Introducing Shanling M3 Plus - New Midrange Android Portable Player at $469

[Shanling]

While it might share the M3 name with our best-selling M3X and M3 Ultra portable players, the new M3 Plus actually aims at higher levels of Hi-Fi performance, while keeping the midrange price at 469 USD.

​

M3 Plus comes with our brand-new curvy design and larger 4.7-inch display, fitting it into aluminium body that’s a little bit taller and slightly thicker than its predecessors. But this small increase in dimensions opened a whole new level of audio performance for the M3 Plus, thanks to a quad DAC design, utilizing four units of Cirrus Logic CS43198. We also significantly improved its balanced headphone output, with a pair of SGM8262 amplifiers now offering up to 800mW @ 32Ohm!

Apart from the new audio circuit, M3 Plus also matches our latest releases by adopting the modern open Android 13 system with AGLO Audio processing, two-way Bluetooth connectivity, USB DAC mode and USB Transport feature.

Available in early May 2025 at 469 USD MSRP
(USA Pricing might differ)

​

Key Specification:

- Available in 3 colours, including a new beautiful Mocha
- Dimensions: 115 x 70 x 18mm
- Weight 205g
- DAC: Four CS43198
- AMP: Two SGM8262
- CPU: Snapdragon 665
- Memory: 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM + MicroSD Card Slot
- System: Open Android 13
- Display: 4.7-Inch Sharp 1280 x 720
- Bluetooth Transmitter: V5.0 LDAC / aptX HD / aptX / SBC
- Bluetooth Receiver: V5.0 LDAC / SBC
- Hi-Res Support: PCM 32/768 & DSD512

Audio Output specification:

3.5mm Output:
Output Power
Low gain: 12.5mW@32Ω
Medium gain: 50mW@32Ω
High gain: 200mW@32Ω
THD+N: 0.0007%
Separation: 75dB@32Ω
Dynamic Range: 127dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: 127dB
Noise <1.1uV
Output impedance: less than 1Ω

4.4mm Output:
Output Power
Low gain: 50mW@32Ω
Medium gain: 200mW@32Ω
High gain: 800mW@32Ω
Frequency Response: 20Hz-40kHz (-0.2dB)
THD+N: 0.0007%
Separation: 110dB@32Ω
Dynamic Range: 130dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: 130dB
Bottom noise: <1.6uV
Output impedance: 1.5Ω

​

 

[mRaaghava]

Cool design. Is M6 Ultra's upgrade also in pipeline?

 

[Moon5123]

What are the other I/O?

 

[Neeoo]

While it might share the M3 name with our best-selling M3X and M3 Ultra portable players, the new M3 Plus actually aims at higher levels of Hi-Fi performance, while keeping the midrange price at 469 USD.

​

M3 Plus comes with our brand-new curvy design and larger 4.7-inch display, fitting it into aluminium body that’s a little bit taller and slightly thicker than its predecessors. But this small increase in dimensions opened a whole new level of audio performance for the M3 Plus, thanks to a quad DAC design, utilizing four units of Cirrus Logic CS43198. We also significantly improved its balanced headphone output, with a pair of SGM8262 amplifiers now offering up to 800mW @ 32Ohm!

Apart from the new audio circuit, M3 Plus also matches our latest releases by adopting the modern open Android 13 system with AGLO Audio processing, two-way Bluetooth connectivity, USB DAC mode and USB Transport feature.

Available in early May 2025 at 469 USD MSRP
(USA Pricing might differ)

​

Key Specification:

- Available in 3 colours, including a new beautiful Mocha
- Dimensions: 115 x 70 x 18mm
- Weight 205g
- DAC: Four CS43198
- AMP: Two SGM8262
- CPU: Snapdragon 665
- Memory: 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM + MicroSD Card Slot
- System: Open Android 13
- Display: 4.7-Inch Sharp 1280 x 720
- Bluetooth Transmitter: V5.0 LDAC / aptX HD / aptX / SBC
- Bluetooth Receiver: V5.0 LDAC / SBC
- Hi-Res Support: PCM 32/768 & DSD512

Audio Output specification:

3.5mm Output:
Output Power
Low gain: 12.5mW@32Ω
Medium gain: 50mW@32Ω
High gain: 200mW@32Ω
THD+N: 0.0007%
Separation: 75dB@32Ω
Dynamic Range: 127dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: 127dB
Noise <1.1uV
Output impedance: less than 1Ω

4.4mm Output:
Output Power
Low gain: 50mW@32Ω
Medium gain: 200mW@32Ω
High gain: 800mW@32Ω
Frequency Response: 20Hz-40kHz (-0.2dB)
THD+N: 0.0007%
Separation: 110dB@32Ω
Dynamic Range: 130dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: 130dB
Bottom noise: <1.6uV
Output impedance: 1.5Ω

​

Does it has a coax out either from type c or from 3.5mm jack? Any plans for roon integration for M3 plus?

 

[M3NTAL]

Looks like a direct competitor of the iBasso DX180. If anything happens to my DX180, this might be what I'd go for next. Can't wait to see the UI

 

[singingbee]

hoping for m6T

 

[DietmaR]

Beautiful design! @Shanling Does it have global eq or peq?

 

[Tex Irie]

While it might share the M3 name with our best-selling M3X and M3 Ultra portable players, the new M3 Plus actually aims at higher levels of Hi-Fi performance, while keeping the midrange price at 469 USD.

​

M3 Plus comes with our brand-new curvy design and larger 4.7-inch display, fitting it into aluminium body that’s a little bit taller and slightly thicker than its predecessors. But this small increase in dimensions opened a whole new level of audio performance for the M3 Plus, thanks to a quad DAC design, utilizing four units of Cirrus Logic CS43198. We also significantly improved its balanced headphone output, with a pair of SGM8262 amplifiers now offering up to 800mW @ 32Ohm!

Apart from the new audio circuit, M3 Plus also matches our latest releases by adopting the modern open Android 13 system with AGLO Audio processing, two-way Bluetooth connectivity, USB DAC mode and USB Transport feature.

Available in early May 2025 at 469 USD MSRP
(USA Pricing might differ)

​

Key Specification:

- Available in 3 colours, including a new beautiful Mocha
- Dimensions: 115 x 70 x 18mm
- Weight 205g
- DAC: Four CS43198
- AMP: Two SGM8262
- CPU: Snapdragon 665
- Memory: 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM + MicroSD Card Slot
- System: Open Android 13
- Display: 4.7-Inch Sharp 1280 x 720
- Bluetooth Transmitter: V5.0 LDAC / aptX HD / aptX / SBC
- Bluetooth Receiver: V5.0 LDAC / SBC
- Hi-Res Support: PCM 32/768 & DSD512

Audio Output specification:

3.5mm Output:
Output Power
Low gain: 12.5mW@32Ω
Medium gain: 50mW@32Ω
High gain: 200mW@32Ω
THD+N: 0.0007%
Separation: 75dB@32Ω
Dynamic Range: 127dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: 127dB
Noise <1.1uV
Output impedance: less than 1Ω

4.4mm Output:
Output Power
Low gain: 50mW@32Ω
Medium gain: 200mW@32Ω
High gain: 800mW@32Ω
Frequency Response: 20Hz-40kHz (-0.2dB)
THD+N: 0.0007%
Separation: 110dB@32Ω
Dynamic Range: 130dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: 130dB
Bottom noise: <1.6uV
Output impedance: 1.5Ω

​

Going to need this because heavy DAPs no longer make sense to me. I'm glad I didn't pick up the M3 Ultra last week.

 

[Shanling]

What are the other I/O?

3.5mm and 4.4mm output.

Two-Way USB C (Data , USB DAC, USB Transport)

Does it has a coax out either from type c or from 3.5mm jack? Any plans for roon integration for M3 plus?

No coaxial output.

You can run the official Roon app for player to serve as Roon Endpoint, we do not currently plan to further Roon integration.

Beautiful design! @Shanling Does it have global eq or peq?

No global EQ on our system.

 

[vikinguy]

Thing looks rad. Shanling is becoming my favorite DAP company.

I can't even explain how much I prefer the M8t to the SP3000t.


Not even close to my ear

 

[suman134]

What is the battery specification?

 

[Metalingus]

Will it be at high end munich?

 

[Moon5123]

3.5mm and 4.4mm output.

Two-Way USB C (Data , USB DAC, USB Transport)



No coaxial output.

You can run the official Roon app for player to serve as Roon Endpoint, we do not currently plan to further Roon integration.



No global EQ on our system.

Would have loved a coaxial output and input as well. Many of us uses daps in chain with desktop gear lots of time.
Coaxial is more battery efficient than usb.

 

[Shanling]

Will it be at high end munich?

Yes, Booth L05 - hall 3.
(might even have some for sale with discount on Sunday)

 

[JeanPaul Petrosyan]

Yes, Booth L05 - hall 3.
(might even have some for sale with discount on Sunday)

Greetings! Could you, by any chance, kindly tell whether the CS43198 DACs in M3 Plus are going to operate in the default Class H "adapt-to-signal" mode?