[Frabera]

Maybe the Cayin N7 below $ 2k might be a good competitor.

 

[Shanling]

About the last part : can you be a little more explicit ?
Are you saying that Android powered DAPs can use a USB to Ethernet adapter to use wired connection instead of wireless connection to network ?
That would be great news...
But would be in total contradiction with my own experience.
In fact, so far, NO DAP was able to use a USB to Ethernet adapter.
So I'd gladly take a link to an adpater that is known to work for sure with a Shanling DAP.

There was user in M6 Ultra group using such adapter: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sha...65-android-10-dap.963936/page-9#post-17098533

 

[salgado]

Had anyone a chance to compare m8 to ibasso dx320 ? (Purely soundwise )

I was impressed by m8, however I felt that mids were a bit recessed. Or maybe bass and treble were a bit elevated hence impression of recessed mids..

I wonder how dx320 or m9 would differ in this regards, in terms of mids.

Also highs on m8 for me were at my maximum tolerance level - everything brighter than m8 would be disqualified for me. Which one is brighter dx320 or m8 ? M9 or m8?

 

[RIGATIO]

Had anyone a chance to compare m8 to ibasso dx320 ? (Purely soundwise )

I was impressed by m8, however I felt that mids were a bit recessed. Or maybe bass and treble were a bit elevated hence impression of recessed mids..

I wonder how dx320 or m9 would differ in this regards, in terms of mids.

Also highs on m8 for me were at my maximum tolerance level - everything brighter than m8 would be disqualified for me. Which one is brighter dx320 or m8 ? M9 or m8?

Ive had the dx320 and the M9 so maybe will be able to put some light here for you.

The M8 has slightly recessed mids indeed and this was the main reason why i switched from the dx320. The dx320 is slightly more aggressive in mids and this caused some fatigue for me after longer listening sessions. The rest is on a similar level.

On some tracks the dx320 seemed to have slightly larger stage, on other tracks the M8 seemed to sound wider and more expansive.

The treble are similar i would say but the M8 may sound a smidge more crispy but not bright. The dx320 has beautifully controlled trebles (ROHM dac). The M8 has more bass quantity, especially mid bass punch and sounds warmer than the dx320.

The M8 sounds more velvety and liquid (typical AKM 4499EQ), the dx320 sounds firmer, denser and thicker in notes (but not denser in overall presentation). The M8 reminds me of a R2R dac where the ROHMS on the dx320 are a perfect blend of ESS definition and AKM subtlety.
The dx320 for me was slightly more demanding when listening to the music, and i was bit tired after a while. On the M8 music just flows, is wet, bit warmer and the notes dont require much attention, the overall presentation is for me more effortless.

The M8 is for me slightly more euphonic and musical. The dx320 is more on a reference side, where the precision and linearity count the most.

The M9 is very similar to the M8 but is brighter and more reference in its tuning. Its slightly pushed more in the treble area. The bass has more meat on the M8, on the M9 is more ethereal but still very very deep (maybe even very slightly deeper than on the M8).

The M9 and dx320 would be closer because of a similar tunig characteristics- more reference. The M9 is smoother than the dx320 (but the dx320 is not edgy or sharp, just thicker in notes). The M9 would be more musical and would have slightly wider stage.
The M8 differs the most here because is the warmest and most musical one.

All the differences arent huge tho, sources dont matter as much as transducers.


All A/B comparisons made with the Monarch Mk2, UM Mest 1 and 2.

 

[salgado]

Ive had the dx320 and the M9 so maybe will be able to put some light here for you.

The M8 has slightly recessed mids indeed and this was the main reason why i switched from the dx320. The dx320 is slightly more aggressive in mids and this caused some fatigue for me after longer listening sessions. The rest is on a similar level.

On some tracks the dx320 seemed to have slightly larger stage, on other tracks the M8 seemed to sound wider and more expansive.

The treble are similar i would say but the M8 may sound a smidge more crispy but not bright. The dx320 has beautifully controlled trebles (ROHM dac). The M8 has more bass quantity, especially mid bass punch and sounds warmer than the dx320.

The M8 sounds more velvety and liquid (typical AKM 4499EQ), the dx320 sounds firmer, denser and thicker in notes (but not denser in overall presentation). The M8 reminds me of a R2R dac where the ROHMS on the dx320 are a perfect blend of ESS definition and AKM subtlety.
The dx320 for me was slightly more demanding when listening to the music, and i was bit tired after a while. On the M8 music just flows, is wet, bit warmer and the notes dont require much attention, the overall presentation is for me more effortless.

The M8 is for me slightly more euphonic and musical. The dx320 is more on a reference side, where the precision and linearity count the most.

The M9 is very similar to the M8 but is brighter and more reference in its tuning. Its slightly pushed more in the treble area. The bass has more meat on the M8, on the M9 is more ethereal but still very very deep (maybe even very slightly deeper than on the M8).

The M9 and dx320 would be closer because of a similar tunig characteristics- more reference. The M9 is smoother than the dx320 (but the dx320 is not edgy or sharp, just thicker in notes). The M9 would be more musical and would have slightly wider stage.
The M8 differs the most here because is the warmest and most musical one.

All the differences arent huge tho, sources dont matter as much as transducers.


All A/B comparisons made with the Monarch Mk2, UM Mest 1 and 2.

Thanks a lot for an excellent summary !

I agree there is something special about m8. I auditioned it for a short period of time, but that lovely experience still remains in my head.

 

[PenguinHeadphoner]

There was user in M6 Ultra group using such adapter: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sha...65-android-10-dap.963936/page-9#post-17098533

On the M6 Ultra.
920€...

Not working on previous devices
I have the M6.
And the same adapter as the one used in the picture.
It is not working.

But that gives some hope that DAP manfecturers will FINALLY stop removing the needed drivers to power a USB=>Ethernet adapter.
Which all manufacturers have done as I have literally ZERO DAP that supports those adapters.

Regards.

 

[Thetaburn]

M8 as an usb DAC - to HQplayer DSD 512 oversampling with the attached settings is 'WOW' - for soundstage.

 

[Mhog55]

Still can't get my unit to load all of the files from my SD card. Running current firmware, but it will only read half of my library for unknown reasons.
Just tried the card from my M6 Pro - same thing. Anybody have any ideas as to what might be happening here? Does the M8 require some different formatting than the M6 Pro? I purchased my unit used from another head fi member. Is it possible that he did something that is causing this issue? Getting frustrated, this dap was a relatively expensive purchase for me. Don't understand why it's not functioning as intended.

 

[Shanling]

M6 Pro and M8 are using the same app, there is nothing in our system that should be limiting this, assuming the card slot works correctly.

Did you try viewing the files in any other music or file-browsing app, to see if the M8 can access the full card?

 

[ClicketEKlack]

M8 as an usb DAC - to HQplayer DSD 512 oversampling with the attached settings is 'WOW' - for soundstage.

What is your chain? Please forgive my technical ignorance, but isn’t HQPlayer supposed to feed into the DAC?

 

[FooFighter]

What is your chain? Please forgive my technical ignorance, but isn’t HQPlayer supposed to feed into the DAC?

In that scenario M8 needs to be put into DAC mode and connected to some HQPlayer Client (NAA).
In the most simple case you just hook M8 to the HQPlayer server PC itself via USB and select M8 as target device in the HQPLAYER settings.
That should work with most DAPs btw which can be set to DAC mode and isn’t some exclusive M8 feature but M8 sound signature can be exclusive for the listener as a result

 

[Thetaburn]

PC to M8 (using usb DAC mode), the output is through 4.4mm to XLR cable into Burson Soloist 3xp

HQplayer is just like any other PC audio player, but it uses your CPU and GPU to oversample.

 

[Mhog55]

M6 Pro and M8 are using the same app, there is nothing in our system that should be limiting this, assuming the card slot works correctly.

Did you try viewing the files in any other music or file-browsing app, to see if the M8 can access the full card?

Yes, I also have the Hiby music app downloaded. Same thing. Both are only scanning approx 1,279 files out of close to 2,700. How would I go about getting the unit repaired if needed?

 

[Shanling]

Yes, I also have the Hiby music app downloaded. Same thing. Both are only scanning approx 1,279 files out of close to 2,700. How would I go about getting the unit repaired if needed?

You would have to ship it to our offices in China for repair. You can email us at info@shanling.com if you would want to proceed with this.

 

[Mhog55]

You would have to ship it to our offices in China for repair. You can email us at info@shanling.com if you would want to proceed with this.

Okay, thank you. I purchased a brand new SD card today. Loaded it up, plugged it in, and all the files were scanned and appear to be working on both music apps. Fingers crossed no more problems. Just started listening a bit ago, but was finally able to hear my 24/192 vinyl rips. Never have I heard another device that sounds so incredible. My next purchase will be the Shanling H7. I think I'm done after that. Not much interest in trying anything else from different companies. Shanling plus AKM is pretty special. Completely satisfied and then some. Shanling + Kennerton has become my audio nirvana. M8 with my Gjallarhorn and Vali Neo is bliss. It took some time, but I feel that I've reached my end game within my budget. Thanks Shanling!