Shanling M3X Portable Player - Our smallest Android Player

[monsieurfromag3]

The M3X has popped on Hifigo.

 

[romekbono]

The M3X has popped on Hifigo.

Thanks Monsieur Fromage.
. Hope someone will able to compare M6 and M3X

 

[exile1973]

The M3X has popped on Hifigo.

Seems very cheap, for UK with taxes and duty paid once convert from usd to gbp is only £254. UK preorder is £339. Still not sure the player is something I want though, but the lower price makes it more appealing.

 

[davidcotton]

Seems very cheap, for UK with taxes and duty paid once convert from usd to gbp is only £254. UK preorder is £339. Still not sure the player is something I want though, but the lower price makes it more appealing.

Don’t forget you would have to send it back to where it came from if there were a problem with it. There was a 15% off voucher for hifiheadphones floating around not so long ago.

 

[exile1973]

Don’t forget you would have to send it back to where it came from if there were a problem with it. There was a 15% off voucher for hifiheadphones floating around not so long ago.

Fair point that, especially since it is more likely to have issues in its infancy.

 

[powergeek]

You can use a $5 coupon code on Hifigo: PORTAFI5. In Europe, retail price is €339 taxes and shipping included. With Hifigo, using the $5 voucher and with Paypal fees, the price is €292 and only 1 year of warranty. Also, Hifigo is not an official Shanling reseller. I will wait for the M3X to be available in Europe officially.

 

[monsieurfromag3]

@exile1973 That is the problem with Hifigo, sometimes makes you want to buy things you’re not sure you want especially with the exchange rate vs GBP. It’s less interesting vs €. And the caveats mentioned by @davidcotton and @powergeek apply. Thanks for the code btw.

I too hope for comparisons, I’m especially curious about the tuning. Perhaps @Shanling themselves can enlighten us? I know the M8 is supposed to sound thicker and denser than other TOTL, which I like, while the M6 I always read was dry. Where does the M3X sit?

 

[romekbono]

@exile1973 That is the problem with Hifigo, sometimes makes you want to buy things you’re not sure you want especially with the exchange rate vs GBP. It’s less interesting vs €. And the caveats mentioned by @davidcotton and @powergeek apply. Thanks for the code btw.

I too hope for comparisons, I’m especially curious about the tuning. Perhaps @Shanling themselves can enlighten us? I know the M8 is supposed to sound thicker and denser than other TOTL, which I like, while the M6 I always read was dry. Where does the M3X sit?

I read that M6 was fun as per Porta.fi review....

I am confused. I am looking for also something fun

 

[Lillie]

What has the better hardware this or the Hiby r5 saber?

 

[powergeek]

I read that M6 was fun as per Porta.fi review....

I am confused. I am looking for also something fun

There is a new M6 (21) coming next month. It doesn't help I know

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/shanling-m6-player-new-version-with-ess-dacs-coming-soon.913871/

 

[romekbono]

There is a new M6 (21) coming next month. It doesn't help I know

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/shanling-m6-player-new-version-with-ess-dacs-coming-soon.913871/

Yes with ESS DACs.... More confused ahaha

 

[weexisttocease]

Yes with ESS DACs.... More confused ahaha

And a lot more power with a new amplifier circuit. It replace both M6 and M6 Pro. It also supports MQA (8x only) and it costs 569 USD/Euro. I'm a fan of the classic design of the M6 but will wait for the comparisons with the Hiby R6 2020, the direct competitor with same DACs.

The M3x it's quit interesting but I already have the ZX507 as a compact DAP or even the DX160.

 

[romekbono]

And a lot more power with a new amplifier circuit. It replace both M6 and M6 Pro. It also supports MQA (8x only) and it costs 569 USD/Euro. I'm a fan of the classic design of the M6 but will wait for the comparisons with the Hiby R6 2020, the direct competitor with same DACs.

The M3x it's quit interesting but I already have the ZX507 as a compact DAP or even the DX160.

For mqa you have M6 (21) or Fiio M11 pro
And of course m3x

 

[fish1050]

Yes with ESS DACs.... More confused ahaha

Maybe Shanling is moving toward using ESS chips vs AKM which they tend to use in their higher end DAP's. I for one am glad if this is the case because I do prefer ESS based DAP's to AKM for sound signature. The Fiio M9 has dual AKM Dacs and the Q1 definitely sounds better. Shanling seems to do a great job tuning the ESS Sabre DAC's and DAC/Amps. ESS implemented MQA 16x unfolding in the ES9219 DAC/Amp used in the M3X. Not sure if AKM is doing this in any of their DAC's.

 

[Shanling]

Maybe Shanling is moving toward using ESS chips vs AKM which they tend to use in their higher end DAP's. I for one am glad if this is the case because I do prefer ESS based DAP's to AKM for sound signature. The Fiio M9 has dual AKM Dacs and the Q1 definitely sounds better. Shanling seems to do a great job tuning the ESS Sabre DAC's and DAC/Amps. ESS implemented MQA 16x unfolding in the ES9219 DAC/Amp used in the M3X. Not sure if AKM is doing this in any of their DAC's.

Why we are now switching to ESS on some of our DAPs is explained here: https://en.shanling.com/article-M621Intro.html