Shanling M8 Android Portable player

[RIGATIO]

Now I'm really looking forward to hearing for myself. Most of my headphones are neutral warm, some with more of a warm tilt than others. I hope this won't make the sound too warm?

The M8 somehow makes my bass havier iems sing. If the iem has good quality bass, this combined with an amazingly deep and textured M8's bass only give you even more bass bliss.
That's why the M8 is so universal imho. It makes brighter iems more organic and natural and bass heavy iems even more fun.

 

[Mhog55]

The M8 somehow makes my bass havier iems sing. If the iem has good quality bass, this combined with an amazingly deep and textured M8's bass only give you even more bass bliss.
That's why the M8 is so universal imho. It makes brighter iems more organic and natural and bass heavy iems even more fun.

Can't wait!

 

[Stu Paddasso]

Who said that pairing bass heavy iems with the M8 isn't a good idea? Even my old Xelentos with highly boosted bass are clean and not overbearing in bass department. It's a lot of bass, sure but what a bass!

I'm with you!! My EE Evo sounds the best on M8 it just gives the bass so much more authority!!!

 

[RIGATIO]

The m8 is the closest to the high end stationary rig in terms of bass, dynamics and timbre, period. No other dap ive tried had these qualities. And ive tried many.. You dont find on daps this soundstage that comes out from the dynamics and exceptionally black background very often.

 

[szore]

The m8 is the closest to the high end stationary rig in terms of bass, dynamics and timbre, period. No other dap ive tried had these qualities. And ive tried many.. You dont find on daps this soundstage that comes out from the dynamics and exceptionally black background very often.

If you go back 2 years in the thread and see my initial impressions upon getting it, I said it made me cry... It's so good, still love it.

 

[RIGATIO]

If you go back 2 years in the thread and see my initial impressions upon getting it, I said it made me cry... It's so good, still love it.

Yeah i honestly think that the time doesnt matter once you get an amazing sounding source. Everyone is so excited about new daps but sometimes the gems go out and the time doesnt affect them at all. The M8 is such a gem, to the extent thet it actually surpasses most of new high end daps.
I have a 6 years old Pioneer 300r. It has such an amazing linear tuning with bass boost that i found it very hard to beat it by other daps i had.
The M8 has exactly same tuning profile but better dynamics, deeper, more controlled bass, better separation and better, more organic timbre.
Once the source is well tuned, its really hard to beat it. Sure, most improvements are in Android. The M8 isnt as fast as the dx320 for example (the dx320 beiyng the benchmark in this department) but still, everything works smoothly on the M8 and the sound speaks for itslef.
Honestly, if i had to choose between other new daps, i would still pick the M8, its just too good.
I would pick the M8 over:
dx320
dx300EXN
Fiio M17
Fiio K9 Pro
AK Kann Max
AK sp2kT
AK sp1k
AK sp1kM
AK sp2k ss (for musiacallity)
Shanling M9
Hiby RS6
Cayin N6ii

 

[Shanling]

Hahah! @Shanling How about an updated DAP unit in the M30? You know that would be most appreciated!

No news about such module.

 

[Devodonaldson]

Now I'm really looking forward to hearing for myself. Most of my headphones are neutral warm, some with more of a warm tilt than others. I hope this won't make the sound too warm?

Depends on what you are used to. Yes it's warm, but it has far more top end than most Sony DAPs. I had to put foam tips on a couple of my iems when I switched from my Sony zx507 to Shanling m8

 

[RIGATIO]

Depends on what you are used to. Yes it's warm, but it has far more top end than most Sony DAPs. I had to put foam tips on a couple of my iems when I switched from my Sony zx507 to Shanling m8

Because its still a high level reference dap. It doesnt hide anything, it just has a very linear tuning in upper mids/lower trebbles. It also has an organic trebles which are the least offensive among all daps ive heard, including some higher end AK daps (sp1k, sp1kM, sp2kT).
Im coming from IBasso daps (a long time IBasso fanboy) that are forward in upper mids. I dont find anything offensive in M8's tuning, no matter which iems/headphones i plug in it. But we all hear differently.

 

[German Expat in Vietnam]

Yes, compared to iBasso, the Shanling sound is very smooth in the upper mids and highs. Especially the M 8. I only had the DX300 and DX 320. And even with an amp 12 w or an EXN-S with ADA4625 op amps and a lot of money invested in the amp mods, they don’t get the great sound of the M 8 for me sound approach. In my ears To be honest, if I were to buy a new player, I would tend towards a Shanling player but with AKM chips. I really like the house sound.

 

[RIGATIO]

I have an advice for those who are looking for the best coherency on the M8. Try to use single DD or Planar iems. The M8 separates sounds like crazy and with most my hibrids/tribrids, the sounds from those iems are crazy separated. Like its almost beyond from what you can get from most full sized wireless headphones with dolby atmos turned on. Its very 3d like but could be somehow disturbing for those who like very even and coherent presentation.

 

[Devodonaldson]

Because its still a high level reference dap. It doesnt hide anything, it just has a very linear tuning in upper mids/lower trebbles. It also has an organic trebles which are the least offensive among all daps ive heard, including some higher end AK daps (sp1k, sp1kM, sp2kT).
Im coming from IBasso daps (a long time IBasso fanboy) that are forward in upper mids. I dont find anything offensive in M8's tuning, no matter which iems/headphones i plug in it. But we all hear differently.

Definitely not offensive, but I'm sensitive to higher pitched sounds. Buzzing in power lines, or lights in the ceiling cause me massive levels of irritation. We all certainly hear particular frequencies differently

 

[RIGATIO]

Definitely not offensive, but I'm sensitive to higher pitched sounds. Buzzing in power lines, or lights in the ceiling cause me massive levels of irritation. We all certainly here particular frequencies differently

I get you. Then you really need some smoothened-out-on top iems. Because the M8 is the smoothest high end dap ive heard. It surely has a lot of treble energy but its served in a such inoffensive way that anything lower in this area would be just too smooth and unnatural.
The Sony MW1Z has even more treble energy.

 

[German Expat in Vietnam]

I have an advice for those who are looking for the best coherency on the M8. Try to use single DD or Planar iems. The M8 separates sounds like crazy and with most my hibrids/tribrids, the sounds from those iems are crazy separated. Like its almost beyond from what you can get from most full sized wireless headphones with dolby atmos turned on. Its very 3d like but could be somehow disturbing for those who like very even and coherent presentation.

You're right. With the M8 you should definitely test the Oriolus Szalayi. You will fall away from the faith.

 

[Mhog55]

I get you. Then you really need some smoothened-out-on top iems. Because the M8 is the smoothest high end dap ive heard. It surely has a lot of treble energy but its served in a such inoffensive way that anything lower in this area would be just too smooth and unnatural.
The Sony MW1Z has even more treble energy.

This is one of the main reasons I chose the M8, and Shanling in general. I currently own the original M6 Pro. I was debating between the M8, DX300, and RS6. I really enjoy Shanlings AKM tuning, so I figured a step up would be the best choice.