Introducing Shanling M8T - New Flagship Portable Android Player with Tubes

[ijisi]

That’s actually my setup! I have both high gain and Turbo mode on, and I also have all plugins enabled: Convolution, Fixed Sample Rate (OFF), Sound Field, Balance, and DRX10K Dynamics—they really bring out the best in the R8II and make a noticeable difference in the overall presentation.

However, I’ve been keeping M8T on low gain and volume at 50 to achieve a similar level of excitement. It’s crazy how different settings work for each DAP, but both are engaging in their own way!

Update: Switched to high gain, which led to dropping the volume to 20—resulting in a head-bopping, leg-tapping experience ! Still relaxing, but with a more engaging and dynamic feel—more energy, more impact, yet still smooth.

However, on low gain at 50, it was just as exciting but delivered a more relaxing, less physically engaging feel—great for a laid-back listen, which I prefer as the day winds down.

Meanwhile, the R8II is sitting in the corner, jealous, watching with no playtime right now—but its turn shall come...

 

[elnineteenth]

That’s actually my setup! I have both high gain and Turbo mode on, and I also have all plugins enabled: Convolution, Fixed Sample Rate (OFF), Sound Field, Balance, and DRX10K Dynamics—they really bring out the best in the R8II and make a noticeable difference in the overall presentation.

However, I’ve been keeping M8T on low gain and volume at 50 to achieve a similar level of excitement. It’s crazy how different settings work for each DAP, but both are engaging in their own way!

Update: Switched to high gain, which led to dropping the volume to 20—resulting in a head-bopping, leg-tapping experience ! Still relaxing, but with a more engaging and dynamic feel—more energy, more impact, yet still smooth.

However, on low gain at 50, it was just as exciting but delivered a more relaxing, less physically engaging feel—great for a laid-back listen, which I prefer as the day winds down.

Meanwhile, the R8II is sitting in the corner, jealous, watching with no playtime right now—but its turn shall come...

It might be the “new toy syndrome” so I’m going to check with you in two months in April to be exact and see if you have the same feelings.

Because I know for sure the R8ii with turbo mode and sound field it’s top performance and I doubt that the M8T offer an upgrade over that maybe a different sound.

Also the filter and plugins on the R8ii are cool but stock form is better for me now.

Also depends on the iem you use I’m rocking the RN6, and XE6 and it’s ridiculous.

 

[Leonarfd]

How many hours are you guys getting on M8T?

I have only checked how long it worked with display and WiFi ON with Tidal streaming. Used low gain and 40% volume, ended up at 7 hours with 5% left.

Having display on always take away many hours, but was interesting as I sometimes use it this way while browsing for new music.

---

I have no of the battery/charging issues, been charging it to full 5 times and other times stopping it before to not degrade the battery. Also no of the glitches mentioned in the thread, I found a different kind of bug. I love to use other Android Launchers on my DAP, like Niagara or Nova. When I apply the launcher's it will automatically override the system settings and revert back to the stock launcher.

 

[mt877]

I was gonna pull the trigger on the M8T since Shanling have it discounted but I need more impressions also, I’m only motivated to get the M8T is because I’m expecting the Grand Maestro anniversary edition by the end of this month and I have heard that the R8ii wouldn’t drive it to its full potential.

Also, from what I can gather the M8T doesn’t offer an upgrade over the R8ii it’s more like side-grade.

Wow, paid full price at release, now discounted $150 less a few weeks later. Makes me feel real good about this player right now...

 

[elnineteenth]

Wow, paid full price at release, now discounted $150 less a few weeks later. Makes me feel real good about this player right now...

I’m probably gonna wait until next November to get it half priced and all the software issues get fixed

 

[mt877]

I’m probably gonna wait until next November to get it half priced and all the software issues get fixed

I hope @Shanling will be addressing the reported issues much sooner than later. The Lunar New Year celebration is done, it should be back to work to resolve issues with this TOTL DAP.

 

[ijisi]

I'm spending more time on the M8T, not because I see it as an upgrade over the R8II, but to allow it to fully burn in—mainly because I already have 500+ hours on the R8II, since I bought it first.


With my current setup, both are very warm and analog-sounding. At the moment, the R8II feels more impactful, more engaging, and grander in presentation, while the M8T, at low gain and in Transistor mode (my preference),offers a different timbre and dynamics—more relaxing and unobtrusive, with a sound that effortlessly fades into the background. It’s the kind of DAP I can leave playing for hours while working on something else, with just the right amount of bass—very smooth and perfectly balanced with the mids and treble. Triode for bluetooth still holds.


In terms of battery life, the M8T lasts around 7 hours, while the R8II easily exceeds 10 hours in the same setup.

 

[McCol]

I'm slowly building up some hours on the M8T and have to say I'm mightly impressed so far.

Most of my litening so far has been in tube triode mode with the Fir Audio Rn6.

I'm finding the Triode mode to be very musical with a lovely warm analouge presentation that just engulfs especially when I use my Sony z1r iem's. This mode also tames the energy of the Rn6.
Unlike @ijisi I'm finding the Transistor mode to be more dynamic and not as warm as the Triode mode, more energy with a bit if a snap to certain genres of music.

It's still early days for me, I want to spend time in the next few days really comparing to my Cayin N7 which has been the DAP that has given me the most pleasue over the last few years (sold my N8ii Ilike it that much). I use the Cayin N7 alongside the C9 amp, want to see how the M8T stacks against it.

In terms of issues, I've had the freeze twice when charging and I'm pretty sure it's software related, I've experienced this before with DAPs that is rectified with firmware updates. I've had no other issues and fin the software stable and responsive.

 

[Stu Paddasso]

Wow, paid full price at release, now discounted $150 less a few weeks later. Makes me feel real good about this player right now...

Where do you see this $150 discount?

 

[rantng]

Where do you see this $150 discount?

Direct from Shanling - https://store.shanling.com/M8T-pd586503558.html
10% discount for Chinese New Year. It won't ship until 2/10 after they return from the break.

 

[aaf evo]

I'm slowly building up some hours on the M8T and have to say I'm mightly impressed so far.

Most of my litening so far has been in tube triode mode with the Fir Audio Rn6.

I'm finding the Triode mode to be very musical with a lovely warm analouge presentation that just engulfs especially when I use my Sony z1r iem's. This mode also tames the energy of the Rn6.
Unlike @ijisi I'm finding the Transistor mode to be more dynamic and not as warm as the Triode mode, more energy with a bit if a snap to certain genres of music.

It's still early days for me, I want to spend time in the next few days really comparing to my Cayin N7 which has been the DAP that has given me the most pleasue over the last few years (sold my N8ii Ilike it that much). I use the Cayin N7 alongside the C9 amp, want to see how the M8T stacks against it.

In terms of issues, I've had the freeze twice when charging and I'm pretty sure it's software related, I've experienced this before with DAPs that is rectified with firmware updates. I've had no other issues and fin the software stable and responsive.

I believe SW also, it doesn’t freeze if you leave the DAP powered on and just shut the screen off.

 

[McCol]

Wow, paid full price at release, now discounted $150 less a few weeks later. Makes me feel real good about this player right now...

Yep, discounted along with all their products for Chinese New Year.

 

[Endine]

What's the recommended burn-in time?

 

[McCol]

What's the recommended burn-in time?

I don't normally set a time and I don't tend to leave DAP's burning in unlistened. I used too but I like to hear the changes take place, if there are any. I do beleive in burn in but I've had a few DAP's that hardly show any change.
Generally though maybe 25-30 hours

 

[Dron86]

What's the recommended burn-in time?

After 35-40 hours, vocal is slightly pushed aside and bass is a little bit bloated(not critical). Hope, it will become more controlled.
Think, the sound will finally settle somewhere near 100 hours, like it was on my M7.

These burn-ins during weeks looks annoying. You buy 1500 usd top-tier device and it doesn’t play the way it was intended right out of the box. Not saying about firmware bugs.