Disclaimer:
Good morning, readers! Today I can finally review the Shanling Sono, which were kindly sent to me by them. I hope to have the opportunity to try some of their dongles in the future.
Reading online reviews I noticed how many did not take into account some particularities of the SONO. I will try to carry out a complete analysis.
I’m not an audiophile; I’m just a guy that likes to test out different IEMs and DACs and spends a lot of time listening to music.
So I’m not going to use super-technical words to review it, but I will do my best to describe it.
Tech Specs:
Packaging:
The packaging is refined and simple in design, reminiscent of the packaging of the Muse Hifi East 6 and some Simgot. Inside, we find the Shanling SONO. They are surrounded by accessories. I found the equipment to be correct for the asking price.
Inside, we find:
- Tips of two types but only one pair of double flange
- Decent-quality cable
- Case (anonymous but good)
- 2 pairs of nozzles
- Manual
Maybe I would have liked to see at least the double flange tips in a complete set but I find the rest adequate. Then there is a question about the particularity of the nozzles, which I deal with in the following paragraph.
Design/Build quality:
I like the chrome-plated metal IEMs a lot, but I think many other resin IEMs are sometimes unable to compete at all. It’s very personal as a preference; some resin IEMs are works of art. The Shanling SONO design is minimal but this time the shape is correct for absolute comfort: compact and with soft corners.
They fit into the ear without causing discomfort. The Shanling logo appears on the faceplates, and you can see yourself in the mirror. There is only one ventilation hole on the internal side because they chose to place the second one on the nozzles. This choice perplexes me because the nozzles are relatively short, and the hole could be covered by the installed tips. The original tips have a slight step in the “mouth,” but most of the ones you buy don’t. Naturally, covering a vent causes changes, especially in terms of bass response and pressure. I am not sure why we did not make the ventilation hole right before the nozzle. When we remove the nozzle, we can see that the double DD is in the center of the IEM and that the BA is placed sideways, rather than straight and shooting into the ear. I was surprised that none of the reviews I read mentioned this peculiarity. The sound changes, and so does the rating.
Initial sound impression:
At first listen, I wasn’t particularly impressed by the black nozzle. As a source, I used the FiiO KA17, which is my new point of reference. I noticed its strong V-shaped tendency. The bass response is particularly aggressive; we are almost in Bassheads territory, with sparkling highs but the voices are a little covered. Coming from Kefine Delci, I wasn’t surprised.
Nozzle Filters:
At first glance, the filters look very similar; both have a tuning sponge in the nozzle, which appears to have a very similar density. They both have a vent hole that you need to be careful not to cover (Shanling confirmed that it needs to breathe). Let me start by saying that the differences are minimal. The nozzle with a black o-ring is for a balanced sound and actually the bass is less accentuated, while for the red one, it seems to bring out the V-shaped signature more. Despite this, I prefer the fun approach. In my opinion, it also sounds better in terms of definition or the perception improves by reducing the highs a little. At high volume with a balanced nozzle, the highs become a little biting.
Comfort & Fit:
As anticipated, the shape of the shell is spot on; if the Muse Hifi East 6 had had a similar shape, it would have been a good buy. These are absolutely comfortable. The double coaxial DD, one above the other, allows it to remain compact with the shell. You just need to pay attention to how the tips are mounted. Lightweight, hassle-free cable.
Final sound impression:
Equipment used for testing the above
Device:
- iMac
- Redmi Note 7 (MIUI-Based)
- Poco M4 Pro
Software:
- Amazon music UHD 24bit 96kHz
- Tidal Hifi Plus
DAC:
I gave them about 10 hours of burn-in but as usual, I think it’s more my brain getting used to it. The red nozzle certainly gives some satisfaction in terms of bass. Even in terms of definition, technicalities, and soundstage, there are now DD singles that have raised the competition tremendously. On a similar hybrid, one expects a precise division of frequencies, which is there but is especially present for the basses, for which one feels that 1 DD is responsible for these frequencies and in fact, they are produced in a more than excellent way. The trebles, instead left to BA, are slightly affected by the somewhat cold timbre of BA. The DD responsible for the mids and, therefore for the vocal part is a little sleepy. The voices are recessed and dull, not at the same level as some single drivers.
After several hours of testing, however, I realized that the red filter overshadows the mids and therefore the voices even more. I went back to the balanced nozle and continued the evaluation using that.
I used the FiiO KA17 most of the time and then switched to the Fosi SK02, which has a brighter sound. The Shanling SONO is particularly suitable for bright sources rather than warm sources. However, although the bass has softened on the mids and highs, the timbre is a little unrefined.
Tips Rolling?
The rolling tips are quite complex due to the fact that they decided to put a nozzle, which requires tips mounted at the tip. The stocks have a step that keeps them stable even if inserted very briefly into the nozzle. The only ones that could be similarly stable are Divinus Velvets.
Bass
The bass is good, almost at basshead level but not enough to enter that category. With the black nozzle, it doesn’t stand out, while with the red nozzle, it becomes more impactful and enveloping. To tell the truth, with the red nozzle, the bass becomes more enveloping. Good depth, strong impact, quite fast.
Mids
The DD, who should take care of the mids, is a little overwhelmed by the rest. The tuning is absolutely V-shaped, but the mids are particularly not very vivid and energetic. The result is that the voices do not have the silkiness and refinement that we expect. They appear a little dark and in the background, failing to fully inspire. Let’s be clear: they are not that bad but there are better representations of mids on the market. If you want to improve the presence of the mids, the balanced nozzle is more suitable.
Treble
The highs are quite good, there is the right presence of air, the brightness is there without being excessive, and they seem quite smooth to me. The best representation is with the balanced nozzle, which returns some energy to the mids and continues up to the highs. At high volumes and particularly complex songs, the treble becomes slightly spicy due to BA timbre.
Soundstage and Imaging:
The soundstage is quite good but certainly below average, and the image is precise thanks to the presence of drivers with divided frequencies. Since IEMs are already more than a few months old, several options have been released with even superior performance. All the sounds do not go far outside the ear, and although they are all distinguishable, the sensation is of intimate listening. Personally, I like it but maybe some might expect more.
Fast Comparison:
vs Simgot EM6L
The Simgot EM6L is special. Full of energy, musicality unmatched anywhere in my collection, and brilliant, vivid, and present voices. There is air in the treble area and a very pleasant soundstage and imaging. As hybrids, they are, in my opinion, one of the best representations in this price range. The low range is excellent and is less pronounced than the SONO but still pleasant.
vs Kinera Celest Phoenixcall
Phoenix Faceplate
Kinera produces hybrids with exotic configurations and a particular sound. The Phoenixcalls are slightly over budget but worth mentioning. Very pleasant and above all, the voices are much more present and at the center of listening. They impress you more at first listen than the SONO. Less natural timbre, less present bass.
vs Kinera Celest Plutus Beast
They sound brighter than the PhoenixCall, with a more tactile bass perception thanks to the BC driver. The sound is immersive and envelops you. Even if you don’t particularly follow fashion, Kinera manages to produce products that stand out from the crowd. In my opinion, these that are positioned at the same price have a more pleasant sound and balance, at least for my personal tastes.
Conclusion:
Being a model that is now a few months old—to be honest, 8 months—I imagined that it might have been slightly inferior to the newer models. It is still technology that evolves every day. A few months for an IEM is a huge period. The Shanling Solo is, however, a high quality product. Some accessories look very similar to those seen on the Muse HiFI EAST 6, such as the case, which is identical. The construction is similar and of high quality, and the sound is very good but there are now IEMs in this price range and even at a lower price that have literally dominated the market. I am sure that Shanling has much better performing models than SONO and, above all, excellent-quality dongles and DACs. By lowering the price of this model, it could easily return to selling on the market.
