[Shanling]

Hi all, my ipod classic has bricked and replacing the harddive will cost as much as buying an entry level DAP, so I'm researching what's available. I am particularly attracted to the Shanling Q1 because of it's price, portability and aesthetics. Maybe it's shallow but so many of the alternatives look ugly!

I have a couple of questions to people who have bought it themselves. Firstly, is the UI good? In particular how easy is it to navigate a list several hundred items long? For example if I look under artist, I'm going to be jumping back and forth throughout the alphabet as I pick new bands to listen to from my library. But I think the screen only seems to display about 3 or 4 artists at once in the photos I've seen. It could be extremely annoying to find anything swiping all the way through such a list. How do you guys find it?

Secondly, the only way I can get one is to buy through aliexpress. Their amazon store in my country is out of stock, and I've no idea if they are going to make it available any time soon. This makes me nervous because it effectively means if I buy it there will not be a warranty. Do any of you have experience of getting products like the Shanling Q1 this way?

If you think I am looking at the wrong player, I am open to your recommendations.

Many thanks for your help!

In music library, you can move fast through it thanks to sidebar, that allows you to go jump quickly through alphabet.

For purchasing, you can try to check with your local distributor directly. Do not just rely on Amazon listings.

If you decide to purchase from China, we recommend to purchase from reliable Chinese sellers, not aliexpress. Places like Linsoul or Shenzhen Audio are good choices.

You will have warranty when buying from China, but your warranty will be only with the seller directly: https://en.shanling.com/category/256

 

[AnandaHri]

Hi everyone.

I am considering buying a Q1. How would you define sound? I don't like cold, analytical profiles.
I have also seen that it uses the same chip as the saber r3 Pro, do you know if they sound similar?

Thanks!

 

[InvisibleInk]

Hi everyone.

I am considering buying a Q1. How would you define sound? I don't like cold, analytical profiles.
I have also seen that it uses the same chip as the saber r3 Pro, do you know if they sound similar?

Thanks!

When I think of cold analytical sound I think of THX distortion-cancelling tech and not Sabre DACs. Nevertheless, a possibly a better choice for you could be the HiBy R2. It comes with the MSEB DSP user-friendly sound adjustment system. MSEB will allow you to fine tune the sound to your liking much better than the Q1 can. And it's usually less expensive. That being said, I love the stock sound of my Q1 better than almost any other portable I own.

 

[baskingshark]

Hi everyone.

I am considering buying a Q1. How would you define sound? I don't like cold, analytical profiles.
I have also seen that it uses the same chip as the saber r3 Pro, do you know if they sound similar?

Thanks!

The Q1 is very neutral. It doesn't colour anything, so it is useful for evaluating an IEM. As such, some might find it boring, as it presents the IEM warts and all.

I wouldn't consider it analytical, but if one might want more warmth or lushness then look elsewhere.

 

[fish1050]

Hi everyone.

I am considering buying a Q1. How would you define sound? I don't like cold, analytical profiles.
I have also seen that it uses the same chip as the saber r3 Pro, do you know if they sound similar?

Thanks!

I find it is so hard to find the perfect DAP for my needs in terms of features, power etc.. that I let the headphones dictate the tone. That is why I love the Q1 which has a very neutral sound and my NAD Viso HP50's provide the touch of warmth I like in my sound. More often than not I buy my headphones and DAP at the same time so I can tailor the sound to my liking, I never use an equalizer as it alters the sound. When I sold my Fiio M9 I also sold my Bowers and Wilkins P5S2's. I got the Q1 and then went shopping for headphones and after demoing like 12 pairs of headphones I settled on the HP50's.

 

[fish1050]

@Shanling
The Q1 was first announced on December 10th 2019. So it will 2 years tomorrow since it was announced. Any chance we will be hearing about an updated Q1 version any time soon like early 2022 perhaps? If Shanling is looking for input on the next version I have some ideas! I understand that COVID needs to be factored but any update news would be appreciated. December 10th is the 1 year anniversary for me owning my Q1. I have to say it was a somewhat rocky start but thanks to multiple firmware updates my Q1 seems rock solid now and I am still loving it to this day. But I am getting that new toy craving and nothing would satisfy that craving better than a shiny new Shanling non-android DAP. I'm not picky a Q1 II or an updated M2X (Q2?) would be most appreciated

Please never become like Sony where they kept slogging the A55 year after year (for 4 years+) with no updated version in site or likely to come!

 

[baskingshark]

@Shanling
The Q1 was first announced on December 10th 2019. So it will 2 years tomorrow since it was announced. Any chance we will be hearing about an updated Q1 version any time soon like early 2022 perhaps? If Shanling is looking for input on the next version I have some ideas! I understand that COVID needs to be factored but any update news would be appreciated. December 10th is the 1 year anniversary for me owning my Q1. I have to say it was a somewhat rocky start but thanks to multiple firmware updates my Q1 seems rock solid now and I am still loving it to this day. But I am getting that new toy craving and nothing would satisfy that craving better than a shiny new Shanling non-android DAP. I'm not picky a Q1 II or an updated M2X (Q2?) would be most appreciated

Please never become like Sony where they kept slogging the A55 year after year (for 4 years+) with no updated version in site or likely to come!

I still use my Q1 every other day (for past 2 years), very good set. Shanling also gave some firmwares months after release!

The A55 actually has some firmware mods done by Mr Walkman (https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sony-walkman-custom-firmware-non-android.943661/), which unlocks its potential. Superb sound after the mods are applied, one can even unlock volume caps and change the sound profile. It sounds like a much more expensive DAP with those, compared to the stock tuning.

 

[fish1050]

I still use my Q1 every other day (for past 2 years), very good set. Shanling also gave some firmwares months after release!

The A55 actually has some firmware mods done by Mr Walkman (https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sony-walkman-custom-firmware-non-android.943661/), which unlocks its potential. Superb sound after the mods are applied, one can even unlock volume caps and change the sound profile. It sounds like a much more expensive DAP with those, compared to the stock tuning.

I understand, I am not maligning the Q1 at all but it would be nice to see an updated version. I have been following the A55 for awhile including the custom firmwares. But Sony isn't updating it third party's are the ones supporting it. Not to mention it costs as much now in Canada as it did 4 years ago. I wouldn't mind owning one but I am not paying $300 for something that is 4 years old. The Q1 is less than half the price and offers all of the features of the A55 and more and quite frankly the stock Q1 sounds better to me than the stock A55 with alot more power as well. The fact that a third party can release firmware to make the A55 sound much better makes me dislike Sony even more. Sony is clearly crippling the A55 sound and so there is certainly room for an updated A55. They are still selling units apparently so why not release another non-android model?

Keep in mind you don't need to worry about the volume cap if you buy the Q1. Also installing custom firmware in the A55 voids the warranty so you better hope a third party firmware doesn't brick your A55 and turn it into an expensive paper weight.

 

[AnandaHri]

Hello,

Thank you very much for the advice. In the end I bought it in a nice green color.

Of the different digital filters, which one is the warmest?

Thanks a lot!!!!

 

[endgame4]

Of the different digital filters, which one is the warmest?

Should you not just try all and see which you prefer? I do not think any of the filters are really more 'warm' than others.

 

[fish1050]

Hello,

Thank you very much for the advice. In the end I bought it in a nice green color.

Of the different digital filters, which one is the warmest?

Thanks a lot!!!!

The differences are very subtle, after trying them all I went with Minimum Slow but I am classic rock guy with most of my music. Those into EDM and faster paced music may benefit from the other filters but again the differences are very subtle.

 

[Shanling]

Hello,

Thank you very much for the advice. In the end I bought it in a nice green color.

Of the different digital filters, which one is the warmest?

Thanks a lot!!!!

Well, hard to say which one is simply "the warmest". You can try the Minimum slow.

 

[noknok23]

Rockbox has been ported on the Q1.
https://www.rockbox.org/wiki/ShanlingQ1Port

any rockbox fan willing to try out and make a little video? (I don't own this device but maybe in the future, i miss having a rockbox player)

Read through most of the info in the links and honestly I don't see any advantage to using Rockbox over Shanling's firmware for me. Nothing it offers makes up for the loss of bluetooth functionality. The question for @Shanling is will using Rockbox void the Q1 warranty if it bricks? I am guessing it will so even if I was interested in trying it I would want to wait until after my warranty expires.

I am curious as to what features people are missing from the current Q1 firmware that Rockbox offers?

it support a lot of exotic files formats, you can customize the UI to your liking, its very fast, has scrobbling support, perhaps the battery can last longer too. But it seems like the official firmware has dramatically improved since the release and the device is snappy now? Been looking at videos.

 

[fish1050]

Rockbox has been ported on the Q1.
https://www.rockbox.org/wiki/ShanlingQ1Port

any rockbox fan willing to try out and make a little video? (I don't own this device but maybe in the future, i miss having a rockbox player)


it support a lot of exotic files formats, you can customize the UI to your liking, its very fast, has scrobbling support, perhaps the battery can last longer too. But it seems like the official firmware has dramatically improved since the release and the device is snappy now? Been looking at videos.

The early pictures of the rockbox UI looked way to childish for my tastes. I only need support for flac and mp3, speed is not an issue with the stock UI and my 12,000 songs. Still need to worry about voiding the warranty and unless rockbox supports bluetooth it is a non-starter for me. I am actually looking forward to seeing what Shanling adds to the next iteration of the Q series DAP's.

 

[RaeCarruth]

Installed it today. There's a lot to tinker with.