Shanling M5s now with TIDAL - Dual AK4493EQ DAC, fully balanced, Wi-Fi, 2way LDAC BT, 3.2 Touch screen, FW 3.7

[Wiljen]

Decent price jump is not a problem (even more expensive Amp8 module would be ok). But what I am worried about is the tonality od DX150 - read my edit (above). Thanks

@twister6 has done an excellent review of the DX150 and the amp modules and compares and contrasts all of them. The ones I have listened to he pretty much nailed so I would use that as my starting point.

https://twister6.com/2018/07/28/ibasso-dx150-with-amp6-amp7-and-amp8-modules/

 

[papa_mia]

The review from Headfonic gives me an inpression that this device sounds bland, boring and weak.

 

[abitdeef]

The review from Headfonic gives me an inpression that this device sounds bland, boring and weak.

That’s why I was asking about the sound sig, I don’t mind a little warmth but I don’t like warm sources. I like well extended detailed airy treble.

 

[457139]

The review from Headfonic gives me an inpression that this device sounds bland, boring and weak.

I couldn't disagree with that review more. Marcus and Michael need to get on the same page in terms of their ratings. For instance when the Fiio X5 3rd gen was reviewed, Marcus gave it an 87 on SQ (they categorize this as tonality on the site). Now Michael also gave the M5s an 87 on SQ. I owned the X5 3rd gen and I can tell you the M5S stomps all over it re SQ/tonality. Shanling got shafted a bit on Headphonics. I felt it deserved atleast a 90 in terms of SQ. It's a wonderful sounding DAP. I feel like in terms SQ it's right there with the R6, which in my experience came close to how the WM1A performed. I think sometimes Michael isn't as objective as he could be and conflates his preferences with the actual performance of these DAPs

 

[Dsnuts]

The review from Headfonic gives me an inpression that this device sounds bland, boring and weak.

\

This is what I get from it as well. Not how it sounds to me but hey I suppose you get audio numbness when you get 2K players thrown your way for free. Not a good review imo.

I am wondering if they even bothered running the player in for a week or so before critically listening to it. The issue I have with his review is. He used one maybe 2 earphones with it to get a good idea of the sound. Only mentions 2 earphones. Not a good way to figure out the sound imo.

 

[abitdeef]

I couldn't disagree with that review more. Marcus and Michael need to get on the same page in terms of their ratings. For instance when the Fiio X5 3rd gen was reviewed, Marcus gave it an 87 on SQ (they categorize this as tonality on the site). Now Michael also gave the M5s an 87 on SQ. I owned the X5 3rd gen and I can tell you the M5S stomps all over it re SQ/tonality. Shanling got shafted a bit on Headphonics. I felt it deserved atleast a 90 in terms of SQ. It's a wonderful sounding DAP. I feel like in terms SQ it's right there with the R6, which in my experience came close to how the WM1A performed. I think sometimes Michael isn't as objective as he could be and conflates his preferences with the actual performance of these DAPs

They gave the R3 88 on tonality, nuff said.

 

[457139]

They gave the R3 88 on tonality, nuff said.

I think if you're running the R3 balanced an 88 re SQ sounds about right. The DAC in that thing is outstanding and the implementation is very good. Again, I just think the M5s was underrated. From both outputs it sounds better than the R3 to my ears.

 

[abitdeef]

I think if you're running the R3 balanced an 88 re SQ sounds about right. The DAC in that thing is outstanding and the implementation is very good. Again, I just think the M5s was underrated. From both outputs it sounds better than the R3 to my ears.

Can’t agree at all on the R3, balanced or not - very underpowered and not very layered or detailed to my ears ( but good for its price point ) but hey we all hear things different. Their (headfonics) sound scores are all over the place, I’d rather have a description than a numerical value anyways.

They gave the M0 the same score for sonics as the m5s. Now I know damn well without even hearing the m5s that it’s amp section and output circuitry is miles ahead of M0 and therefore it’s sound is.

 

[dissembled]

Is the bass bloat of the Meze 99 Classics that bad with the most recent pads?

And regarding the official Meze balanced cable on Amazon...Can I buy that and just plug it directly into the balanced jack of the M5s with no further modifications?

 

[457139]

Can’t agree at all on the R3, balanced or not - very underpowered and not very layered or detailed to my ears ( but good for its price point ) but hey we all hear things different. Their (headfonics) sound scores are all over the place, I’d rather have a description than a numerical value anyways.

They gave the M0 the same score for sonics as the m5s. Now I know damn well without even hearing the m5s that it’s amp section and output circuitry is miles ahead of M0 and therefore it’s sound is.

No, the M0 got a 83 re tonality and the M5s got an 87. Maybe you heard the R3 prior to the latest update. I think after the second update the sound really came together nicely. It sounded kinda busted before that.

 

[Shanling]

Regarding review on Headfonics, Michael has his sound preferences, as any other reviewer. He is sell proclaimed basshead and it's obvious he is not afraid to push EQ to maximum, so it would be best to view review with that in mind.

I can somewhat confirm that. I was able to reproduce this problem only once though, on the first try lol. The charging icon didn't come up when i plugged my charger while M5s was playing music in LDAC Bluetooth when connected to my Mi Mix 2S. It was a QC3.0 LeEco charger, I then tried to plug it to a regular 1A charger and a QC2.0 FiiO X5III charger and the icon didn't show up either. When I disconnected M5s from my phone (bluetooth was still enabled) the charging icon appeared immediately. Since then, it's working with no issues and I was not able to reproduce the problem anymore. Weird.

EDIT: Rebooting M5s made the issue come back. The problem seems inconsistent, but most of the time the device doesn't charge when connected to LDAC Bluetooth. Reconnecting in SBC mode makes the device charge again.

Thanks, will look more into it.

Got my M5s about an hour ago. The build quality is really nice, feels like a true premium device. I briefly tried all it’s functions and found two issues:


1. Couldn’t update it through Wifi as it always shows “Failed to get version info” message. Had to do it manually with TF card. This is weird...


2. Not sure how is the lyrics support but it doesn’t show any lyrics with any of my Bandcamp album with embedded lyrics.


Besides these two I haven’t found any other issue yet. Will let it burn in for a while and listen later.

1. Wifi update can be tricky, files are hosted on our Chinese servers, sometimes can be little unwilling to cooperate. (or get simply overloaded, when new firmware is released and all Chinese users starts downloading it)

2. Embedded lyrics are not supported unfortunately, external lrc file must be used.

Here are the numbers from Shanling on the M5s: (Copied from intro thread)

Output power:
Single ended - 240 mW @ 16 Ohm, 130 mW @ 32 Ohm, 13 mW @ 300 Ohm
Balanced - 540 mW @ 16 Ohm, 300 mW @ 32 Ohm, 29 mW @ 300 Ohm

As you can see, it drops off pretty big above about 150 Ohm and anything over that needs a bit of additional power to really open up. The DX150 with amp 8 will definitely push more power to higher impedance cans, but it is a jump up in price too.

Honestly, with our players and our target audience in portable market, we value quiet output with no hiss for comfortable use with sensitive IEMs over raw power needed for specialized home headphones.

Yet, there are few people enjoying M5s, even M3s, with headphones such as Sennheiser HD600.

Is the bass bloat of the Meze 99 Classics that bad with the most recent pads?

And regarding the official Meze balanced cable on Amazon...Can I buy that and just plug it directly into the balanced jack of the M5s with no further modifications?

M5s balanced out is done to industry standard, assuming Meze is the same, there is no need for any modification.

Honestly, only modification to balanced cables is need with some cheap cables from small chinese sellers, since sometimes they are simply wired wrongly (accident, lack of knowledge, or they simply don't care?). I still remember them selling balanced cable for headphones, that couldn't be run balanced without heavy modification, putting users to risk of damaging both their players/amps and headphones. But fear nothing with Meze.

 

[dsrk]

\

This is what I get from it as well. Not how it sounds to me but hey I suppose you get audio numbness when you get 2K players thrown your way for free. Not a good review imo.

I am wondering if they even bothered running the player in for a week or so before critically listening to it. The issue I have with his review is. He used one maybe 2 earphones with it to get a good idea of the sound. Only mentions 2 earphones. Not a good way to figure out the sound imo.

And no comparisons with any other DAPs, that's when you find the good and bad about them. The reviewer mostly disappointed because of the EQ, he is a bass head and he could not adjust the bass to his liking what let him down IMO.
Hope Shanling comes up with a DSP like MESB and fix the EQ.

 

[Dsnuts]

See that is what kinda bugs me. I like bass as much as the next guy. To say the bass end of the M5s is weak is kinda funny to me. I have been using my Solaris on the M5s. No lack of bass on my end, or sparkly treble. In fact is has some of the best bass/ dynamics I have heard on any of my players. For a supposed pro reviewer to limit his earphone to one or two to hear what the player is like. What the heck is that? Lol.

To be fair he does mention that it sounds great for the price which I agree but the weak parts he mentions is more based on the limitation of what he is using to hear with them imo this is the reason why that review kinda sucks. He is giving an average type score on the player cus it is more honest and is not overly bass boosted or does it have an eq that can boost much more bass and that is a negative? Lol.

Look for other reviews fellas. That one is just not a good one.

 

[dsrk]

See that is what kinda bugs me. I like bass as much as the next guy. To say the bass end of the M5s is weak is kinda funny to me. I have been using my Solaris on the M5s. No lack of bass on my end, or sparkly treble. In fact is has some of the best bass/ dynamics I have heard on any of my players. For a supposed pro reviewer to limit his earphone to one or two to hear what the player is like. What the heck is that? Lol.

To be fair he does mention that it sounds great for the price which I agree but the weak parts he mentions is more based on the limitation of what he is using to hear with them imo this is the reason why that review kinda sucks. He is giving an average type score on the player cus it is more honest and is not overly bass boosted or does it have an eq that can boost much more bass and that is a negative? Lol.

Look for other reviews fellas. That one is just not a good one.

I gree with you. That is not a good review especially for who are trying to decide if M5s suits them.

 

[originalsnuffy]

Maybe some amazing firmware came out but when I had the R3 it could not hold a candle to the Shanling M0. I think I liked my iphone more than that unit.