Shanling H7 - High-End Portable DAC/AMP/Player, Featuring new AKM AK4499EX Flagship DAC

[Headcan]

Sync loss, as the app completely disconnects from H7 while the app is running? Or while the phone is sleeping, app in background?

Android app version 2.1.1

Random dropouts (SyncLink) while using app. Does it on my non primary older Android 10 smartphone too. So, I doubt it's Android version related.

Have a feeling the crashing is due to the loading of the songs (mine is maxed to 20000) in the ROM.

1TB Sandisk Ultra with a little under 16000 tracks here. I don't think that's the issue either. I think the Android app is just buggy as heck. Elaborate on that a bit later, busy testing the IOS version of Eddict App. Smooth sailing thus far.

 

[arijitroy2]

Android app version 2.1.1

Random dropouts (SyncLink) while using app. Does it on my non primary older Android 10 smartphone too. So, I doubt it's Android version related.

I agree, got 2.1.2 now and that still crashes.
I managed to find a workaround, but that is to connect to synclink, then change to TF card mode, play a song and then browse to the Folders section.

If i dont play the song and try to browse the folder, the app crashes.

 

[Headcan]

@arijitroy2

Link to v2.1.2 please.

I assume I would have to side load.

 

[arijitroy2]

@arijitroy2

Link to v2.1.2 please.

I assume I would have to side load.

https://www.shanling.com/download/76

 

[Headcan]

Much appreciated, thanks. Installed and testing now.
Was searching for it on their English site but seems to only be available on the Chinese site.

 

[Headcan]

Fruitful day today enjoying H7 in player mode, controlled via iPad Air Gen4 > Eddict IOS app V2.0.13

Seems to be a slightly stripped down version of the Android app, or is it just a not yet updated version? @Shanling

Either way, it’s stable and most brilliantly, no pulling album art from web with this version. Happy chappie.

Further to that, side loaded Eddict Android app V2.1.2 on an old Huawei P20 (Android version 10). It’s been four hours of continuous play and happy to inform that I have had zero dropouts or app crashes. Still can’t switch off the darn album art retrieval from web though. Also, I found another minor bug in that scrolling through lyrics causes playback to stutter.

Also tested/timed battery life today. Getting just shy of 8 hours on a full charge, in player mode, via 4.4mm out.

 

[Scubadevils]

I'm enjoying the H7 a lot, sounds fantastic with any of my IEMs I've tested with so far. I am having an issue with connecting via USB to my Macbook however - it appeared in sound output in settings just once, I've had to use Bluetooth otherwise - it's not the USB cable as I've used that to connect directly to a DAP without problems. Any suggestions @Shanling please?

 

[juniores]

The main reason why we are rather hesitant is the sound. As long as there are no direct comparisons with the M8, I wouldn't necessarily buy the H7. The sound of the H7 should be at least as good or superior. For example, I personally like the sound of the M8 better than the M9. But that's all a question of taste. But I don't think the idea of the H 7 is bad. And you always have your cell phone with you to use. What bothers me about the M8 is that it gets so damn hot. I can hardly put it in a bag with the outside temperatures here. That would be a reason to buy the H7. I don't think the H7 gets nearly as hot. And there is nothing to complain about the processing of Shanling devices. Look and feel very high quality.

Ok, I let the H7 warm up and made the first comparison with the M8. For now, some first observations.
Bass: The H7 has a better texture, goes as low, but is better differentiated. The M8 has fuller bass across the range, more subwoofer-like.
Mid: The M8 has a (slightly) closer vocal which makes it feel warmer, showing more background elements by boosting the upper range. The H7 has better resolution and is smoother.
Highs: The M8 has a slight roll-off in the top end and focuses on the lower end, the H7 has a better extended top but still a soft top end, making the stage feel larger.
The H7 sounds more U-shaped to me.
The differences are not large, but noticeable. From an audiophile point of view, the H7 is better, but it will all depend on the headphones you plug in and your preferences. For me, H7 is a more "mature" M8 sound.

 

[Shanling]

I have found a workaround right now to make it work thru the folders section.

Have a feeling the crashing is due to the loading of the songs (mine is maxed to 20000) in the ROM.

Can we get an option to remove views which we dont want, like Artist, Hi-res, etc or give an option to disable the app from loading it, that should probably stop the crashes.

Well, you can try to just reset the H7, reset the app, to clear both memories. It then doesn't have to deal with any library and you can just use the folder browsing.

You almost had me excited there for a moment. Unfortunately, this does not seem to work for Album Covers. Even when ticking "Shut down" it still retrieves album covers from web when Wi-Fi or Mobile Data is switched on. Also, this option under "Setup" is only available with SyncLink turned off. With SyncLink on, all other options, other than "Music Scan" are greyed out.

Will check on this, it should turn it off normally.

Fruitful day today enjoying H7 in player mode, controlled via iPad Air Gen4 > Eddict IOS app V2.0.13

Seems to be a slightly stripped down version of the Android app, or is it just a not yet updated version? @Shanling

Either way, it’s stable and most brilliantly, no pulling album art from web with this version. Happy chappie.

Further to that, side loaded Eddict Android app V2.1.2 on an old Huawei P20 (Android version 10). It’s been four hours of continuous play and happy to inform that I have had zero dropouts or app crashes. Still can’t switch off the darn album art retrieval from web though. Also, I found another minor bug in that scrolling through lyrics causes playback to stutter.

Also tested/timed battery life today. Getting just shy of 8 hours on a full charge, in player mode, via 4.4mm out.

iOS app is limited in functions due to iOS limitations, so yes, it's stripped down version.

I'm enjoying the H7 a lot, sounds fantastic with any of my IEMs I've tested with so far. I am having an issue with connecting via USB to my Macbook however - it appeared in sound output in settings just once, I've had to use Bluetooth otherwise - it's not the USB cable as I've used that to connect directly to a DAP without problems. Any suggestions @Shanling please?

Will report this to software team, if they can check it with any Mac, not something we do normally. Can you tell me which Macbook platform and which system version?

 

[armstrj2]

@Shanling a nice feature for the future if possible would be a soft start on the volume so it ramps up when you hit play rather than coming on full at the previous volume. If it ramped up it would save your ears from being blasted if you swap to a more sensitive earphone and forget to turn the volume down. The ramp would give you a chance to realise what you have done and hit pause.

 

[RIGATIO]

Hows the quality of the BT when streaming? Is the leap big going with USB?

 

[sutonpu]

when you arrive
I would like to compare the sound quality of BLUETOOTH and USB connection
fun

 

[arijitroy2]

I didn use the USB yet but the sound difference between BT LDAC and hi-res files stored on the sdcard was quite minimal to my ears. BT source was Qobuz streaming.

 

[FooFighter]

I'm enjoying the H7 a lot, sounds fantastic with any of my IEMs I've tested with so far. I am having an issue with connecting via USB to my Macbook however - it appeared in sound output in settings just once, I've had to use Bluetooth otherwise - it's not the USB cable as I've used that to connect directly to a DAP without problems. Any suggestions @Shanling please?

I don't have H7 but have experienced similar issues with other DAPs in the past.
Do you happen to have some USB hub for your thunderbolt port?
Using such had solved similar issues on MacOS in the past...

 

[Headcan]

@Shanling

I’ve noticed that H7 does not enter charge mode with some of my third party type C chargers. It does however work with an Apple 20W 0.5amp charger and Apple type C-C cable.

The store I bought my unit from have since released the following statement:

“Warm reminder - Shanling H7 does not support the C-C charging cable. It can only be used by the A-C charging cable, which is the kind of line in our packaging.”

I have for now reverted to using an old charger with the included A-C cable, but wanted to just get clarity on above statement as there is no mention of such in the included Quick Start Guide. Is this an official statement from Shanling?