Shanling M8 Android Portable player

[mzura]

I had the Astell AK300 + AK380AMP and no problems with it. However, I didn't use Google Play then. Astell AK300 read the SD card without problems, cataloged the CDs properly, did not freeze, and had no other problems described in this thread. The pre-installed Tidal worked without any problems.

Obviously, Astell's pricing policy pissed me off so I don't buy their products anymore. However, these devices are very well made and with well-functioning software, without errors. Only problem is with the Google Play installation, as far as I've heard.

Moreover, I believe that underestimating the problem is not a good practice or an attitude. I bought a product, quite expensive, expect it to work properly and have features that are in specification.

It's been so long that the FW update should be ready.

And I still emphasize that Shanling did a great job in terms of hardware and sound quality. The M8 is is the Astell SP1000 or maybe even SP2000 level - but in order to compete, the quality of the software must be improved immediately.

 

[Palpatine79]

The M8 is is the Astell SP1000 or maybe even SP2000 level - but in order to compete, the quality of the software must be improved immediately.

Bold statement
Do you tested these devices (SP1/2K) or is it just a guess?

 

[Whitigir]

Bold statement
Do you tested these devices (SP1/2K) or is it just a guess?

I would pick up M8 any given chance over SP2K. Even with the minor bugs here and there in firmwares. At least Shanling are listening

 

[Vitaly2017]

I want to thank @Shanling for their support I have been guided threw my issue via private messages and it did help me alot I got sorted 85% of my issues already. I would say M8 is a tank and a wonderful device its sonically my dap and hardware is solid. I also find that you guys shouldnt take my words yet for granted about wm1z being better then M8 as I only had 5 min of listen ! haha

Today I did a few more listen after around 12 hours burn in and I can already tell man this dap has some seriously good vibes ! I really love them. Will try to grab my friends wm1z to do further testing as memory is never a reliable source of comparison

I personally love the volume know just maybe wished it to be a slight tiny bigger or maybe lower positioned as it can get a little trickier to fully operate it, but other then that wow spotless functionality I always dreamed to have a super responsive volume wheel its now finally here!


I dont know about you guys but did anyone else encountered not loaded album arts and playlist not reading from my previous devices?

 

[Palpatine79]

I would pick up M8 any given chance over SP2K. Even with the minor bugs here and there in firmwares. At least Shanling are listening

Minor?
Can You tell me differences in sound signature and sound quality beetwen SP2K and M8? In witch terms M8 is better?

 

[Whitigir]

Minor?
Can You tell me differences in sound signature and sound quality beetwen SP2K and M8? In witch terms M8 is better?

IMO, the M8 has more fluidity, better cohesiveness, tonal balances, and soundstage. The AndroidOS has much better freedom than closed custom Android from SP2K. I do enjoy a wide range of different sound signatures, but I never really could adopt myself into AK signatures upto SP2K. It isn’t my cup of teas. We all have different preferences, so I just want to reaffirm that when someone is saying that M8 can compete with SP2k in term of performances, and I can second that

I also has a friend who is the sharing the same preferences as I do, and he said that lately AK has changed up a bit, the SE200 is with better tonal balances and fluidity. Unfortunately I can’t be wasting money all around as I used to....Covid 19 is horrible. I don’t see myself trying out this SE200 anytime soon

 

[vilhelm44]

I want to thank @Shanling for their support I have been guided threw my issue via private messages and it did help me alot I got sorted 85% of my issues already. I would say M8 is a tank and a wonderful device its sonically my dap and hardware is solid. I also find that you guys shouldnt take my words yet for granted about wm1z being better then M8 as I only had 5 min of listen ! haha

Today I did a few more listen after around 12 hours burn in and I can already tell man this dap has some seriously good vibes ! I really love them. Will try to grab my friends wm1z to do further testing as memory is never a reliable source of comparison

I personally love the volume know just maybe wished it to be a slight tiny bigger or maybe lower positioned as it can get a little trickier to fully operate it, but other then that wow spotless functionality I always dreamed to have a super responsive volume wheel its now finally here!


I dont know about you guys but did anyone else encountered not loaded album arts and playlist not reading from my previous devices?

I've had issues with DSF file art not loading from SD card and volume going very quiet out of the blue. They are minor issues for me as the player sounds great and looks lovely. I certainly prefer it to the WM1Z (and other players I've had including R8) as an overall package. The only thing I miss about the WM1Z is the battery life, and that's it.

 

[yasick]

I want to thank @Shanling for their support I have been guided threw my issue via private messages and it did help me alot I got sorted 85% of my issues already. I would say M8 is a tank and a wonderful device its sonically my dap and hardware is solid. I also find that you guys shouldnt take my words yet for granted about wm1z being better then M8 as I only had 5 min of listen ! haha

Today I did a few more listen after around 12 hours burn in and I can already tell man this dap has some seriously good vibes ! I really love them. Will try to grab my friends wm1z to do further testing as memory is never a reliable source of comparison

I personally love the volume know just maybe wished it to be a slight tiny bigger or maybe lower positioned as it can get a little trickier to fully operate it, but other then that wow spotless functionality I always dreamed to have a super responsive volume wheel its now finally here!


I dont know about you guys but did anyone else encountered not loaded album arts and playlist not reading from my previous devices?

Please note that in the folder with the music, the cover file must be named "cover" or "folder", otherwise the cover will not be displayed if the file is named differently. For example, its title as an album title. You can also get cover and text online in shanling branded app.

 

[szore]

IMO, the M8 has more fluidity, better cohesiveness, tonal balances, and soundstage. The AndroidOS has much better freedom than closed custom Android from SP2K. I do enjoy a wide range of different sound signatures, but I never really could adopt myself into AK signatures upto SP2K. It isn’t my cup of teas. We all have different preferences, so I just want to reaffirm that when someone is saying that M8 can compete with SP2k in term of performances, and I can second that

I also has a friend who is the sharing the same preferences as I do, and he said that lately AK has changed up a bit, the SE200 is with better tonal balances and fluidity. Unfortunately I can’t be wasting money all around as I used to....Covid 19 is horrible. I don’t see myself trying out this SE200 anytime soon

I demoed the SE200 and hated it, but then someone told me that I needed to update the bios to get the true sound...who knows...

 

[subguy812]

I would pick up M8 any given chance over SP2K. Even with the minor bugs here and there in firmwares. At least Shanling are listening

Whitigir it is obvious you don't like A&K, either as a company or because of their customer service, but you are telling me that based only on sound quality alone you would choose the M8 over the SP2000. If that is the case, I will buy one now.

 

[subguy812]

I want to thank @Shanling for their support I have been guided threw my issue via private messages and it did help me alot I got sorted 85% of my issues already. I would say M8 is a tank and a wonderful device its sonically my dap and hardware is solid. I also find that you guys shouldnt take my words yet for granted about wm1z being better then M8 as I only had 5 min of listen ! haha

Today I did a few more listen after around 12 hours burn in and I can already tell man this dap has some seriously good vibes ! I really love them. Will try to grab my friends wm1z to do further testing as memory is never a reliable source of comparison

I personally love the volume know just maybe wished it to be a slight tiny bigger or maybe lower positioned as it can get a little trickier to fully operate it, but other then that wow spotless functionality I always dreamed to have a super responsive volume wheel its now finally here!


I dont know about you guys but did anyone else encountered not loaded album arts and playlist not reading from my previous devices?

You are preferring this to the R8?

 

[denis1976]

Whitigir it is obvious you don't like A&K, either as a company or because of their customer service, but you are telling me that based only on sound quality alone you would choose the M8 over the SP2000. If that is the case, I will buy one now.

The M8 is outstanding, but to my ears the sp2000cu still has the edge in pure sound quality, but this is not a bad thing for M8, the price gap is enormous, that almost hypnotic sound of sp2000 IMO has no equal in any dap i heard, but I say I love repeat LOVE the tonality, density and power of M8

 

[quodjo105]

I hate how this player heats up when in use .. my only complaint at the moment .

 

[quodjo105]

The M8 is outstanding, but to my ears the sp2000cu still has the edge in pure sound quality, but this is not a bad thing for M8, the price gap is enormous, that almost hypnotic sound of sp2000 IMO has no equal in any dap i heard, but I say I love repeat LOVE the tonality, density and power of M8

I agree .

 

[shrekito]

Cut Shanling some slacks bro, have you even looked into A&K ?the so luxurious brands that cost 2X as much and don’t really care about the customers ? It took them 5 years to have APK supported, the same goes for digital filters

Well at present I have an expensive brick whilst Shanling finishes their firmware updates to allow the m8 to read the artwork and track info from SACD ISO files - my only reason for buying the M8 - I have to admit the fact that no-one else has raised this issue worries me. Whilst I appreciate Shanling is providing support and replying to this forum - they do need to work in a more agile way and start releasing fixes more quickly. This is basic functionality and I have no good solution for playing my hundreds of iso files. I never had this issue with Sony WM1Z or A as at least you can work around the issues with jpg types and it reads the tags on dsf files correctly which the shanling doesn't.

In my case, it doesn't matter how good it sounds if it's unusable with my 1TB of ISO files. So please Shanling pull your finger out and fix your August 2020 player before 2021....