[monsieurfromag3]

Today's battle is happening here haha. Comparing the Shanling M3X right on with the Cayin N3 Pro!!! Will post my results tomorrow after some hours of listening them both head to head!!

I’m eager to read that!

 

[gadgetgod]

I’m eager to read that!

Thanks man will be posting soon!!

 

[cleg]

My video about M3X. In short — a really good offer by price/quality ratio

 

[Ace Bee]

My video about M3X. In short — a really good offer by price/quality ratio

Do you not any more provide written reviews? I prefer that over videos.

 

[abitdeef]

Yeah but that balanced is special.

Hey photo, how’s this compare to the other stuff you’ve been using? Forgive me for not searching the thread.

 

[holsen]

My video about M3X. In short — a really good offer by price/quality ratio

Another spot on review. Having owned it and still enjoying it, I have to agree with you, the M3Xis probably the best bang for buck player currently available..

 

[gadgetgod]

Hello Friends, So I spent quite a few hours A/B’ing between the two music players that I currently own, Shanling M3X and Cayin N3 Pro. Both the players are very different, come in mid-tier one being priced at like 340$ and the other at about 500$. One offers a fully customizable experience of Android 7(M3X) while the other offers a pure music experience but with an added benefit of Tubes on to go.

N3 Pro is actually the second Audio player in the industry to feature Tubes, first being the flagship N8 by Cayin(That I know of). Both the players offer a supreme build so I am not gonna go deep into it neither I am gonna tell you about the Android benefits over the Pure Music player of N3 Pro or vice versa. I am just gonna give my experience of sound between the two. We all know what android offers and what N3 Pro’s basic music player offers. So I will be diving right into the sound department. The sound experience is based on my usage of BQEYZ Summer using 3.5mm termination and DUNU EST112 using 4.4mm Balanced termination.

Driving Power:-

Both the players have more or less similar driving power. For DUNU EST112 I am at 30/100 volume on M3X(Low Gain), and 35/100 volume on N3 Pro(Medium Gain). BQEYZ Summer is at 50/100 on M3X Low Gain and at 45/100 on N3 Pro Medium Gain.

Tonality & Experience:-

N3 Pro itself offers three different sound output options for its users, Ultra-Linear, Triode, and Solid-State. All these three modes offer a warm tonality to the output, it’s just warmer on both the tube modes. It sounds very musical, with a smooth touch of warmth to the output. This warmth also adds a thick feeling to the vocals, making them sound more authorized and impactful. Instruments also have a heavier presentation. Bass thumps sound more powerful with the added weight to them. The presentation has an intimate feeling to it, everything sounds authorized and weighted. N3 Pro in my experience is more musical, warmer of the two.

M3X has a more neutral approach to the tonality, it also has a hint of warmth to itself. But it is nowhere near the warmth of the N3 Pro. The player has a more energetic presentation but slightly leaner tonality of the two with a more open presentation. It excels in technical performance such as presenting a wider stage, cleaner background, and better airiness between the instruments, or in simple terms, I find the output of M3X presenting a neutral approach with improved technical performance among the two.

Some Key points in some favorite tracks that led me to this experience:-

Hotel California, Hell Freeze Over By Eagles:-

The acoustic guitar, the bongo setup during the first 2 minutes and 8 seconds of this track has a heavier presentation on the N3 Pro, guitar strings, bongo hits have their impact right with a sweet musical tone and a heavyweight. But when the same track is being played on M3X, The airiness between the guitar strings during the first 30 seconds of the song is unmatchable, plus not to mention some songs sound excellent in a neutral tone rather than a thick warm tone, this is one of those songs. Loved it on M3X with its neutral approach and a wide airy presentation.

Nine Crimes, Damien Rice:-

Damien Rice is one of my favorite male vocalists, his voice has a musical feeling that keeps me engaged with his music. There is a piano being played during the first 30 seconds of this song, my god the experience on N3 Pro with its thick presentation of this song is out of this world. M3X tries its best to perform but man this is the genre that takes benefit of the N3 Pro’s musicality. I am in love with this song again <3 Oh sorry, I forgot after this piano comes a female voice, I guess we all know when it comes to warm musical vocals the emotional attachment is on another level. N3 Pro wins this genre hands down!!!

Speak Softly Love, Yao Si Ting:-

Talk about female vocals, Yao Si Ting in my experience has the best expression with her voice. Speak Softly Love is one of my favorite tracks by her. Starting with Acoustic Guitar followed by a lovely Violin during the first minute of the song. While I loved the warm tonality with Violin on N3 Pro, the airiness in an acoustic guitar is better on the M3X. Vocals have a slight benefit on N3 Pro with its warm tonality, but M3X presents such a lovely experience to me in this song with outstanding airiness and spacious presentation of the stage. It’s just hard to choose between the M3X and N3 Pro for this particular track as one offered a lovely tonality, while the other offered airiness to me.

Love Story(Taylor’s Version), Taylor Swift:-

Taylor Swift is one of my favorite Pop artists. In this particular song, when the drum beats drop at around the 31-second mark feels so impactful and engaging with her vocals. This song has a cleaner, presentation on the M3X with an extra touch of energy. This added energy with the M3X makes this song sound lovely and enjoyable. N3 Pro has a smoother presentation with this track, M3X has an energetic one, I liked the latter.

In The End, Linkin Park:-

Complex track, many instruments, different layers of voice at the same time, you know where I am going with this right haha. Energy, separation of M3X is just outstanding here. But N3 Pro also marks its presence with added weight to the instruments and vocals that make them sound more impactful and engaging. To be honest, confused here about which one to choose among the two for this haha.

And this list of songs goes on and on, including more artists such as Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Daft Punk, some regional coke studio, and many more. Some songs I liked more on the N3 Pro, some more on the M3X.

Some Final Words:-

I am still confused about which I liked more among the two, on one hand, I liked the more authorized, weighted presentation of the N3 Pro honestly just loved its musical touch to the sound. On the other hand, I have the Shanling M3X that has better energy, a slightly cleaner background, and a more spacious presentation to my music. I actually knew all this before going the M3X way, I always needed it as my secondary DAP with a neutral approach to judge IEMs better. I am happy with both of them offering different tastes, it just makes me explore my music more!!!

I hope you guys liked this presentation, I tried my best to keep my words as simple as possible .

 

[holsen]

I hope you guys liked this presentation, I tried my best to keep my words as simple as possible .

You succeeded! Really enjoyed reading it, appreciate the details and while. I don't have the N3, I agree with your experiences with the M3X.

 

[Stuff Jones]

Can anyone compare with the Q1? I really enjoy its signature. Adjusting for its modest price, I hear the Q1 as warm but still reasonably detailed, punchy, and spacious sounding.

 

[gadgetgod]

You succeeded! Really enjoyed reading it, appreciate the details and while. I don't have the N3, I agree with your experiences with the M3X.

Thanks man Glad you liked it

 

[abitdeef]

I ordered one, just sold the R5s (thought I was going to be using iPhone 12 as a transport) until I realized how much iTunes sucks and how hard it is to get music on it.

So I’ll be able to give a subjective comparison from memory - I’m very familiar with R5 and R5s sound. Was going for a Sony nw a105 as a transport but I knew the battery would be crap.

Haven’t tried a shanling since m5s and that was a little too soft and polite for me. I am familiar with that chipset from the ear men sparrow and it sounded really good, so I expect this little brick to sound good too I’m hoping it’s a touch faster than R5s and has less of an amp off noise. I’m mainly using LP W2 and that is a doozy, although I expect the sound sig of the mx3 to be quite different.

 

[Nathanial]

Thanks a lot man!! Thanks for your recommendation. The M3X is surely a perfect device and everything I wanted is there.

Actually, the most I was worried about was about the UI being laggy or something(Previously used DX160, and believe me I have never used a laggier device than that, though sonically it's perfect). To my surprise the UI of M3X is damn smooth, I am using UAPP on it with a 400 gigs card loaded with approx 4000 flacs and it offers smooth performance. Also tried Spotify streaming over wi-fi the battery life is a dream come true for an Android DAP.

How would you say the M3X compares sound wise to the Ibasso DX160. Willing to put up with the laggy UI if the sound is a big improvement over the M3X. Thanks!

 

[Ace Bee]

How would you say the M3X compares sound wise to the Ibasso DX160. Willing to put up with the laggy UI if the sound is a big improvement over the M3X. Thanks!

This is something I am interested in as well.

 

[gadgetgod]

How would you say the M3X compares sound wise to the Ibasso DX160. Willing to put up with the laggy UI if the sound is a big improvement over the M3X. Thanks!

I would say DX160 has a more warm touch to its tonality in comparison with M3X. Saying this based on my memory of its sound.
If I got to try the M3X and DX160 both when I bought myself a DX160, I would have got M3X in the first place.

M3X has a more neutral tonality, a much better UI, and a lot better battery life. DX160 drains the battery if you keep the screen on even for short span xD that device is a mess.

 

[monsieurfromag3]

Hello Friends, So I spent quite a few hours A/B’ing between the two music players that I currently own, Shanling M3X and Cayin N3 Pro. Both the players are very different, come in mid-tier one being priced at like 340$ and the other at about 500$. One offers a fully customizable experience of Android 7(M3X) while the other offers a pure music experience but with an added benefit of Tubes on to go.

N3 Pro is actually the second Audio player in the industry to feature Tubes, first being the flagship N8 by Cayin(That I know of). Both the players offer a supreme build so I am not gonna go deep into it neither I am gonna tell you about the Android benefits over the Pure Music player of N3 Pro or vice versa. I am just gonna give my experience of sound between the two. We all know what android offers and what N3 Pro’s basic music player offers. So I will be diving right into the sound department. The sound experience is based on my usage of BQEYZ Summer using 3.5mm termination and DUNU EST112 using 4.4mm Balanced termination.

Driving Power:-

Both the players have more or less similar driving power. For DUNU EST112 I am at 30/100 volume on M3X(Low Gain), and 35/100 volume on N3 Pro(Medium Gain). BQEYZ Summer is at 50/100 on M3X Low Gain and at 45/100 on N3 Pro Medium Gain.

Tonality & Experience:-

N3 Pro itself offers three different sound output options for its users, Ultra-Linear, Triode, and Solid-State. All these three modes offer a warm tonality to the output, it’s just warmer on both the tube modes. It sounds very musical, with a smooth touch of warmth to the output. This warmth also adds a thick feeling to the vocals, making them sound more authorized and impactful. Instruments also have a heavier presentation. Bass thumps sound more powerful with the added weight to them. The presentation has an intimate feeling to it, everything sounds authorized and weighted. N3 Pro in my experience is more musical, warmer of the two.

M3X has a more neutral approach to the tonality, it also has a hint of warmth to itself. But it is nowhere near the warmth of the N3 Pro. The player has a more energetic presentation but slightly leaner tonality of the two with a more open presentation. It excels in technical performance such as presenting a wider stage, cleaner background, and better airiness between the instruments, or in simple terms, I find the output of M3X presenting a neutral approach with improved technical performance among the two.



Some Key points in some favorite tracks that led me to this experience:-

Hotel California, Hell Freeze Over By Eagles:-

The acoustic guitar, the bongo setup during the first 2 minutes and 8 seconds of this track has a heavier presentation on the N3 Pro, guitar strings, bongo hits have their impact right with a sweet musical tone and a heavyweight. But when the same track is being played on M3X, The airiness between the guitar strings during the first 30 seconds of the song is unmatchable, plus not to mention some songs sound excellent in a neutral tone rather than a thick warm tone, this is one of those songs. Loved it on M3X with its neutral approach and a wide airy presentation.

Nine Crimes, Damien Rice:-

Damien Rice is one of my favorite male vocalists, his voice has a musical feeling that keeps me engaged with his music. There is a piano being played during the first 30 seconds of this song, my god the experience on N3 Pro with its thick presentation of this song is out of this world. M3X tries its best to perform but man this is the genre that takes benefit of the N3 Pro’s musicality. I am in love with this song again <3 Oh sorry, I forgot after this piano comes a female voice, I guess we all know when it comes to warm musical vocals the emotional attachment is on another level. N3 Pro wins this genre hands down!!!

Speak Softly Love, Yao Si Ting:-

Talk about female vocals, Yao Si Ting in my experience has the best expression with her voice. Speak Softly Love is one of my favorite tracks by her. Starting with Acoustic Guitar followed by a lovely Violin during the first minute of the song. While I loved the warm tonality with Violin on N3 Pro, the airiness in an acoustic guitar is better on the M3X. Vocals have a slight benefit on N3 Pro with its warm tonality, but M3X presents such a lovely experience to me in this song with outstanding airiness and spacious presentation of the stage. It’s just hard to choose between the M3X and N3 Pro for this particular track as one offered a lovely tonality, while the other offered airiness to me.

Love Story(Taylor’s Version), Taylor Swift:-

Taylor Swift is one of my favorite Pop artists. In this particular song, when the drum beats drop at around the 31-second mark feels so impactful and engaging with her vocals. This song has a cleaner, presentation on the M3X with an extra touch of energy. This added energy with the M3X makes this song sound lovely and enjoyable. N3 Pro has a smoother presentation with this track, M3X has an energetic one, I liked the latter.

In The End, Linkin Park:-

Complex track, many instruments, different layers of voice at the same time, you know where I am going with this right haha. Energy, separation of M3X is just outstanding here. But N3 Pro also marks its presence with added weight to the instruments and vocals that make them sound more impactful and engaging. To be honest, confused here about which one to choose among the two for this haha.

And this list of songs goes on and on, including more artists such as Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Daft Punk, some regional coke studio, and many more. Some songs I liked more on the N3 Pro, some more on the M3X.



Some Final Words:-

I am still confused about which I liked more among the two, on one hand, I liked the more authorized, weighted presentation of the N3 Pro honestly just loved its musical touch to the sound. On the other hand, I have the Shanling M3X that has better energy, a slightly cleaner background, and a more spacious presentation to my music. I actually knew all this before going the M3X way, I always needed it as my secondary DAP with a neutral approach to judge IEMs better. I am happy with both of them offering different tastes, it just makes me explore my music more!!!

I hope you guys liked this presentation, I tried my best to keep my words as simple as possible .

Great write-up @gadgetgod ! I can really see where Shanling was going with the M3X thanks to your words, sounds like a wise implementation of that DAC/amp chip and I get a sense of the wholly different flavor compared to the N3Pro.