[Shanling]

Dear Head-Fi'ers,
 
Shanling Audio is proud to be a member of the community of Head-FI. We are happy to have you Head-Fi’ers putting forward questions and suggestions to us.
 
Shanling Audio has been producing Hi-End products for over 27 years. As one of the largest manufacturer in China, we have a wide range of product line, including CD player, amplifier, D/A converter, players, etc.
 
Now we are launching a new product line, the portable line.
M3 is a Hi-Res music player, which recently supports DSD playback

 
M3 discussion thread http://www.head-fi.org/t/756779/shanling-m3
A review by Yoyo Joker http://www.head-fi.org/products/shanling-m3-portable-digital-audio-player/reviews/12803
 
H3 is a headphone DAC AMP, which supports Bluetooth connection and also DSD decoding

H1 is a mini headphone AMP, provides huge driving power comparing to the size.

 
 
More products, including entry level and advanced models, are coming very soon in this year. Please accept our sincere invitation to join us discussing and sharing your valuable experience.
 
For those who are interested in distributing our products please feel free to contact us by PM or by emailing info@shanling.com.
If you want to purchase our devices, please contact our local dealer or contact us directly for further information.
 
 
Thank you very much for your attention.
Shanling Audio

 

[gikigill]

Please PM me as I would like some prices on your H3 and H1 amp.

 

[Army-Firedawg]

Welcome to Head-Fi guys! Your products look really interesting, looking forward to future posts from you.

 

[hifistarter]

Welcome aboard.  I wanted to ask are there any retailers / distributors setup in the U.S. as of yet?

 

[hakushondaimao]

The M3 and H3 have very distinctive looks. I'd be very interested in trying these out some time.

 

[avitron142]

Welcome to Head-fi!

 

[dardello]

Where are the prices?

 

[earfonia]

Welcome!
 
The design of the devices look very very nice!

 

[gandhisfist]

The M3 is probably the only dap in this price range with an optical transport, unless someone else knows of one i haven't been able to find.  Usually have to go above $1k and shell out for an AK player for that.

 

[jkross22]

It looks like there are a few sellers on eBay selling these Shanling units. 

 

[racer11]

i wonder how this compares to cowon p1

 

[hifistarter]

Amazon is showing them as well now.

 

[nmatheis]

Shanling M3 Review Tour

Shanling H3 Review Tour

 

[nmatheis]

Lend Me Ur Ears has Shanling portables bundled with select Dunu and Vsonic IEM on sale right now. For instance, but an M3 and get Vsonic GR07 Classic for ~$15 or Dunu Titan for ~$45.

LINK

 

[nmatheis]

FYI: I've got reviews for both H3 and M3 up.
 

Spoiler: M3 Review

 

BACKGROUND

A bit of information about Shanling excerpted from their Website:

Shenzhen Shanling Digital Technology Development Co., Ltd. is a joint-venture high-tech enterprise specializing in research and development, manufacture, marketing and sales of audio products.  Shanling began as a developer of audio products in 1988, producing its first Hi-Fi stereo power amplifier.  Since then, Shanling has grown and now manufactures a wide range of products – SACD/CD player, high fidelity solid-state and vacuum tube amplifier, advanced mini music center, tuner, audio/video amplifier, etc.

Today, we'll be looking at their first entry into the ever-expanding Chinese DAP market, the Shanling M3.  

Before moving on, I'd like to point readers to two reviews that piqued my curiosity:

1. @YoYo JoKeR's M3 review
2. @marcusd's M3 review on headfonics.com

Both reviews captured the essence of the M3 very well and have a different point of view than I do, so please hit those reviews up for a couple different perspectives.
 
Here's a LINK to the dedicated M3 thread, where you can look for previous and upcoming impressions, links to firmware updates, etc.
 
 

DISCLAIMER

I was provided the Shanling M3 as a review sample as part of a U.S. + Canada Review TourI'm coordinating.  There is no financial incentive from Shanling in writing this review.  I am in no way affiliated with Shanling, and this is my honest opinion of the M3.  I would like to thank @Shanling for giving several Head-Fi community members a chance to test drive the M3!
 
 

ABOUT ME

I'm a 43 year old father who loves music.  From electronic (Autechre, Boards of Canada) to modern/minimalist composition (John Cage, Philip Glass) to alternative rock (Flaming Lips, Radiohead) to jazz (John Coltrane and Miles Davis) to metal (Behemoth, King Diamond) to classic rock (Eagles, Rush), I listen to a wide variety of genres and artists. 
 
My portable music journey started with the venerable Sony Cassette Walkman and then progressed to portable CD players, minidisc recorders (still have my Sharp DR7), and finally on to DAPs like the Rio Karma, iRiver IHP-1xx, iPod 5.5, iPhones, and the newer crop of DAPs from Fiio and iBasso. 
 
I typically listen with IEMs from my ever-growing collection from budget to mid-fi. Less often, I grab a pair of full-size cans.  Recently, I've been listening a lot with my AKG K553 and HiFiMan HE400, as well as the Alpha & Delta AD01 and RHA T20 IEM I had in for testing.  I do have a lot of other gear, though.  You can always check my profile for a reasonably up to date gear list. 
 
As with a lot of people my age, I've got some hearing issues.  I've got mild tinnitus and suffer from allergies, which often affect hearing in my right ear.  I'll admit it, I'm not blessed with a pair of golden ears.  That said, I've been listening to portable gear for a long time and feel confident in assessing audio gear - just wanted to be transparent up front. 
 

 

REVIEW

 
SPECIFICATIONS

1. Frequency response: 20Hz～20kHz
2. THD: <0.004%
3. Nominal power: 250mW @ 32Ω; 16mW @ 300Ω
4. Battery charging time: ~6 hours @ 2 amps (power off); ~10 hours (power off) via typical USB computer port
5. Battery Life: >10 hours (volume 30, screen off)
6. Battery: 3600mAH rechargeable lithium polymer battery
7. Recommended impedance: 16 - 300Ω
8. Storage: 8 GB internal storage + TF card (up to 64 GB)
9. Dimension: 69 x 21 x 125.5 mm (2.7 x 0.8 x 4.9 inches)
10. Net weight: ~220 grams

FEATURES

1. Broad support for audio files including DSD
2. DAC functionality
3. Unique joystick / command dial operation
4. Hardware Bass / Treble Controls
5. SRC Upsampling

MSRP: $450
 
STREET PRICE: $360

 
 
PACKAGING
 
The M3 comes in a classy matte black hinged box with embossed writing on the lid with an outer sleeve that mimics the inner box.
 
 
 

Upon opening the hinged box, you find the M3 nestled in a foam cutout.  When you first get it, the M3 will have thin protective plastic covers over the command dial / joystick and over the screen.  The protective cover over the screen has directions for using the command dial / joystick.
 
 
 
Under the protective foam, you'll find a thin black cardboard box with what looks like a warranty card in Chinese, a user manual in Chinese and English, a couple screen protectors, and a USB cable for charging and data transfer.  I'm glad the manual has an English section now and also that screen protectors are now included, as there were called out in the reviews I referenced above.  
 

 
 
Surprisingly for this price point, you won't find a carry pouch or silicon case.   I'd suggest Shanling at least consider a carry pouch for storage when your M3 isn't in use.  Even better yet, it would be fabulous if they included their very attractive leather case with the M3.  They come in black, red, and tan.
 

 
 

 
 

BUILD & ERGONOMICS

 

 
 
My first reaction after opening the box was, "Wow, that command dial / joystick thing looks pretty cool.  I hope it works well!"  I'd already seen a few comparison pics with other DAPs, so I wasn't surprised when I picked it up and fond it to be a bit larger than my other DAPs.  It felt quite solid with a full metal case.  The command dial / joystick is also metal and feels like it's built to last.  No way you're going to accidentally boost the volume into ear implosion territory with that dial.  No way!
 
There was a question in the tour thread about the command dial / joystick's durability, so I shot Shanling an email.  The reply was quick, and Shanling let me know that the command dial / joystick is manufactured by Alps and is rated for 50,000 presses in each direction.  Shanling also said that they haven't received any reports of a faulty command dial / joystick yet.  With that out of the way, let's take a tour of the M3.
 
 
The top has the knurled command dial / joystick, power button, screen, and a lot of black metal casing.  The bottom has the usual information.
 

 
 
 
The left and right sides are pretty sparse, with just a shallow groove to make gripping your M3 easier.
 

 
 
 
The bottom edge of the M3 has combined Line / SPDIF In & Out ports, USB port for charging and data transfer, and the sole micro SD slot.  Interestingly, this is the only DAP I have where the mSD card inserts with the writing side up and contact side down, which seems more natural to me.  I'm always trying to insert them that way on my other DAPs, can get them inserted, and then have to try again with the mSD card upside down.  Not so with the M3!  (BTW: I added the jack plugs, since I knew I wouldn't be using those ports much).
 

 
 
The top edge just has the headphone jack and a reset hole (which I never had to use).  In one of the previous reviews, it was noted that the headphone jack had bearings inside and wasn't the most secure connection.  I didn't find this to be the case.  All of the headphone plugs I inserted clicked in firmly and securely.
 

 
 

Here are some comparison pic with my other DAPs.
 
L-R: Shanling M3, Fiio X5, Fiio X3, iBasso DX90
 

 
 
Here's a stock photo of how it fits in your hand.  (BTW: I think they found someone with exceptionally large hands!)
 

 

 

To sum up: The M3 is solid, has a very modern, industrial appearance, and feels good in your hand.  But compared to my other DAPs, its larger size made it less pocket-friendly.  It's certainly possible, but it is a tight fit.  Of course, the most intriguing aspect from a design perspective is the command dial / joystick and lack of buttons beyond the power button.  Read on to find out how this works...
 
 

USER INTERFACE / FIRMWARE

 
User Interface (UI) can make or break your experience with any piece of technology.  In this case, the Shanling M3 makes a pretty radical departure from the physical interface most of us are used.  Let's be honest, it looks like it shouldn't work, doesn't it?  I mean, how are you supposed to navigate through the menu, music, skip tracks, and adjust volume all with that one command dial / joystick?  In practice, I found it pretty easy but admit that I did get a few tips from the reviews I referenced earlier.  
 
Ok, so how do you get around the M3?  It's all about the joystick, and all you old iRiver IHP users will feel right at home.  I know I did!  But unlike the tiny iRiver joystick, this one has some heft.  The joystick has a very solid click when you press it in any of the five directions that drive the M3's navigation (left, right, up, down, and straight in).  The knurled dial makes adjusting volume very easy.  Is it foolproof?  No.  But I'll cover that later on...
 
Here's your simplified guide to navigating the M3:
 
Power Button: Turns the M3 On / Off AND turns the screen On / Off
 
Click Up: Skip to beginning of the current track if more than 10 seconds have passed OR skip to the beginning of the previous track if less than 10 seconds have passed (same as Fiio's DAPs)
Hold Up: Rewind through track
 
Click Down: Skip to the end end of the current track
Hold Down: Fast-forward through track
 
Hold Right: Activate the Main Menu on the right side of the scree
 
Click Left: Navigate back through files
Hold Left: Activate the Quick Menu
 
Click Straight In: PLAY / PAUSE
 
Turn Dial Clockwise: Volume Up
Turn Dial Counter-Clockwise: Volume Down
 
That's basically it.  Navigating through menus and files is basically just clicking up, down, right, left to drill down and back out of the various sub-menus and to select something. I did have the occasional misfire during playback where I wanted to press straight in to pause the music but clicked up or down instead and ended up skipping tracks instead.
 
 
Here's what it looks like in practice, and if you looked over @marcusd's review on headfonics.com, you'll see that Shanling has refreshed the firmware with a much more modern-looking GUI.  Nice job, Shanling!
 
 
POWERING UP (Only takes a few seconds!)
 
 
 
MAIN MENU (HOLD RIGHT)
Top - Bottom: Now Playing, Music Center, File Directory, Play Settings, System Settings

 
 
 
SUB-MENUS 
Top L - R: Music Center + File Directory
Bottom L - R: Play Settings + System Settings
 

 
 
LEFT CLICK (File Navigation) + LEFT HOLD (Quick Menu)
 

 

 
Once you get used to it, it's really easy to navigate through the menu system.  In fact, I was a bit surprised when I found myself stumbling a bit when I moved back to my trusty X5 Classic!
 
The M3 has a screen lock feature that completely disables the command dial / joystick if you're worried about accidental clicks or volume adjustments while the M3 is in your pocket.  That's a mixed blessing, and the one time I wished there were more buttons on the M3 was when it was in my pocket!  With controls disabled, you basically have to take it out of your pocket to unlock the screen and skip tracks or adjust the volume.  With controls enabled, I got some accidental track skipping but never once had accidental volume adjustments.  This makes it feel better as a "set it and forget it" DAP where you select and album to play and throw it in an accessible location in your bag with lock screen controls enabled.  Then you can just sneak your hand in to skip tracks or adjust the volume as needed with worrying to much about accidental presses.  If only there were a few control buttons near the top of the M3 for more pocket-friendly operation.

 
Is it perfect?  Nope, it's not.  As an earlier reviewer pointed out, the main menu is a bit of a jumble with things you wouldn't use very often placed in the middle of the last instead of at the bottom.  This is confusing at first glance, but after getting used to the menu structure it begins to make sense because the M3 has wrap-around lists.  This means when you first enter a menu, you can click up to get to the bottom of the menu and start navigating up the menu.  So once you get used to where things are, it actually makes sense to put rarely used settings in the middle.  At least that's my thinking on this after using he M3 for awhile.  
 
Other gripes are a bit of lag and no Gapless, Play Through Folders, or Playlist support.  The lag isn't really any worse than my X5 Classic, bit its there nonetheless.  More important, there are no settings for Gapless or Play Through Folder playback.  What this means is you will get a very small gap between songs that should be seamless (which drives me batty!).  And there's no way to get the M3 to keep playing not the next folder after the current one is finished.  This isn't that big of a deal for me, as I tend to listen to one album at a time, but I know it's going to drive some of you out there crazy and might be a deal breaker.  The lack of Playlist support will also be a deal breaker for some of you.  Instead, you get a Favorites feature that's stuck on the M3.
 
Final gripes are that you can't skip tracks when you're navigating lists, since the Up / Down clicks are then relegated to menu navigation instead of skipping through tracks.  And I desperately wanted to be able to use the dial to quickly scroll through lists like an old school jog dial, but alas no joy!
 
Okay, I do have one last grip.  It's that darn 5800 track limit.  What is it with Chinese DAPs and a 5800 track limit?  Of course, the easy workaround is to just use the File Directory like I do on the rest of my Chinese DAPs.  The bonus in this is that you get to organize your music however you want to!
 
I've got to leave you with a positive because I do like this DAP.  Unlike most of my Chinese DAPs (and even my phone and tablet), the screen is bright enough to use in daylight conditions!
 
To sum up: No it's not perfect, but it is rock solid, pretty intuitive, and quite enjoyable to use.
 
 
BATTERY LIFE
 
I got ~10 hours at volume 20 with a little bit of fiddling around with the M3 - pretty spot on with Shanling's specs!

 
 
DAC
 
This isn't a feature I see myself using, as I typically just buy large capacity cards and listen straight out of my DAPs.  I gave it a spin for the review and found it to work flawlessly with my MacBook Pro running Yosemite and El Capitan, easily connecting to my Mac for use as a DAC at 192/24 resolution.  Easy-peasy!
 
 
THEMES
 
If you don't have album art, there are plenty of themes to choose from.
 
 
 
You can even simplify the Now Playing screen a bit if you want.
 

 

 

SOUND

 
During my time with the M3, I used a variety of headphones and IEM and listened to a wide variety of music in mostly AAC and FLAC formats.  I performed critical listening with M3 vs. my iPhone 5s + Shanling H3 DAC/Amp, my Fiio X5, and my iBasso DX90, volume matching across the three DAPs using a 1kHz test tone and the Decibel 10th iPhone app.
 
I typically switch off between my DX90 and X5, but as soon as the M3 arrived I started using it as my sole DAP and sound-wise found nothing to be lacking. It drove all of my HP / IEM well.  I used Low Gain for most of my HP and IEM, saving High Gain for my HE400 planars. 

 

 
 
I'll be completely upfront here and state that I think there are a lot of other reviewers who are much better at describing what they're hearing than me.  Please check out the reviews I referenced above for more eloquent / elaborate descriptions.  With that disclaimer out of the way, here's what I thought of the M3... 
 
Volume

1. 60 steps, with a bit more volume increase between steps than I'd like.  I'd much prefer it to have 120 steps for finer-grained control with sensitive HP / IEM.

 
Driving Power with AKG K553

1. M3: 21 LG, 17/18 HG
2. X5: 50 LG, 38 HG
3. DX90: 188 LG, 183 MG, 175 HG

 
Driving Power with HE400

1. M3: 26 HG
2. X5: 71 HG
3. DX90: 207 HG

 
Soundstage

1. M3 vs. H3: Comparable width.  Less depth and height.
2. M3 vs. X5: Comparable width and depth but taller.
3. M3 vs. DX90: Less width and depth, comparable height.

 
Lows

1. M3 vs. H3: More linear.  Less impactful.  More relaxed / softer. 
2. M3 vs. X5: More linear bass with less mid-bass bloom.  More natural but less fun.  Less impact / slam. 
3. M3 vs. DX90: Slightly more linear bass.  Slightly softer / less fun.  Slightly less impact / slam. 

 
Mids

1. M3 vs. H3: Similar presentation but with drier mids, conveying less emotion. 
2. M3 vs. X5: Drier / cooler yet more intimate miss.
3. M3 vs. DX90: Again, drier / cooler yet more intimate mids.

 
Highs

1. M3 vs. H3: Smoother / less edgy but lacking a bit of crispness.
2. M3 vs. X5: Smoother, more refined high end.  Less aggressive.  Less prone to accentuating sibilance.
3. M3 vs. DX90: Again, smoother, more refined high end.  Less aggressive.  Less prone to accentuating sibilance.

 
Overall

1. M3 vs. H3: The M3 sounds quite neutral in comparison, making it easier for longer listening sessions but less exciting. H3 now feels like the fun sound signature, with more bass impact, sweeter mids, and more detailed high end. 
2. M3 vs. X5: M3 has more linear bass, a taller soundstage, and is detailed without sounding aggressive, giving the M3 a more neutral, natural sound signature. In comparison, the X5 has more mid-bass and a more aggressive high end, giving it a more "fun" sound signature than the M3's more refined, smooth sound signature. 
3. M3 vs. DX90: M3 has more linear bass, soundstage is narrower and les deep, and is detailed without sounding aggressive, giving the M3 a more neutral, natural sound signature. In comparison, the DX90 has more mid-bass and a more aggressive high end, giving it a more "fun" sound signature than the M3's more refined, smooth sound signature. 

 

 
 
To sum up: Out of the dedicated DAPs I own or have tried, this is the most neutral sounding I've heard to date.  That can have its pros and cons.  On the plus side, you hear what you're supposed to be hearing.  On the negative side, if you're switching back and forth between DAPs the M3 can sound a bit flat / boring.  Get accustomed to its sound signature however, and your other DAPs might just end up sounding colored.
 
 

SUMMARY

 
PROS

1. Neutral sound signature
2. Hardware tone controls
3. Drives all of my HP / IEM well
4. Unique and attractive design
5. Solid construction
6. Intuitive navigation

 
CONS

1. On the large side / lacks pocketability
2. That pesky 5800 track limit rears its ugly head yet again
3. No gapless, play through folders, or playlist capabilities
4. No protective case
5. Lockscreen modes are all or nothing
6. Volume adjustment isn't as fine-grained as my other DAPs

 
Thanks for taking the time to read this review and thanks again to @Shanling for providing the Head-Fi community with the chance to test drive the M3!

 

Spoiler: H3 Review

 
 
 
 

BACKGROUND

A bit of information about Shanling excerpted from their Website:

Shenzhen Shanling Digital Technology Development Co., Ltd. is a joint-venture high-tech enterprise specializing in research and development, manufacture, marketing and sales of audio products.  Shanling began as a developer of audio products in 1988, producing its first Hi-Fi stereo power amplifier.  Since then, Shanling has grown and now manufactures a wide range of products – SACD/CD player, high fidelity solid-state and vacuum tube amplifier, advanced mini music center, tuner, audio/video amplifier, etc.

Today, we'll be looking at their first entry into the ever-expanding DAC/Amp market targeting smartphone users, the Shanling H3.

Here's a LINK to the dedicated H3 thread, where you can look for upcoming impressions, ask questions, etc.

 

DISCLAIMER

I was provided the Shanling H3 as a review sample as part of a U.S. + Canada Review Tour I'm coordinating.  There is no financial incentive from Shanling in writing this review.  I am in no way affiliated with Shanling, and this is my honest opinion of the H3.  I would like to thank @Shanling for giving the Head-Fi community a chance to test drive the H3, and I hope our feedback proves useful for fellow Head-Fi members as well as for Shanling.

 

INTRODUCTION
Ok, so why review the Shanling H3.  Well, when I saw it announced I wondered how well this DAC/Amp would compare to the Cayin C5DAC.  I'd just signed up for that review your and thought it would be a good opportunity to compare the two first-hand.  I was also intrigued by the Apt-X Bluetooth feature.  Wireless connectivity is something I think we're going to see more and more of in the future, so I was curious how well it worked and whether or not it would improve upon the listening experience with my iPhone and also how well the iPhone + H3 could replace my trusty Fiio X5 Classic.  On top of this, a review tour would provide other Head-Fi members a chance to check out this new DAC/Amp, compare it to existing products, and make a more informed choice about which DAC/Amp fits their needs!
 
Read on to find out whether or not the H3 met my expectations…
 
 

ABOUT ME

I'm a 43 year old father who loves music.  From electronic (Autechre, Boards of Canada) to modern/minimalist composition (John Cage, Philip Glass) to alternative rock (Flaming Lips, Radiohead) to jazz (John Coltrane and Miles Davis) to metal (Behemoth, King Diamond) to classic rock (Eagles, Rush), I listen to a wide variety of genres and artists. 
 
My portable music journey started with the venerable Sony Cassette Walkman and then progressed to portable CD players, minidisc recorders (still have my Sharp DR7), and finally on to DAPs like the Rio Karma, iRiver IHP-1xx, iPod 5.5, iPhones, and the newer crop of DAPs from Fiio and iBasso. 
 
I typically listen with IEMs from my ever-growing collection from budget to mid-fi. Less often, I grab a pair of full-size cans.  Recently, I've been listening a lot with my AKG K553 and HiFiMan HE400, as well as the Alpha & Delta AD01 and RHA T20 IEM I had in for testing.  I do have a lot of other gear, though.  You can always check my profile for a reasonably up to date gear list. 
 
As with a lot of people my age, I've got some hearing issues.  I've got mild tinnitus and suffer from allergies, which can affect hearing in my right ear.  I'll admit it, I'm not blessed with a pair of golden ears.  That said, I've been listening to portable gear for a long time and feel confident in assessing audio gear - just wanted to be transparent up front. 
 
 
SPECS
SPECIFICATIONS:

1. Output: 210mW @ 32 ohm
2. Frequency Response: 20Hz~20KHz(-0.5dB)
3. THD: <0.004%
4. Dynamic Range: >110dB
5. SNR: >120dB
6. Supported Bit Rates: 16bit, 24bit, 32bit
7. Supported Sample Rates: 44.1kHz - 384kHz

FEATURES:

1. DAC: ES9018K2M
2. I/V & LPF Opamp: OPA2134
3. 4.0 Bluetooth, APT-X supported
4. XMOS, supporting up to 384k/32bit PCM and DoP128 DSD128
5. HP Opamp: OPA2134
6. HP Buffer: TPA6120a2

MSRP: $350
 
 
PACKAGING & ACCESSORIES
Similar to the Cayin C5DAC, the H3 arrived in nuclear bomb proof packaging.  Shanling one-upped Cayin at DIY-ing some of the toughest, most packing tape covered packaging I've ever experienced, and I've received a lot of packages!  Do Chinese audio companies hold stock on packing tape companies or something?  I mean, seriously!
 
The actual H3 comes in a classy matte black hinged box with embossed writing on the lid and a very snug outer sleeve that mimics the inner box - just like the M3 DAP from Shanling.
 

 
 
Open the box and you see the Chinese-only owners manual.  I know there's a bit of English on the cover.  Disregard that.  Once you open it, nada...
 

 
 
Under that, you find the H3 and accessories nestled in foam.
 

 
 
Accessories include one stacking band (just one band - what's up with that?), a short 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable, and a long micro usb to usb cable.  There were also some silicon feet for the amp which aren't pictured here, since I'd already installed them.  Note that there's no protective case or pouch for your new H3!.  @Shanling, at this price point a protective case or much should be a mandatory accessory!
 

 
 
Speaking of the usb cable, the micro USB connector was the longest I've ever seen and stuck out on the H3's case more than any of my other micro USB cables.  Here it is fully inserted in the H3.  Notice how much metal is showing.  It was perfectly stable, though.  If I were using the H3 long-term, I'd plan on purchasing a much shorter left or right angle micro USB cable to make a lower-profile connection with my iPhone.
 

 
 
The only thing I needed to get up and running that wasn’t provided was an Apple Lightning Camera Connection Kit cable, and it’s certainly not on Shanling to provide one of those for us Apple fans.
 

 
 
 
BUILD & ERGONOMICS
The H3 comes in black or silver and has mostly metal build with a small plastic plate on top,a small plastic cover over the Bluetooth receiver on back, and a plastic gain switch.  I'm honestly not sure what Shanling was going for with the design language here.  Compared to the very unique industrial design of their M3 DAP, the H3 is very plain looking although I do think the black H3 is much better looking than the silver H3.  The build is solid with one exception which I'll cover later, so stay tuned.  Ergonomics are pretty well thought out, but there is room for improvement there, too.
 
Let’s start with the front of the H3.  Here we see the nice, large knurled metal volume knob.  It turns smoothly with just enough resistance to prevent accidentally pushing the volume too high too quickly, which is great when you're using IEMs. My one gripe with the knob is that I have gotten my fingers pinched when adjusting volume by gripping the knob from the front instead of just nudging it along from the top or bottom.  As you can probably tell from the picture below, the case has some pretty sharp edges right around the knob, so be careful.  @Shanling: If you're listening, please round these off next time!
 
The front also has the headphone jack and input selector on either side of the volume knob.  All of my plugs clicked in very snugly with no loose connections.  The metal toggle switch has nice resistance.  It clicks firmly into place and stays put.  I never had it accidentally switch to another position.
 

 
 
 
On the back, we see the Line In jack and the black plastic cover for the Bluetooth receiver.
 

 
 
 
Left side.  Nothing to see here.  Move along...
 

 
 
 
On the right side, we find the micro USB receptacle and the gain selector, which is one of my main complaints about the H3.  The gain selector is a small, raised plastic switch with far, far too little resistance.  Since the H3 didn't come with a protective case or pouch, I used a spare fabric carry pouch I had laying around.  When I removed the H3 from the pouch, it was a crap shoot whether or not the H3 would be on the gain setting I left it on.  So a friendly reminder to all of you, please make sure you turn the volume all the way down and check your gain switch when using any portable amp.  Your ears will thank you!  @Shanling: A nice solid metal slider with adequate resistance like those used in the Fiio E12 series of potable amps would be a much appreciated improvement!
 

 
 
 
How big is the H3?  Here's a comparison pic with my iPhone and the Cayin C5 DAC (another DAC/Amp I recently tested).  It has basically the same dimensions but is twice as thick.
 

 

 
 
SOUND
I’m the first to admit that describing sound isn’t an easy thing to do, so I’ll try to describe this as clearly and concisely as possible without waxing eloquent about subtle nuances that only the highly-trained ear will hear.  If you’re looking for that, there will soon be other reviews that meet your needs.  With that said, my listening was done with three goals in mind: 

• How competitive is the H3 + my iPhone 5s vs. the Cayin C5 DAC + my iPhone 5s?
• How competitive is the H3 + my iPhone 5s vs. my main DAP, the trusty Fiio X5 Classic?
• How similar is the H3 to Shanling's M3 DAP

 
I used many different HP and IEM during my time with the H3. Critical listening was done with my AKG K553 and HiFiMan HE400, volume matched with a 1kHz test tone and the Decibel 10th iPhone app. 
 
Soundstage

1. Compared to the M3 and X5, the H3 had comparable width but greater depth and height.
2. The C5 DAC had comparable depth and greater width, but I found the H3 again excelled in height.
3. I remember listening to a song where the music audibly rises over several seconds.  With the DAPs and C5 DAC, the sound seemed to rise up to my forehead level.  With the H3 the sound just kept rising and rising, feeling like it was pulling me upwards.  Nice!

 
Lows

1. Compared to the C5 DAC and X5, the H3 had tighter, faster, more linear bass with less mid-bass bloom. This made the H3 sound more natural but less fun, with less impact / slam.  Not that it's not still fun, the bass impact is still there and is satisfying - just not at the same levels as the C5 DAC and X5.
2. Compared to the M3, the H3's bass felt like the more fun option with a bit more mid-bass and slam / impact.  The M3's bass sounds even more linear, feeling more relaxed / softer in comparison.

 
Mids

1. Compared to the C5 DAC and X5, the H3's mids are cooler and less intimate. With the the X5 to a lesser degree and the C5 DAC to a greater degree, vocals sound warm / lush, making it feel like the vocalist is singing directly to you. The H3 on the other hand feels like they stepped back a bit and are singing to the room.
2. Compared to the M3, the H3's mids have a quite similar presentation but the M3's mids are a but drier, conveying less emotion. 

 
Highs

1. Compared to the C5 DAC, the H3's highs were a bit less shimmery and less analog sounding.
2. When comparing to the X5 however, the H3's highs were crisper and more detailed but less harsh / digital. The X5's highs sounded a bit aggressive in comparison, and the X5 was more prone to accentuating sibilance.
3. Compared to the M3, the H3's highs were a bit edgy. The H3 sounded crisper and more detailed, lacking the M3's smooth, relaxed presentation. 

 
Layering / Separation

1. H3 > C5 DAC > M3 > X5 

 
 
Bluetooth vs. Wired

1. Bluetooth sounds better than my iPhone but can't keep up with a wired connection or with my DAPs.  My suggestion is to stick with a wired connection.  Your ears and the H3's battery will thank you.  That said, you can certainly do worse than the Bluetooth connection.

 
Driving Power

1. The gain settings are great, and I got good use out of the volume knob with both Low and High Gain settings. IEM and most HP were good with 25-50% on Low Gain. My HE400 planars were good with 25-50% on High Gain.

 
Resolution

1. Bluetooth is limited to 16/44
2. Wired is capable of up to 24/384 and DSD128

 
Miscellaneous

1. I wasn't bothered by channel imbalance, EMI, or hiss when using the H3. The H3 is missing a bass boost setting, but I didn't find myself missing it.

 
Overall
I quite liked all of the gear I was testing out, and I think each has it's time and place and will suit someone's listening tastes well.  Sonically, I felt like my iPhone 5s + H3 (and the C5 DAC) compared very nicely to both the Fiio X5 Classic and the Shanling M3.  I could see a smartphone + either C5 DAC or H3 being a great option vs. a dedicated DAP.  Depending on your preferred sound signature, one of these options could work very well for you.  Hopefully the above descriptions will help guide you in making a decision.  In my case, the H3's cooler sound and more reasonable gain settings would lead me to reach for it over the C5 DAC in most cases.
 
 
BATTERY LIFE
My main criteria for success here was whether it would keep up with my iPhone, and it just pulled that off.  That said, the battery life isn't stellar.  I didn't time it, but I'd peg it at about 8 hours with a wired connection and 6 hours with a Bluetooth connection.  For me, this would mean I'd need to charge the H3 every day or two to keep it charged.  Hopefully other reviewers will prove their overachiever status and time the H3's wired and Bluetooth battery life.  
 
This brings me to one of my gripes with the H3, which is the lack of a useful battery indicator.  The Power LED lights up solid red when charging, solid blue when the H3 is powered on, and then changes to blinking red when the battery is low.  That's it.  There's no way I could figure out to determine how much more battery life is remaining.  Not cool!  Maybe there is a way, but having a Chinese only manual certainly didn't help.
 
@Shanling: Please give us some way to get a battery life estimate.  The Cayin C5 DAC's three Power LEDs is a better solution.  Even the Aune B1's "morse code" method is better than nothing at all. 
 
 
CONNECTIONS
Connecting to my iPhone and MacBook Pro via Bluetooth was a snap!  I flipped the H3's input toggle switch to Bluetooth, selected Shanling H3 on my iPhone or Macbook, and was up and rocking in no time.  Nice!
 
Connecting to my iPhone via USB was a bit more complicated.  Something I learned during my time with the C5 DAC and H3 is that having a separate USB receptacle dedicated just to charging makes life much, much easier for smartphone users!  With the C5 DAC, I just plugged it in and made sure it was selected as my output device.  With the H3, I had to make sure I plugged in headphones before connecting the H3 to my iPhone.  Plugging in headphones switches the H3 from charge to output mode.  So if I forgot to plug in headphones before connecting the H3, my iPhone would give me a warning message and I had to completely disconnect the H3 and try again.  Is it the end of the world?  No.  Is it a pain?  Yes.  
 
@Shanling: Please find a way to simplify this to make sure iPhone users don't get a frustrating error message when connecting the H3 when there are no headphones plugged in! 
 
Final note on connections: The H3 works just fine for watching movies.  I didn't get any lag while using it as a DAC with my MacBook Pro to watch an episode of Vikings.
 
 
SUMMARY
As I mentioned in the introduction, I was interested in testing out the Shanling H3 for a couple reasons.  
 

• I wanted to see if it fared favorably against other portable gear I owned or was testing. CHECK!
• I wanted to see how well the Apt-X Bluetooth feature worked.  Not too bad, but not as good as a wired connection.

 
The Shanling H3 is a flexible audio tool capable of greatly enhancing the audio experience with you smartphone.  If you want freedom from cables, connect via Bluetooth and it'll sound good.  If you're ok with a cable, connect via USB for great sound.  It can also spice up your DAP listening experience via Line Out.  Although I didn't write about it here, it sounded great hooked up via LO from my Fiio X5 and the Shanling M3 I was testing.  After testing the very powerful Cayin C5 DAC, I was happy to test a DAC/Amp with much more reasonable gain settings.  Good show, Shanling!  I was also happy with the H3's dimensions.  It was basically the same size as my iPhone 5s but twice as thick.  This made it very easy to pair the two.
 
Although I was mostly happy with the H3, there were a few detractors.  My main concern was the sloppy gain switch, and I hope Shanling changes to one with much more resistance in the future.  I was also disappointed with the lack of a protective case or pouch.  Other amps I've purchased include some kind of protective case or pouch - even at lower price points.  There's really no excuse not to include one, in my opinion.  And finally, the lack of a useful battery indicator left me with a battery-drained H3 on a couple occasions.  I'd strongly encourage Shanling to provide a way for H3 users to get a quick and easy battery life estimate.  This could be by multiple LEDs or coded blinking.
 
Despite any issues, if you’re using a smartphone without using an amp or DAC and think the sound signature I described for the H3 matches your listening preferences - please give the Shanling H3 some serious consideration.  This is especially true if you use harder to drive cans.  It will significantly improve your listening experience!
 
Thanks again to @Shanling for providing the Head-Fi community the opportunity to give the H3 a listen.  My iPhone already misses it!  I look forward to hearing more great portable audio products from Shanling in the future.
 
And please remember to stay tuned for more reviews from my fellow tour members.  I'm sure you'll get many different views of the H3 over the next couple months!

 
More to come from my fellow tour members.  Stay tuned...