids like the FLC 8S, I hear this player as having a relatively neutral stock sound, with a mild treble emphasis and a note presentation leans towards the thin, analytic side with excellent extension. This is made more evident comparing the M1 to what has been my primary mobile driving force for a while now, an XDuoo X3 with Rockbox firmware installed. The X3 in comparison is much thicker sounding with a smaller soundstage, less pronounced detail, staging, and imaging qualities.
Given the M1's stock sound, I found it paired best with neutral or darker earphones and headphones with lesser treble prominence. Pairing it with the JVC HA-FXD60 and FXD80 somewhat exaggerated their thin, prickly signatures. On the other hand, pairing them with the more weighty and darker Fischer Audio Dubliz Enhanced or thinksound On2 was near perfect. It gave the Dubliz Enhanced a bit of additional upper end kick and mellowed out what could occasionally be an overbearing mid-bass presence (track dependent). The On2 just came across more open and somehow even clearer. I enjoy the M1 with the FLC 8S hybrid, but found myself moving to filters that tamed the treble a bit. They also came across a touch thin for my preferences when paired together.
Overall the M1 is a great sounding little player with few aural downfalls that I can think of. Thankfully it has a handy 10 band EQ which can be used to tweak the sound, optimizing their pairing capabilities. While I never found any need to use it, there is also a high gain setting to add a bit of extra driving power if necessary.
Final Thoughts:
The M1 is a great DAP, be it your first, second, or whatever. Want to use it as your primary player? It does that just fine with it's powerful sound, solid battery life, handy Bluetooth and DAC functions, and great build quality. Looking for something to keep you entertained while you exercise? It can do that too. It's small size and light weight ensures it stays out of the way and avoids taking up a ton of space in your pocket of gym bag. Plus, it's not so expensive that if you do happen to damage it you're not out what it would cost to replace, say, a cell phone.
You really can't go wrong with the M1. Great job Shanling. 4.5 out of 5 stars!
Thanks for reading.
- B9Scrambler