Shanling M3 Plus - New Midrange Android Portable Player at $469

[Shanling]

While it might share the M3 name with our best-selling M3X and M3 Ultra portable players, the new M3 Plus actually aims at higher levels of Hi-Fi performance, while keeping the midrange price at 469 USD.

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M3 Plus comes with our brand-new curvy design and larger 4.7-inch display, fitting it into aluminium body that’s a little bit taller and slightly thicker than its predecessors. But this small increase in dimensions opened a whole new level of audio performance for the M3 Plus, thanks to a quad DAC design, utilizing four units of Cirrus Logic CS43198. We also significantly improved its balanced headphone output, with a pair of SGM8262 amplifiers now offering up to 800mW @ 32Ohm!

Apart from the new audio circuit, M3 Plus also matches our latest releases by adopting the modern open Android 13 system with AGLO Audio processing, two-way Bluetooth connectivity, USB DAC mode and USB Transport feature.

Available in early May 2025 at 469 USD MSRP
(USA Pricing might differ)

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Key Specification:

- Available in 3 colours, including a new beautiful Mocha
- Dimensions: 115 x 70 x 18mm
- Weight 205g
- DAC: Four CS43198
- AMP: Two SGM8262
- CPU: Snapdragon 665
- Memory: 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM + MicroSD Card Slot
- System: Open Android 13
- Display: 4.7-Inch Sharp 1280 x 720
- Bluetooth Transmitter: V5.0 LDAC / aptX HD / aptX / SBC
- Bluetooth Receiver: V5.0 LDAC / SBC
- Hi-Res Support: PCM 32/768 & DSD512
- Battery 3500 mAh. Up to 14h Single-Ended, 11h Balanced

Audio Output specification:

3.5mm Output:
Output Power
Low gain: 12.5mW@32Ω
Medium gain: 50mW@32Ω
High gain: 200mW@32Ω
THD+N: 0.0007%
Separation: 75dB@32Ω
Dynamic Range: 127dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: 127dB
Noise <1.1uV
Output impedance: less than 1Ω

4.4mm Output:
Output Power
Low gain: 50mW@32Ω
Medium gain: 200mW@32Ω
High gain: 800mW@32Ω
Frequency Response: 20Hz-40kHz (-0.2dB)
THD+N: 0.0007%
Separation: 110dB@32Ω
Dynamic Range: 130dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: 130dB
Bottom noise: <1.6uV
Output impedance: 1.5Ω

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[somnarium]

The mocha colour looks very nice.

Can you advise expected playtime for balanced?

 

[Shanling]

The mocha colour looks very nice.

Can you advise expected playtime for balanced?

Thanks for reminding us, added battery info to the original post.

Battery 3500mAh. Up to 14h Single-Ended, 11h Balanced

 

[nekromantik]

this would be good option against Fiio M21 but the Fiio has better battery at 14 hours via balanced vs only 11 here

 

[Somafunk]

Why go with top mounted headphone out?, shame as it’s a well specced and nice looking/form factor

 

[JimiMack]

Why go with top mounted headphone out?, shame as it’s a well specced and nice looking/form factor

I agree they never get how these are carried or placed on a desk. I would like to see the USB on top and the headphones in the bottom.

 

[sarkihalindekal]

I agree they never get how these are carried or placed on a desk. I would like to see the USB on top and the headphones in the bottom.

On the contrary, I like this placement. I can keep it upright on the table while listening.

I like the Mocha color. It looks like a dynamic version of the Shanling M5 Ultra's design and I like it. It will bring competition to the market, congratulations.

 

[Shanling]

Why go with top mounted headphone out?, shame as it’s a well specced and nice looking/form factor

Connector placement is a lot about personal preferences and never-ending discussion. There is no one way to fit all.

 

[Somafunk]

Connector placement is a lot about personal preferences and never-ending discussion. There is no one way to fit all.

Perhaps, but when placed in a pocket it makes sense to have the headphone out on bottom as it’s more natural feeling when in hand and dap is in correct position for operation when pulling from pocket

 

[Wahid]

Thanks for reminding us, added battery info to the original post.

Battery 3500mAh. Up to 14h Single-Ended, 11h Balanced

Does it use the nice Elna Silmic II capacitors?

 

[Shanling]

Does it use the nice Elna Silmic II capacitors?

Yes

 

[fish1050]

this would be good option against Fiio M21 but the Fiio has better battery at 14 hours via balanced vs only 11 here

Shanling M3 Plus vs Fiio M21 Price $469 vs $300 estimate for the M21.
Components
Same DACS: Four CS43198
Same AMPS: Two SGM8262 - M21 adds an additionl opamp providing 900 mW max output power.
Same screen size at 4.7" 1280 x 720, M21 Screen resolution: 750 x 1334
M21 larger 4000 maH battery
Snapdragon 665 vs M21 newer 680 SOC
both have Android 13
M21 adds desktop mode.
Both have 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB onboard storage.

I will give the nod to the M3 Plus for chassis design as it looks really nice.

Looking forward to some reviews comparing the two to see if the M3 Plus is worth the higher price.

 

[denis1976]

Shanling M3 Plus vs Fiio M21 Price $469 vs $300 estimate for the M21.
Components
Same DACS: Four CS43198
Same AMPS: Two SGM8262 - M21 adds an additionl opamp providing 900 mW max output power.
Same screen size at 4.7" 1280 x 720, M21 Screen resolution: 750 x 1334
M21 larger 4000 maH battery
Snapdragon 665 vs M21 newer 680 SOC
both have Android 13
M21 adds desktop mode.
Both have 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB onboard storage.

I will give the nod to the M3 Plus for chassis design as it looks really nice.

Looking forward to some reviews comparing the two to see if the M3 Plus is worth the higher price.

Just the diference in house sound tuning for me is worth the diference in price of shanling

 

[fish1050]

Just the diference in house sound tuning for me is worth the diference in price of shanling

I am willing to bet since they are using the same quad DAC's and the same dual opamps the differences in sound will be minor and not enough to justify the higher price. I would take the extras and better specs and save the $160.00 for maybe a larger microsd card with the M21. Also, the M21 unlike the M3 Plus will have Global PEQ and gapless playback which I am assuming Shanling hasn't yet figured out how to add to their Android DAP's.

The desktop mode on the M21 will help prolong the battery life as I can plug it in when at home to save the battery. Perhaps if Shanling would offer a user replaceable battery it would worth considering.

As for differences in sound tuning you can't know what they will be until units are available for review. I am interested in how the extra opamp in addition to the dual SGM8262's will affect the sound of the M21. Fiio keeps innovating and Shanling keeps releasing the same DAP's with different opamps and DAC's in each iteration with the same software limitations.

The Fiio M27 coming in June will have a user replaceable battery and dual card slots. Again features Shanling doesn't offer on even their top end DAP's.

 

[KaiFi]

Shanling M3 Plus vs Fiio M21 Price $469 vs $300 estimate for the M21.
Components
Same DACS: Four CS43198
Same AMPS: Two SGM8262 - M21 adds an additionl opamp providing 900 mW max output power.
Same screen size at 4.7" 1280 x 720, M21 Screen resolution: 750 x 1334
M21 larger 4000 maH battery
Snapdragon 665 vs M21 newer 680 SOC
both have Android 13
M21 adds desktop mode.
Both have 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB onboard storage.

I will give the nod to the M3 Plus for chassis design as it looks really nice.

Looking forward to some reviews comparing the two to see if the M3 Plus is worth the higher price.

I'm considering these two as well, and as a Roon user, the M21 being Roon Ready is also a point in its favor.