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

[ybbobserrot]

Some said Fiio KA17 does not sound very good and has 2D soundstage and Hiby R3 II sound better than KA17 and some said KA17 sound better than R3 II. People have different opinions based on their gears.
I order M1 Plus on Friday (Silver), for the first time I ordered something without waiting for reviews because there's still no review of M1 Plus anywhere, don't know if Shanling products are not very popular or what. I hope I did not make a wrong decision.

Let your ears be the final judge. Don't listen to the naysayers or shills in here.

 

[FriendlySparrow]

I want to thank everyone that has the device and is engaged in this forum. One question for y'all, for tracks that have lyrics embedded in the track data, is that showing when you navigate the currently playing screen? I noticed that smaller players do not show this information and getting them to do so have very long work-arounds.

As far as I can tell, you have to download it individually for every track (same if you don't have album art embedded) and it's too much of a pain to do if you're doing it for a full album. Maybe there's a better way to get the lyric info on there. It does show in the "currently playing" screen and works fine in my experience - you just scroll a step to the right.

Where did you get the dsd files?

From an AV nerd friend who I asked if he had a couple DSD512 files I could test, just so I could see if they would play (I've never listened to DSD).

As far as I can tell the Wechseldominante track is an upscaled DSD256 file from free downloads here (the specific download is here), and based on the metadata the Fernandez track is from nativedsd.com. Looking it up, it seems like the file itself might by imperfect and also upscaled from DSD64 but I have literally nothing to compare it to - just played both tracks I got all the way through at medium-high volume and thought they sounded really great. (Whether they'd sound better than a FLAC or WAV file of the same music to my ears is... probably unlikely, but the question was whether this thing would play them at all).

By the way, nativedsd.com has a free starter pack you can test for DSD64, though upping that to DSD512 costs a few bucks. Might be worth it just for people wanting to test different formats.

 

[Wanamy]

As far as I can tell, you have to download it individually for every track (same if you don't have album art embedded) and it's too much of a pain to do if you're doing it for a full album. Maybe there's a better way to get the lyric info on there. It does show in the "currently playing" screen and works fine in my experience - you just scroll a step to the right.

For my music, I edit all the data on it including album art, genre, artist, lyrics etc. Those details show up on every other music player like PowerAmp. On my Hiby R3 Saber 2022 version it shows everything except the lyrics. I was wondering whether the same problem would occur with the Shanling M1 plus player. Thank you.

 

[BobSmith8901]

As far as I can tell, you have to download it individually for every track (same if you don't have album art embedded) and it's too much of a pain to do if you're doing it for a full album. Maybe there's a better way to get the lyric info on there. It does show in the "currently playing" screen and works fine in my experience - you just scroll a step to the right.



From an AV nerd friend who I asked if he had a couple DSD512 files I could test, just so I could see if they would play (I've never listened to DSD).

As far as I can tell the Wechseldominante track is an upscaled DSD256 file from free downloads here (the specific download is here), and based on the metadata the Fernandez track is from nativedsd.com. Looking it up, it seems like the file itself might by imperfect and also upscaled from DSD64 but I have literally nothing to compare it to - just played both tracks I got all the way through at medium-high volume and thought they sounded really great. (Whether they'd sound better than a FLAC or WAV file of the same music to my ears is... probably unlikely, but the question was whether this thing would play them at all).

By the way, nativedsd.com has a free starter pack you can test for DSD64, though upping that to DSD512 costs a few bucks. Might be worth it just for people wanting to test different formats.

Thanks for checking those out. Yeah, I have one of those nativedsd.com sample packs of DSD 512, volume 1 (this one was originally DSD 256) . I'd bought it to test my only DSD 512 capable DAC, the great little Topping NX4 DSD.

They also have another DSD sample pack:

https://www.nativedsd.com/product/ndsd015-5-tracks-in-dsd-512-volume-2/

...this one was originally recorded in DXD format...

The sizes of these DSD 512 files are so massive though that it's a bit ridiculous, as DSD 256 is indistinguishable from 512 to me. But it's cool to have a small machine (M1 Plus) that can handle most everything that DSD can throw at it, as long as you have a big enough SD card!

 

[FriendlySparrow]

For my music, I edit all the data on it including album art, genre, artist, lyrics etc. Those details show up on every other music player like PowerAmp. On my Hiby R3 Saber 2022 version it shows everything except the lyrics. I was wondering whether the same problem would occur with the Shanling M1 plus player. Thank you.

I mostly just use MP3Tag and get the info from Musicbrainz or Discogs (which doesn't include the lyrics) and just edit that slightly when I need to. I should really look into adding lyrics too (since I've only really tested it on an individual basis with a Plex server and now the M1 Plus, and it seems really nice to have). The lyrics are synced to the song.

Thanks for checking those out. Yeah, I have one of those nativedsd.com sample packs of DSD 512, volume 1 (this one was originally DSD 256) . I'd bought it to test my only DSD 512 capable DAC, the great little Topping NX4 DSD.

They also have another DSD sample pack:

https://www.nativedsd.com/product/ndsd015-5-tracks-in-dsd-512-volume-2/

...this one was originally recorded in DXD format...

The sizes of these DSD 512 files are so massive though that it's a bit ridiculous, as DSD 256 is indistinguishable from 512 to me. But it's cool to have a small machine (M1 Plus) that can handle most everything that DSD can throw at it, as long as you have a big enough SD card!

Yeah, where I'm at, DSD in general is kinda where we're getting into stereotypical bonkers audiophile territory where I think the perceived quality compared to inferior hi-res formats is basically psychosomatic (like, "whoa, maybe we hear with more than just our ears, man"). But up til only a couple years ago, my "serious" music listening was mostly records and 320kbps MP3/AAC files, so I'm what most would refer to as a "filthy casual" (making this a great intro DAP for me, much like the Tempotec HD V was a great intro phone DAC). Massive DSD file sizes aside, it's still fun trying them out.

Let your ears be the final judge. Don't listen to the naysayers or shills in here.

100%. Audio's such a complicated, personal thing which can vary so strongly between people that my buying strategy is to basically just make sure wherever I'm buying from has got a good return policy lol

 

[fish1050]

I mostly just use MP3Tag and get the info from Musicbrainz or Discogs (which doesn't include the lyrics) and just edit that slightly when I need to. I should really look into adding lyrics too (since I've only really tested it on an individual basis with a Plex server and now the M1 Plus, and it seems really nice to have). The lyrics are synced to the song.


Yeah, where I'm at, DSD in general is kinda where we're getting into stereotypical bonkers audiophile territory where I think the perceived quality compared to inferior hi-res formats is basically psychosomatic (like, "whoa, maybe we hear with more than just our ears, man"). But up til only a couple years ago, my "serious" music listening was mostly records and 320kbps MP3/AAC files, so I'm what most would refer to as a "filthy casual" (making this a great intro DAP for me, much like the Tempotec HD V was a great intro phone DAC). Massive DSD file sizes aside, it's still fun trying them out.



100%. Audio's such a complicated, personal thing which can vary so strongly between people that my buying strategy is to basically just make sure wherever I'm buying from has got a good return policy lol

I have listened to some DSD 512 tracks on some high end, and really high end home audio gear and they sound amazing. When you listen to the same tracks on a DAP it simply can't compare. So I stick to 320 kbps mp3 and 24 and 16 bit flac files on my DAP's. The tradeoff between minor improvement in sound quality with DSD tracks vs the amount of space they take up just isn't worth it for me listening on a DAP.

 

[Wahid]

You made a good decision the player is nice , I have not spent a great deal of time as I have been busy but my first few listens were very favorable

Would you be able to give a brief opinion of it compared to the m1s? I am about to buy one..like just better by a lot or a bit better or about the same, that sort of thing. Thanks.

 

[Wahid]

I have listened to some DSD 512 tracks on some high end, and really high end home audio gear and they sound amazing. When you listen to the same tracks on a DAP it simply can't compare. So I stick to 320 kbps mp3 and 24 and 16 bit flac files on my DAP's. The tradeoff between minor improvement in sound quality with DSD tracks vs the amount of space they take up just isn't worth it for me listening on a DAP.

For me there is a huge difference, bearing in mind the quality of dsd varies. For me the sweet spot between increased quality and storage is at dsd128, it's more noticible in terms of how the dynamics are presented then in terms of straight measurement of frequency response etc. If you can hear it, it flows like water. A very good vinyl rip to Dsd will sound 95% of the way there to vinyl on a proper 70s high end home stereo. On pcm it won't. It's about how amplitude is calculated, not so much about sound quality per se.

 

[Wahid]

86 x 61 x 17 mm

Does this model have Tidal and Qobuz?

 

[Wahid]

I want to thank everyone that has the device and is engaged in this forum. One question for y'all, for tracks that have lyrics embedded in the track data, is that showing when you navigate the currently playing screen? I noticed that smaller players do not show this information and getting them to do so have very long work-arounds.

My old Hiby Sabre pro shows lyrics if you tap the album cover while playing... Most probably do something like that

 

[Shanling]

Does this model have Tidal and Qobuz?

It has Tidal.

We hope to add Qobuz in the future.

My old Hiby Sabre pro shows lyrics if you tap the album cover while playing... Most probably do something like that

Swipe left on now playing screen to view lyrics. System supports .lrc files.

 

[fish1050]

For me there is a huge difference, bearing in mind the quality of dsd varies. For me the sweet spot between increased quality and storage is at dsd128, it's more noticible in terms of how the dynamics are presented then in terms of straight measurement of frequency response etc. If you can hear it, it flows like water. A very good vinyl rip to Dsd will sound 95% of the way there to vinyl on a proper 70s high end home stereo. On pcm it won't. It's about how amplitude is calculated, not so much about sound quality per se.

Once you have heard DSD tracks on a really good home system the drop in audio quality on a DAP especially in the price range of the M1 Plus is night and day. I need storage for a large track library on my DAP for on the go where listening environment is less than ideal and kind of pointless for DSD track quality. Every listening situation has its ideal setup and for me on a DAP it is quantity of tracks over quality of tracks.

 

[Wahid]

Once you have heard DSD tracks on a really good home system the drop in audio quality on a DAP especially in the price range of the M1 Plus is night and day. I need storage for a large track library on my DAP for on the go where listening environment is less than ideal and kind of pointless for DSD track quality. Every listening situation has its ideal setup and for me on a DAP it is quantity of tracks over quality of tracks.

I use a very good dongle on my little dap, keeping the size down to remain ultra portable. I have 2tb storage. I don't own enough music to fill it. It's 80% of what you get with a top end desktop. You need more for going out? I don't. Maybe if you listen to full concerts, and have all of Bach and Scarlatti and everyone else, in high res, you might

 

[sofastreamer]

No, M1 Plus is overall upgraded version of M1 Plus. Better DAC, better amplifiers, more power, for many people also more useful desgin when it comes to buttons/ports.



For now we have just the green one. Not sure if or when we will be adding more colors.



Digital filters are fairly complex and highly personal topic of Hi-Fi, not something to simply put into a chart/

You can read up on it in many places, here is our recommended article on this topic: https://addictedtoaudio.com.au/blogs/how-to/how-to-pick-the-best-filter-setting-for-your-dac

- Charging light is on when unit is still active or in standby mode. It turns off when completely powered off.
- You can adjust items on the main menu, in our experience most users actually only end up with 1 page of icons.
- Yes, even OTA update requires card, as the unit doesn't have its own memory just for downloading firmware.
- Our Tidal options are limited by what Tidal provides.
- It's coaxial output, so please do not use optical cables.
First result on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Luochahaishi...Z9QNJ1T/ref=pd_lpo_sccl_1/137-2160477-8660645
Just make sure to search for 3.5mm Coaxial cable and look for ones using 4pin TRRS connector.



- That strange, our other MTouch players correctly sort tracks according to disc number. Thanks for report, will get it to software team.
- In folder playing, you can have it stop at the end of folder, just run of the folder skip in playback settings.
- Noted on the date sorting.



Will report the BTA30 to our software team for a check.
Could you maybe do a factory reset on BTA30 and try to connect M1 plus as the first device?

To power device while avoiding charging battery would require additional power circuit inside. So far there is no Shanling device with such feature.

will do the factory resets and report back

 

[fish1050]

I use a very good dongle on my little dap, keeping the size down to remain ultra portable. I have 2tb storage. I don't own enough music to fill it. It's 80% of what you get with a top end desktop. You need more for going out? I don't. Maybe if you listen to full concerts, and have all of Bach and Scarlatti and everyone else, in high res, you might

That is also the issue, what type of music do you listen to and what is the availability of those genre's and the cost of buying DSD files? I have almost 20,000 tracks, from the 1950's to today, mostly Classic Rock, R&B, some pop music and a mix of other genres. How much of my collection could I even find in DSD format? I am not a classical music listener which I am sure is much easier to find in DSD format. I can readily find 24 bit and 16 bit flac format albums so hunting down DSD versions is more time and money than makes sense. Once you start adding DSD tracks to your DAP library you start to head down a long and expensive path to try and upgrade as much of your collection as possible. Keeping all your music around the same format quality you won't feel like you are missing out on something better.

Kind of like the never ending search for better and better DAP's we on this forum seem to be chasing endlessly, myself included.