Shanling M8 Android Portable player

[Shanling]

Latest issue I’m facing with this device.

- listening fine then the screen went black and wouldn’t come back on. Tried pressing all buttons, nothing.
- Hard reset
- screen is now on but lost all sound (tracks playing no sound). Random as hell!

To be honest this is the worst bit of audio gear I’ve ever come across in this hobby. Sound is good but so so so many bugs, and also feels so cheap in the hand (small issue). Very unimpressed so far. I might have to go back to my 6 year old laggy Sony ZX-2 which just exudes quality build and sound.

Sorry to hear you had such issue. We are working on new firmware, you can send me PM and I will send you the beta version for test.

 

[Trunkmonkey44]

Any comparisons between the M8 and SP2000 would be appreciated. If I already have an M8 should I buy a SP2000? Or are they so close that buying an SP2000 would be redundant?

I had the M8 and currently have the SP2000. Both sound fantastic. I would not buy an SP2000 if you have the M8 - unless you are a Roon user.

 

[Whitigir]

I had the M8 and currently have the SP2000. Both sound fantastic. I would not buy an SP2000 if you have the M8 - unless you are a Roon user.

Exactly ! But I think if Shanling wanted to, they can make roon supported in a firmware. AK took 4-5 years to do so

 

[szore]

Exactly ! But I think if Shanling wanted to, they can make roon supported in a firmware. AK took 4-5 years to do so

What does it mean to 'support Roon", I have a subscription, but how would the 2000 'support it'?

 

[FooFighter]

What does it mean to 'support Roon", I have a subscription, but how would the 2000 'support it'?

no Roon user, but I suppose SP2000 can work as an endpoint whereas most others don't.
So in many cases you must connect some endpoint device like an iPad and connect your DAP to it instead...

 

[claud W]

Do the new , presently manufactured M8s still have the same AKM DAC chips as when the M8 was introduced?

 

[szore]

Do the new , presently manufactured M8s still have the same AKM DAC chips as when the M8 was introduced?

yes, the 99. It was only introduced about 5-6 months ago...

 

[fzman]

no Roon user, but I suppose SP2000 can work as an endpoint whereas most others don't.
So in many cases you must connect some endpoint device like an iPad and connect your DAP to it instead...

You use the 2000 as an endpoint - it receives the music that is selecte by another device, and stored on your network- the connection from the other Roon infrastructure and the 2000 is wireless. You can do basic pause, play, back and next on trhe 2000, but you have to makes rue it is availkable to 'play to' in Roon Core/controller. Sometimes it is slow to recognize its presence.

Roon unifies your Tidal and Qobuz fvorites with your stored content - very convenient, and when it is in radio mode, it will pull from all those sources and keep playing until you stop it.

 

[szore]

You use the 2000 as an endpoint - it receives the music that is selecte by another device, and stored on your network- the connection from the other Roon infrastructure and the 2000 is wireless. You can do basic pause, play, back and next on trhe 2000, but you have to makes rue it is availkable to 'play to' in Roon Core/controller. Sometimes it is slow to recognize its presence.

Roon unifies your Tidal and Qobuz fvorites with your stored content - very convenient, and when it is in radio mode, it will pull from all those sources and keep playing until you stop it.

Yeah, Roon is pretty cool. With my 20,000 album collection and Tidal integration, there is pretty much nowhere I can't go musically...

 

[Trunkmonkey44]

Exactly ! But I think if Shanling wanted to, they can make roon supported in a firmware. AK took 4-5 years to do so

Yes, I believe the real issue for these companies is that Roon makes them go through a big certification process, not that they can't do the engineering side of it. I don't know if money or licensing is involved, but it seems like the process is pretty rigorous as they want the Roon "experience" to be the best it can be regardless of what device it comes from. My KEF speakers are still awaiting Roon certification and from a KEF employee's posts on the Roon forums I know they have been actively working on it for 5 or 6 months now.

So, unfortunately it is not just a "we just quickly make it work in a firmware update" type thing, unless I have the facts wrong.

 

[blotmouse]

Yeah, Roon is pretty cool. With my 20,000 album collection and Tidal integration, there is pretty much nowhere I can't go musically...

Except maybe to Hi-Res town, hahahaha. (just a harmless Tidal dig)

 

[SMOoth Operator]

Should I get 2 x 512gb MicroSD cards or a single 1Tb Micro SD card and why? Anybody experience the Sandisk Extreme vs Extreme Pro, any difference in sound?​

 

[RTodd]

Should I get 2 x 512gb MicroSD cards or a single 1Tb Micro SD card and why? Anybody experience the Sandisk Extreme vs Extreme Pro, any difference in sound?​

I am using that card no issue. Thinking the card is neutral to sound, no effect.
1TB cards are kind of high priced now, I would recommend 512 now and than upgrade when you want more tracks on the card in the player than the 512 can hold.

 

[Shanling]

Exactly ! But I think if Shanling wanted to, they can make roon supported in a firmware. AK took 4-5 years to do so

So far we have no device with Roon support, even in our desktop products line.

Do the new , presently manufactured M8s still have the same AKM DAC chips as when the M8 was introduced?

M8 is still using AKM chips. If there will be any change, we will announce it publicly ahead of time.

 

[szore]

I am using that card no issue. Thinking the card is neutral to sound, no effect.
1TB cards are kind of high priced now, I would recommend 512 now and than upgrade when you want more tracks on the card in the player than the 512 can hold.

1 TB is a VAST amount of music, are you sure you need that much?