Introducing Shanling M1 Plus - New Generation of Compact MTouch Players at just $209

[ybbobserrot]

There are 4 DACs, but really it's 2 DACs for the PCM audio path and 2 DACs for DSD audio path, there is no situation where the DAP is utilizing all 4 DACs at once. So you can't compare 1 dac vs 4. As you said please hear them before making conclusions, I ask you to please do your research before posting.

Still its superior and that's my point!

 

[swmmix]

I will wait for full review on this one or I try it out at store before I buy

 

[ybbobserrot]

I got my M1 Plus yesterday. It feels very light and compact in my hand. The sound is in line with this price range or even better. Now I can officially use it after the included leather case is delivered.

I always hear and read about the phrase, "in this price range". Could you be more specific? Which other similarly spec'ed DAPs are in "in this price range" and what price range is that?

 

[ylin8075]

I always hear and read about the phrase, "in this price range". Could you be more specific? Which other similarly spec'ed DAPs are in "in this price range" and what price range is that?

It is probably at the level of hiby r3ii or tempotec v3, but the sound details are better and clearer than them, but not better than the hiby r6iii level DAP. But one thing to say is that the difference in details between them is not obvious. If you don’t repeat the AB test in a short period of time, it will be difficult to feel it.

 

[ybbobserrot]

It is probably at the level of hiby r3ii or tempotec v3, but the sound details are better and clearer than them, but not better than the hiby r6iii level DAP. But one thing to say is that the difference in details between them is not obvious. If you don’t repeat the AB test in a short period of time, it will be difficult to feel it.

And would you say the R4 sounds better than the Hiby R3II and Tempotec V3? And M1 Plus sounds better than R4? So the M1 Plus sits on top of this price range?

 

[ybbobserrot]

I will wait for full review on this one or I try it out at store before I buy

that's the best recommendation I've heard so far in this forum... reviews are subjective and should be taken with a grain of salt

 

[ylin8075]

And would you say the R4 sounds better than the Hiby R3II and Tempotec V3? And M1 Plus sounds better than R4? So the M1 Plus sits on top of this price range?

I haven’t tried hiby r4 yet so I can’t answer the first and second questions. M1 plus is about 50 USD cheaper than r4, about the same price as v3, and about 20 USD more expensive than r3ii. The price in each region may not the same.

 

[ThEvil0nE]

Is there S/PDIF out? S/PDIF optical via USB-C?

 

[alwass89]

Still its superior and that's my point!

The ES9069Q is a newer and a better chip than the ES9018C2M that the R4 uses. The ES9069Q uses the newest ESS patented HyperStream® IV Dual DAC™ technology, and advanced SABRE HiFi® architecture. Please see the below picture (which was posted earlier in the thread) that this chip actually has 2 DACs on board. So, I believe that this is comparable to Hiby using 2 of the older ES9018C2M chips in a dual mono configuration for each audio path (PCM & DSD).

The M1 Plus also has other upgraded internal components, for example, dual independent crystal oscillators at 90.3168 / 98.304 MHz where as the R4 only has it's dual independent crystal oscillators at 45.158 / 49.152 MHz. This is important as purpose of the oscillators is to reduce phase noise and jitter. This is just in the marketing of each device, I am sure there are other audio components that we don't know about that differ between the 2 DAPs.

It is silly to say that a DAP is superior based on the number of DACs utilized, not taking into account other audio related components, but as always you will have to listen test on your own to determine the best DAP for you.

 

[ybbobserrot]

The ES9069Q is a newer and a better chip than the ES9018C2M that the R4 uses. The ES9069Q uses the newest ESS patented HyperStream® IV Dual DAC™ technology, and advanced SABRE HiFi® architecture. Please see the below picture (which was posted earlier in the thread) that this chip actually has 2 DACs on board. So, I believe that this is comparable to Hiby using 2 of the older ES9018C2M chips in a dual mono configuration for each audio path (PCM & DSD).



The M1 Plus also has other upgraded internal components, for example, dual independent crystal oscillators at 90.3168 / 98.304 MHz where as the R4 only has it's dual independent crystal oscillators at 45.158 / 49.152 MHz. This is important as purpose of the oscillators is to reduce phase noise and jitter. This is just in the marketing of each device, I am sure there are other audio components that we don't know about that differ between the 2 DAPs.

It is silly to say that a DAP is superior based on the number of DACs utilized, not taking into account other audio related components, but as always you will have to listen test on your own to determine the best DAP for you.

Have you listened to both? Did you do extensive A/B tests?

 

[alwass89]

Have you listened to both? Did you do extensive A/B tests?

I have not heard both, have you? You said that that the R4 is superior after the discussion on the number of DACs each player has. Like I said, it is silly to say a DAP is superior solely based on the number of DACs it has, which is what you are saying.

I own and have heard the R4 ($249), and to me the sound is neutral, average dynamics, good instrument separation, but with a soundstage that doesn't have a lot of depth, though does have good wideness. You would need to play around with the plugins to get that depth in the soundstage.

I own and have also heard the M1 Plus' predecessor the Shanling M1s ($229). This is currently my daily DAP. To me, the M1s sounds is superior to the R4. The sound is fuller, warmer, has great dynamics, has a better more 3D soundstage, and excellent instrument separation, comparatively.

Also, within the $150-$250 price range I have also heard the Hiby M300 ($199), and the Hiby R3II ($179), and to me the Shanling M1s ($229) surpasses both in sound quality.

As the M1 Plus has an upgraded DAC and upgraded Amp compared to the M1S, I fully expect it to sound even better than the M1S, putting it at the top of the $150-$250 price range of DAPs.

 

[ybbobserrot]

I have not heard both, have you? You said that that the R4 is superior after the discussion on the number of DACs each player has. Like I said, it is silly to say a DAP is superior solely based on the number of DACs it has, which is what you are saying.

I own and have heard the R4 ($249), and to me the sound is neutral, average dynamics, good instrument separation, but with a soundstage that doesn't have a lot of depth, though does have good wideness. You would need to play around with the plugins to get that depth in the soundstage.

I own and have also heard the M1 Plus' predecessor the Shanling M1s ($229). This is currently my daily DAP. To me, the M1s sounds is superior to the R4. The sound is fuller, warmer, has great dynamics, has a better more 3D soundstage, and excellent instrument separation, comparatively.

Also, within the $150-$250 price range I have also heard the Hiby M300 ($199), and the Hiby R3II ($179), and to me the Shanling M1s ($229) surpasses both in sound quality.

As the M1 Plus has an upgraded DAC and upgraded Amp compared to the M1S, I fully expect it to sound even better than the M1S, putting it at the top of the $150-$250 price range of DAPs.

I have both. You don't. So your opinion is based on paper not actual experience. Get real silly man!

 

[ToneDeafMonk]

No Worries Peeps , I have a unit coming from Shanling , and my friends R4 en route and the new Atcivo P1 for a revealing, and indepth review soon.

 

[XTF1]

The ES9069Q is a newer and a better chip than the ES9018C2M that the R4 uses. The ES9069Q uses the newest ESS patented HyperStream® IV Dual DAC™ technology, and advanced SABRE HiFi® architecture. Please see the below picture (which was posted earlier in the thread) that this chip actually has 2 DACs on board. So, I believe that this is comparable to Hiby using 2 of the older ES9018C2M chips in a dual mono configuration for each audio path (PCM & DSD).



The M1 Plus also has other upgraded internal components, for example, dual independent crystal oscillators at 90.3168 / 98.304 MHz where as the R4 only has it's dual independent crystal oscillators at 45.158 / 49.152 MHz. This is important as purpose of the oscillators is to reduce phase noise and jitter. This is just in the marketing of each device, I am sure there are other audio components that we don't know about that differ between the 2 DAPs.

It is silly to say that a DAP is superior based on the number of DACs utilized, not taking into account other audio related components, but as always you will have to listen test on your own to determine the best DAP for you.

I believe what you are showing are the two differential DACs of the ES9069 (L & R).

The ES9018C2M used in the R4 is no different, and also has two differential DACs:

It’s a higher level diagram (product brief) but notice the “(2x)”.

So when two ES9018C2M are used in the R4, there are 4x DACs involved.
I’ll also mention that the reason HiBy uses 4 of these DACs on the R4 is to optimize the I/V circuits for PCM and DSD separately…

Not sure if it’s audible, but I won’t bet that the single ES9069 of the M1 Plus is necessarily better than the dual path (PCM/DSD) / dual DAC of the R4.

 

[alwass89]

I believe what you are showing are the two differential DACs of the ES9069 (L & R).

The ES9018C2M used in the R4 is no different, and also has two differential DACs:

It’s a higher level diagram (product brief) but notice the “(2x)”.

So when two ES9018C2M are used in the R4, there are 4x DACs involved.
I’ll also mention that the reason HiBy uses 4 of these DACs on the R4 is to optimize the I/V circuits for PCM and DSD separately…

Not sure if it’s audible, but I won’t bet that the single ES9069 of the M1 Plus is necessarily better than the dual path (PCM/DSD) / dual DAC of the R4.

Thank you for the clarification