Beat me to the Punch! Big thank to
@MusicTeck for the opportunity to hear this lovely little DAP. It's my first Shanling and so far I'm really enjoying it.
Firing up the ole Bar Graphs again! Sadly I no longer have the N3 for a detailed sound comparison, I did how ever have some data from my N3 vs HM601 comparison, which I've included in the above data! My impressions were done entirely with my SuperLux HD 668B, I'm not an IEM guy sadly and my closed back portable reference is being repaired atm
Overall, I'm very impressed
Bass Quality
The M2s isn't lacking I appreciated it's leaner lows, the impact was wonderful, drums had power and guitars and cello's had good clean body. And while It was able to resolve changes in vibrato present during decay and quicker transients, having more contrast between the attack and decay often it would omit some of the more nuanced transients that the 601 resolves but also emphasis others that the 601 sometimes hides
Mid-Range Purity
The M2s was never too thick or too slow, really it provided a consistently natural warmth. Free some both excessive decay and over emphasized attack, there were only very few times I had any excessive ringing, so unlike the Hm 601, the M2S won't aggressively smooth over any mid-range faults your headphones may have, rather it brings a mildly forgiving but still very clear presentation
Highs
The M2S has a little more energy up top compared to the 601, while this helps bring emphasis to macro details and ambient noise, with brighter headphones it can dull percussion a little. Though with darker cans adds a welcome sense of liveliness!
Imaging
More differences here than technicalities, the M2S was more spacious or 3D in comparison to the very intimate 601. Though the sense of space does contribute to a livelier slightly jumpy more exciting presentation overall
Resolve
The M2S's leaner faster presentation often simplified transients a little, how ever it also added a nice sense of tactility and impact in exchange for less resolve overall. The leading edge of horns, guitar strings and the like really pop out at you!
Speed
There was a better sense of time and pace with the M2s, the hm601 can be too slow and romantic at times. Though interestingly, while the M2S had better macro dynamics, the 601 did better with micro dynamics.
UI/Battery Life
I like rock box, the battery lasts me like a month vs 3 days with the M2S. Additionally, Rock Box has a para metric EQ that I enjoy, other wise ignoring Rock Box the native UI of the M2S is excellent, it doesn't stutter, the menu navigation is quick and effortless, play back and system setting menu's are super easy to navigate
AND I can use it entirely with ONE hand!!! Something I wish I could say more often
Headphone Out
I was really impressed with how clean the onBoard amp of the M2s was. Though I hear it's output impedance is a bit to high for some of the more sensitive IEMS... which I don't own any of... either way the lack of digital filters I feel resulted in a more consistent output across devices. With the N3 I always had to swap between filters to see which worked best. Where as the M2S just sounds good with each headphone I have, there are differences between each but the DAP doesn't add to any of their faults, I suppose it doesn't compensate for them as strongly as the N3 Can/Could, but ultimately I enjoyed a constantly excellent sound from the simpler output options from the M2S. The HM601 in comparison sounds better SOME times and is nosier all of the time
Line Out
The M2S's down side is the line out... when fed into my Vali 1 while imaging and resolve improved, tonality and impact did not. Feeding the M2S into other entry level amps is just a game of compromises. Though feeding it into my Ember II or my Pico Power netted some actual across the board improvements over the onBoard amp. On the other hand, the N3's digital filters allowed for a quicker super detailed super lean output to be fed into a warmer entry level amp. Which ultimately netted improvements for the system as a whole, where as the M2S warmer more balanced output doesn't appreciate as much of the color that some entry level amps impart.
Function
I like the N3 for how well it plays with EVERYTHING you own, and on the flip side I like the M2s for how well it works by it self. The M2S is simpler, I feel it's headphone amp really it's best function. Especially for an efficient headphone user, it'll work with a variety of digital sources, and has Blu Tooth! While it will scale, it doesn't do so until you climb up the latter a little more. Ultimately the N3 kinda invites the upgradeitis as it'll start to scale even with some entry level amps, where as the M2S amazing on-board performance lends it self to more enjoyment and can discourage some entry level amp experimentation.
Overall I love the M2S for it's relatively clear and natural tone, that and the one handed operation make it a winner. I'll have a proper review to add here shortly as well!
I did miss that thank you!!
