M8T: A Unique Experience
I’ve been thoroughly enjoying both my
R8II and M8T, each offering a
unique yet complementary listening experience. With
about 60 hours of playtime on my M8T, I can confidently say it’s an
incredibly satisfying DAP. While
minor issues like freezing exist, they aren’t nearly enough to dissuade me from appreciating
what these devices bring to the table.
If someone asked me to choose just one between the
R8II and M8T,
I would fight tooth and nail and say I’ve got to keep both! They complement each other too well—each bringing something unique that I
can’t imagine giving up.
Software Adjustments
A key factor for me is using
HF Onkyo, which
improves performance compared to the stock
Hibby/Shanling players. Some claim the
SP3000 is better than the R8II, but that’s before
adding plug-ins and fine-tuning the setup. Once optimized,
the R8II improves significantly.
In
R8II, I did
not get this signature from the
stock players. I tested
Neutron and UAPP—both were
better than Hibby, with
Neutron being the more musical of the two, but
HF surpasses both. It
focuses on being organic and analog while remaining detailed.
Caveat: The
R8II also benefited from the recommended plug-ins, which
took it to another level.
The
M8T captures a similar essence while maintaining
its own unique character, having used
HF Player from day one.
Both DAPs now sound more organic and natural, with a refined presentation.
Preferred Sound Signature
I have always favored an
analog, warm signature over a cold, analytical, and detail-heavy one, as can be seen in my
past DAP choices.
I want my music to feel rich and immersive, not just technically impressive.
- The R8II was somewhat analog at first, but leaned more toward detail, spacing, and resolution, giving it a refined, spacious sound, MORE analog later with HF.
- The M8T is more geared toward pure musicality—it pulls you in with its organic/analog presentation, making music effortless and natural.
This
difference makes them complement each other well.
Sound Characteristics & Staging
Unlike
many DAPs, the
M8T is not very holographic. Instead, it’s just
sweet—like you can taste it. The
timbre is accurate, polite, and different—organic and musical.
It
doesn’t overwhelm with exaggerated staging—not to say the
staging isn’t good, but
that’s not the purpose of this DAP.
As of this morning, the bass keeps getting tighter with more ghost details revealing themselves in the mids and treble—not in an analytical sense, but in unique timbres that make you just smile.
The
R8II has deep bass/sub-bass that,
at least for now, is not present in the M8T—but I don’t think I need or even want it in the
M8T.
Its balance and refinement make bass less necessary—it’s more about immersion than impact.
Listening Modes & Customization
I’ve
only been using Transistor mode on the
M8T, which, interestingly,
sounds warm, analog, and musically perfect.
Triode mode, however, works
well for Bluetooth, where the
vocals become more natural, with
floating details that lift right out of the speakers.
Pairing them with
HP100SE (perfect, though I may sell it due to being heavy), GS3000X (customized by Grado upon request), and Arya Organic brings out a cohesive, immersive sound that works well across different genres.
- The R8II is my fun and engaging DAP
- The M8T is my relaxing, immersive DAP
That being said,
my choice of headgear may have contributed to my experience, and your mileage may vary.
Comparisons & Upgrade Path
For those
wondering about comparisons, I previously owned the
RS8/SP3000 before moving to the R8II. Initially, I felt the
RS8 had something special in its analog presentation, but after fine-tuning the
R8II, it became
competitive enough that I no longer felt the need for the RS8 or SP3000.
Before settling on the
M8T, I extensively considered the
C6III and R6 Pro Max. I even thought about going for a
more expensive DAP like the LP E7 or Cayin N30LE (which had limited runs).
After
weighing my options, I felt that the
versatility of the R8II and M8T combo made them the better decision overall.
DAP Stability & Software Tweaks
Every
DAP I’ve owned has had minor issues, but most were
easily resolved with a simple reset—similar to
older devices like the iPod 5th Gen, Cowon P, L, S, SP2000, SP3000, etc.
Personally, I
haven’t experienced freezing on my M8T, possibly because
I unplug it before it reaches 100% charge.
You may still need to play around with the
player settings to fine-tune your experience.
HF’s level of change isn’t as extensive as what old Cowon DAPs offered, where you could tweak nearly everything, but it works with the few available options.
I also noticed that
the sound signature changes with seemingly irrelevant settings—like turning auto-login on or off. I’m not sure if this is
just an Android quirk, but
it does affect the sound.
Fine-Tuning for the Best Sound
If you enjoy
tweaking sound, this setup provides
some, not a lot, of customization.
Unlike
Cowon DAPs, where
EQ and sound adjustments were nearly limitless, this is
more restricted. You
must be listening while customizing, and you
must use headgear that can pick up all the small changes.
Since my
Cowon days, I’ve always been a
fan of EQ settings, which were some of the
most functional and effective in any DAP.
That level of control allows me to tailor the sound to my preference and get the
best out of my setup.
If you’re not into customizing, your experience may differ.
Listening Habits & Music Preferences
I
never use an amp and never will. I listen to
music at low volumes, and despite being
middle-aged, my
last hearing test showed no deficiency—I intend to
keep it that way.
My
music taste is all over the place—from
classical, jazz, and metal to EDM, hip-hop, and rap.
I listen to it all, and the
M8T and R8II handle every genre well.
They deliver the
warmth and engagement I prefer without sacrificing detail, making them
the most versatile combination I’ve owned.
Final Thoughts
As my
M8T continues to burn in, I’m noticing its
bass tightening up, but even if it remains
unchanged, it still fits
its niche as a refined, natural-sounding DAP.
If someone asked me to
choose just one between the R8II and M8T, I wouldn’t be able to.
They are both essential for different reasons, and I wouldn’t give up either.
I guess I’m chilling with my R8ii til the GMA arrives this month.
