Shanling M2

vividcard said:

  For some reason, when I read audible I just pictured a person bragging about his lossless audiobook files on his hi res audio, "Seriously guys, you can totally hear each sigh with such clarity. I could never go back!" XD

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Well it was just a pun on "Ready, willing and able" for WE headphone nutz Now you want to hear something really funny I saw the word sigh and thought he may be listening to sounds off a porn clip and not an audio book Oh how the mind wonders

Keep it legit, guys :wink_face:

BTW, I think Cayin N5 and Shanling M2 are my DAPs Of The Year!!!

nmatheis said:

Keep it legit, guys

BTW, I think Cayin N5 and Shanling M2 are my DAPs Of The Year!!!

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That's a tall order sir. Especially at the end of the year with so many contenders. Now I wanna see!

nmatheis said:

Keep it legit, guys

BTW, I think Cayin N5 and Shanling M2 are my DAPs Of The Year!!!

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Ah Ah Legit, too Legit to quit I may be with you on that Nik providing I get to hear that M2 before years end It's cool Ese

Just received the M2 tour unit last night. Used it for my stroll with the dog this morning bright and early paired with the VE Monk. Used FLAC 16/44 files, and was pleasantly surprised. Sound signature is warmer, but so far no less detailed than prior DAPs I've had. Is this the famed "hi-fi" signature I hear about occasionally? It's most easy-going on the ear.

I found the controls a new experience as well. I am ambivilant about them so far. They work, but as I use my left to navigate and play I find myself angling the player to look at the screen under my hand. Not a problem, not an advantage...a "whatever" moment for me personally.

I really like the sound signature...a welcome break from my Pono.

What? Is this going to be a leftie-only tour???
:wink_face:

I am more left handed than anything else. I write, eat, and brush my teeth left handed.  For computing I am right hand dominant because that is the way most mice are set up. And I golf right handed.
 
Do I qualify now?

OMG, trial by fire for the little M2 :blink:

First, I would like to thank nmatheis and Shanling for making this tour happen.  It's always great to be able to take part in these wonderful opportunities to audition gear in the quiet comforts of one's home.  Below are my impressions where everything is prefaced by IMO:
 
Shanling M2 brief points:

PROS

1. Sexy and beautiful
2. Size
3. Weight
4. Powerful (HG)

 
CONS

1. Zero on-board storage
2. Too many steps for non-sensitive transducers (current firmware).  Way too many rotations (10 full rations from 40-120).  I think the sweet spot should be 60-75 steps.
3. One hand discomfort for large hands
4. UI and hardware controls centered around right hand use
5. UI quarks

Settings, Source, Transducers.

1. EQ off. HG (high gain).  When switching back/forth from the M2 and PONO for comparison, volume level matching was applied with crude app.
2. Hirez (up to 24/192) and redbook FLAC files of mainly female vocals and live albums.
3. Grado RS2, Aurisonics ASG1plus, Yuin PK1, Ortofon E-Q7, and Definitive Technology Incline speakers (not shown).

 

 
 
Impression Details:
Even before I received the M2, I already had a hunch that the sound would be great.  My first Shanling product of theirs was the PCD-3000A CD transport unit that I purchased about six years ago.  Sounded spectacular despite the so-so built in headphone amplifier.  Despite similar specs, implementation between the digital and analog domains is key, IMO.  I assumed that based on prior experiences with a CIRRUS DAC, the M2 would be bright with a digital voice, which was not the case.  Overall, I found the M2 a warmish sound, but not as warm as the Fiio X3 (original).  I found the bass a little loose and boomy on the X3 with a hint of grain which were nowhere to be found on the M2. 
 
In general, I found the M2 as a bassy, detailed, but with average sound stage DAP.  The bassy signature was most evident when I used the M2 LO with my Incline desktop speakers and compared it to the LO on my Meridian Explorer and PONO.  When it came to shear balls to the walls power, the M2 was miles ahead in HG mode. I'm talking ear shattering levels with my low impedance transducers.
 
When it came to ergonomics, well, us lefties are left in the cold (pun intended).  I have large hands and I was unable to use just my left hand and thumb to navigate the dial wheel in a comfortable manner.  When I was able to use just the back and menu functions on the dial wheel, part of my hand blocked the screen.  When I swapped to my right hand, the navigation experience was much better, but still not comfortable for me to use.  I thought the overall navigation of the dial wheel and its functions was fine but it was the placement of the wheel that didn't jive with me ergonomically.  I guess I'm use to past DAPs like the iconic iPod, Sansa, and HiSoundAudio Studio where similar dial type navigation is placed at the bottom center with the screen shifted to the top with little to no bias towards left and right hands. The more I played with the M2 dial wheel, the more I thought of no-holds barred solution in a form of a jog-push-type dial found on the digital volume control on the JDS Labs C5 or RSA Shadow.

 
Synergy came to play with my setups.  Some sounded sublime, others just so-so.  When comparing to my PONO, I'll whole heartily admit that I'm biased to it because I've owned it for while, and gotten used to the sound (brain burn in?).  Still, the PONO balanced with my Aurisonics ASG1plus and Yuin PK1 are my endgame portable setups according to my ears. I'm sure my quick and crude PONO balanced to SE adapter cable I made from the left over PK1 cable may have contributed to what I was hearing.  The following summarizes the synergies:
 

1. E-Q7 - Hissy on HG. Not ideal for low volume listening. Female voices sounded a little nasally. Narrow stage. The airy sound layers that the E-Q7 is known for had a hard time shining threw. Sounded congested and veiled. Lacked synergy. Pairing not recommended. Then, for this setup pairing only, I changed the gain on the M2 to LG and everything I said about the pairing could be thrown out the window. The trademark vocals, details, separation and air of the E-Q7 shined - great pairing in LG mode only.

 

1. Grado RS2 - Stage is average, but intimate. I found the highs slightly rolled off, but demonstrated wonderful PRAT.  With an increase in volume, I found myself in to-tapping groove. The bass quantity is a little emphasized, slightly boomy at times, but in a fun sort of way.

 

1. HiFiMAN RE-252 - This is my most neutral iem in the stable. I found with low volume it resulted in quiet passages and lifeless sound.  Once the volume increased to the same level as the Grado, sound turned out for the better. Wonderful synergy. Bass is the tightest of amongst the iems. Wonderful PRAT. The technical merits of the RE-252 with it's extended bottom and top end is well presented with gobs of in-between details. As with my RS2, the M2 and RE-252 pairing, I experiences a slight treble roll off especially with vibration that occurs with the strumming of the guitar, or the finger snaps in Billy Joel's 'An Innocent Man.' The vocals is pushed slightly forward.

 

1. Aurisonics ASG1plus (SE mode) - Not a good pairing.  Found the treble a little too tizzy and hard. Didn't make them sound natural like I'm accustom too and lacked the dynamics I'm use too. Bass sounded boomy and loose. Vocals slightly recessed.

 

1. Yuin PK1 (SE mode) - WOW.  The M2 makes the PK1 just sing at volume level set to 80 on HG. Truly a great match and best pair from the stable. Vocals didn't sound too upfront or veiled which is how I hear them when it is underpowered.  Overall nicely balanced and smooth.

 
In closing, the best pairing in my stable were the YUIN PK1 SE in HG, and Ortofon E-Q7 in LG.  Overall, I found the M2 very pleasing. The implementation of the analog stage and filter(s) is nicely done.  It's a relaxing DAP made to enjoy music.  However, like the Shanling M3 that I played with at a local Head-fi meet, the M2 is made for a right hand world. 

Why is the summary the longest part of your review?


Just hassling ya. Good write-up.

Good point. Changed the title. 

Great write up alpha421!

Would you mind copy / pasting that as a review? LINK

And it used to have 60 volume steps, but I was getting 2-3dB jumps per step on Low Gain with my IEM. Some of us asked Shanling to switch to 120 steps a la FiiO. Shanling agreed that it would be a positive change for IEM users and implemented despite it being a PITA for those with less sensitive gear. Being able to toggle between 60 or 120 would be nice, but I'm not sure if the firmware allows that setting.

nmatheis said:

And it used to have 60 volume steps, but I was getting 2-3dB jumps per step on Low Gain with my IEM. Some of us asked Shanling to switch to 120 steps a la FiiO. Shanling agreed that it would be a positive change for IEM users and implemented despite it being a PITA for those with less sensitive gear. Being able to toggle between 60 or 120 would be nice, but I'm not sure if the firmware allows that setting.

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Either that or if you fast scroll it should move 2-3 steps per click

Yeah, but none of these Ingenic-based DAPs have accelerated scrolling in any way shape or form that I'm aware of. Not saying it's not possible, just haven't seen it implemented. Too bad, because it'd be very helpful not only for volume but also scrolling through lists.

Shanling: Please mention this request to the engineering team

nmatheis said:

What? Is this going to be a leftie-only tour???

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LOL...I am actually a little bit of an oddity. I write right-handed, but eat left-handed. My whole world is pretty much split between left and right-handed. Unfortunately my habit is to mess with phones and DAPs left-handed. 
 
I switched to right-handed today with the M2, and its a lot better....just not my habit...
 
Loving the sound of it btw. Have tried it with the VE Monk, VE Zen (on high gain) and Blox BE3. All sound great. Its definitely an analogue sound....but in a positive way, not the "this-is-an-excuse-to-make-a-shoddy-bassy-DAP/headphones/DAC/amp-and-label-it-as-hi-fi" kind of way.