Shanling M1s - Compact Portable Player (Discontinued)

[wcrespo178]

Hey M1S gang,

Hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

While on USB-out mode, My M1S won't go past 85% volume, and the DAC it connects to performs as though it's relying on a DAP at 85% volume. Consequently, my volume pot needs to rotate MUCH more than usual for decent listening volumes.

Is there a setting that's causing my 85% volume issue?

 

[Shanling]

Hey M1S gang,

Hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

While on USB-out mode, My M1S won't go past 85% volume, and the DAC it connects to performs as though it's relying on a DAP at 85% volume. Consequently, my volume pot needs to rotate MUCH more than usual for decent listening volumes.

Is there a setting that's causing my 85% volume issue?

What USB DAC is this?

 

[wcrespo178]

What USB DAC is this?

I'm connecting the M1S to my WA7 DAC/Amp.

 

[Shanling]

I'm connecting the M1S to my WA7 DAC/Amp.

Can you test it with any other DAC? We don't have access to Woo amps, so not something we can test/

Have you tried it with fixed volume on USB?

 

[carpman]

Hi

Recently purchased the M1S and I'm a little confused about the USB Audio options.

Under System Settings > USB Mode there are 3 options (the first two I understand):

1. USB Storage (i.e. when connected to PC / laptop)
2. USB DAC (when connected to a laptop for using as a DAC)
3. USB Audio (I can't see it in the manual)

You can select USB DAC or USB Audio (it's either one or the other)

Under playback it has a "digital output" option.

So it looks like you can transmit audio data from USB but does that mean you can go from USB Audio to RCA (if digital audio isn''t selected, and if it is you can feed signal digitally to a DAC)?

i.e. What is the purpose of the USB Audio? Is it basically a digital line out for DAC/Amps that have a digital USB input? So rather than use the DAC in the M1S its sending Digital to Digital for a DAC in the amp or a separate DAC ?

Thanks and please forgive my ignorance (I'm from the old world of line outs and RCA cables).

Finally, my other question is about the gain option:
If I'm using the Line Out option from the 3.5mm output to RCA into a Class D amp, I assume I want to have Gain on Low (not High). Is that correct?

Any and all help much appreciated.

Cheers,

C.

UPDATE:
Forgot the 3.5mm output can output digital via coaxial. So I'm guessing that's what the "digital output" in the playback settings is referring to. So, I'm assuming the USB Audio is a kind of "digital line out for DAC/Amps that have a digital USB input? So rather than use the DAC in the M1S its sending Digital to Digital for a DAC in the amp or a separate DAC ?" If that's the case do USB-C to RCA cables work in such a scenario? As you can see, I'm confused.

 

[ma151]

One question: is the 4.4mm output also a Line Out output ?
If so, can I use with a schiit jotunheim 2 with a 4.4mm to Dual XLR cable ? And using like this, I'll be ONLY using the DAC part of the M1s and not the AMP, right ?
And if all the above is correct, how much power does it output (Vrms?)? Is there a "volume fixed" option ?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Shanling]

Hi

Recently purchased the M1S and I'm a little confused about the USB Audio options.

Under System Settings > USB Mode there are 3 options (the first two I understand):

1. USB Storage (i.e. when connected to PC / laptop)
2. USB DAC (when connected to a laptop for using as a DAC)
3. USB Audio (I can't see it in the manual)

You can select USB DAC or USB Audio (it's either one or the other)

Under playback it has a "digital output" option.

So it looks like you can transmit audio data from USB but does that mean you can go from USB Audio to RCA (if digital audio isn''t selected, and if it is you can feed signal digitally to a DAC)?

i.e. What is the purpose of the USB Audio? Is it basically a digital line out for DAC/Amps that have a digital USB input? So rather than use the DAC in the M1S its sending Digital to Digital for a DAC in the amp or a separate DAC ?

Thanks and please forgive my ignorance (I'm from the old world of line outs and RCA cables).

Finally, my other question is about the gain option:
If I'm using the Line Out option from the 3.5mm output to RCA into a Class D amp, I assume I want to have Gain on Low (not High). Is that correct?

Any and all help much appreciated.

Cheers,

C.

UPDATE:
Forgot the 3.5mm output can output digital via coaxial. So I'm guessing that's what the "digital output" in the playback settings is referring to. So, I'm assuming the USB Audio is a kind of "digital line out for DAC/Amps that have a digital USB input? So rather than use the DAC in the M1S its sending Digital to Digital for a DAC in the amp or a separate DAC ?" If that's the case do USB-C to RCA cables work in such a scenario? As you can see, I'm confused.

Correct, USB Audio is there for use of M1s as digital transport for USB DACs.

Just USB-C to RCA cable is not possible, you would have to have some DAC in the way there. The Ugreen cable you linked would have some low-quality DAC built-in, so you would most likely end up with degraded sound compared to the direct output from 3.5mm.

We recommend setting High gain and line-out enabled for running RCA to decent amplifier. If you are running some cheap tabletop speaker, the low gain might be better.

One question: is the 4.4mm output also a Line Out output ?
If so, can I use with a schiit jotunheim 2 with a 4.4mm to Dual XLR cable ? And using like this, I'll be ONLY using the DAC part of the M1s and not the AMP, right ?
And if all the above is correct, how much power does it output (Vrms?)? Is there a "volume fixed" option ?

Thanks in advance.

4.4mm is also affected by line-out mode, you can use it with XLR inputs on balanced amplifiers. Just maybe check with the amplifier manufacturer, if they are fine with balanced inputs running without ground connected.

M1s do not have dedicated line-out circuit, so you would still be running it through its amp. But it will have no significant impact.

Output will be in line-out high gain around 2.8V on balanced out.

 

[carpman]

We recommend setting High gain and line-out enabled for running RCA to decent amplifier. If you are running some cheap tabletop speaker, the low gain might be better.

Thanks for the quick reply. I'll be mostly running these small Monitor Audio Monitor 50 speakers via an Aiyima A07 or at most some Elac Debut B5.2 bookshelf speakers. Does that warrant High Gain in your opinion?

Also, final question with regard to USB Audio -- what is the purpose of Volume Fixed (versus Volume Variable)? Does this just mean that the digital audio signal bypasses the M1s' internal signal amplification as well as the DAC? i.e. you're simply passing "untouched" digital data for another DAC / amp to deal with?

Again, please forgive my ignorance here.

C.

 

[Shanling]

Thanks for the quick reply. I'll be mostly running these small Monitor Audio Monitor 50 speakers via an Aiyima A07 or at most some Elac Debut B5.2 bookshelf speakers. Does that warrant High Gain in your opinion?

Also, final question with regard to USB Audio -- what is the purpose of Volume Fixed (versus Volume Variable)? Does this just mean that the digital audio signal bypasses the M1s' internal signal amplification as well as the DAC? i.e. you're simply passing "untouched" digital data for another DAC / amp to deal with?

Again, please forgive my ignorance here.

C.

If your Aiyima is normal decent amp, definitely run it in high-gain on M1s.

By small desktop speaker I'm talking more about these tiny plastic self-powered "toys" that are made for use with smartphones. There the full line-out voltage can cause issues.

On digital out it always bypasses analog circuit on M1s. But some USB devices needs the M1s to control the volume in digital space (For example headphone with USB-C connector, small USB dongles, etc), that's why there is switch between variable and fixed volume.

 

[carpman]

Perfect !! Thanks for the clarification.

C.

 

[ma151]

Output will be in line-out high gain around 2.8V on balanced out.

Perfect, but should I set the volume to 100 on this case ?

 

[Shanling]

Perfect, but should I set the volume to 100 on this case ?

Set it to line-out mode.

 

[gael]

Anyone else hearing tonal differences between the outputs? To me SE sounds warmer than BAL. Not a big deal because technical performance is the same (which is surprisingly uncommon on the market), but I just want to confirm I'm not mental

 

[o0genesis0o]

Anyone else hearing tonal differences between the outputs? To me SE sounds warmer than BAL. Not a big deal because technical performance is the same (which is surprisingly uncommon on the market), but I just want to confirm I'm not mental

Not surprising. My UP4 sounds different when switching between low gain, high gain, and boost mode from the same port, using the same IEM (P8).

 

[wcrespo178]

Headphones in my collection that this DAP sounds amazing with:
1. Klipsch HP3
2. Koss Porta Pro

Consider trying them out if you love this DAP