Shanling M6 Portable Music Player

Oh yeah, the days of Shanling's big Hi-Fi machines. We are still making them, but sells are pretty much all limited just to China. Hopefully it will change next year.

Little bit tricky to say to be honest.

Run with 16/44 and just as music player? Around 11-12 in single ended and less than 10 in balanced.

Streaming over Tidal, changing song every few minutes? Or playing DSD256? That can cut it by few more hours.

 

It's your pal again @Bina, will Shanling would entertain any Android updates to 9.0 in the future for both M6 models? I dunno how the Eastern market is like, but at least for me and others in the Western market we do not want to buy a DAP and then have to deal with an outdated Android OS with APKs no longer updating due to the outdated Android OS in a few months/one year.

 

purr1n did you try this with any full size HP's? I currently use a Questyle Qp2r, mostly with Focal Clear's and Stellia in bed. Looking at this for the Android/streaming/Roon functionality. Keeping in mind the limitations of DAP's from a SQ perspective, Just looking for any obvious "gotchas"

 

I purchased a secondhand ZX2 about a year ago and was mortified by how clunky and slow the software/UI is even compared to my 2015 Galaxy Note 5. Felt like watching a power point presentation while scrolling. I know you mentioned the M6 runs far smoother than the ZX2, but is it as responsive and smooth as a smartphone? At least for web browsing / music streaming / messaging.

ZX2 was right on the edge in terms of driving my uber-efficient modded TH900s, but it looks like the M6 is spec'd at 600mW into 32 ohms which would be far beyond enough to deafen me with 90% of my full size headphones.

 

I had one of those on hand for a few days once. One of the most distinctively beautiful sounding players I've ever tried. I couldn't get on with the clunky mechanics and user interface unfortunately and if I'd kept it I probably would have eventually thrown it through a window.

 

I fully understand you.

There were some talks with our software team about possibly moving to Android 8 or 9, but for now can't promise anything.

 

I get it man. Just tell corporate as feedback as to what the users are looking for (at least in the Western markets). I might consider down the road getting the M6 Pro, but I would be pissed if it stays on Android 7.1 and Shanling release a new DAP with a newer Android version. I want my APKs to last for a long time.

 

I'm European, so I understand western markets very well And this is not just about west, like Japan is our main market and they push for this even more.

This is not really about company not wanting to fix/improve this. But about what our software team is able to do...

 

Dude, I get it.

I just wish other Chinese manufacturers put a heavier focus on software development, but you know this is a huge problem in China.

Tell them $$$$$$ for more sales!

 

The sound quality of the Qp2r was a surprise to me as well. One expects (or should) these little AIO opamp driven devices to be limited, but the Qp2r has a clarity/resolve/detail beyond the usual, and even a tad bit of head stage on decent full size HP's. ZMF's were too much for it, but Focal's have the sensitivity to get something more than a compressed "hey it makes sound" out of it. I had trouble going back to IFi nano and the like after getting it.

You nailed it UI and clunky mech's - why does it have to make so much noise?! It was not a satisfying device in bed with my wife Now that I am wanting something that can be a Roon endpoint I am looking beyond it.

I went ahead and ordered an M6 Pro today thinking it might be a better fit for me. Will drop a review in a week or two when it comes in, though I don't do IEM's like it seems most users of these sorts of DAP's do.

 

Excellent, let me know if the M6 Pros are better wearing your Star Wars hat.

But on a serious note, let us know how you like the software end of things.

 

Yeah the ZX300 sounded like compressed mud to me after having the QP2R. Funny you mention Focal...I think the QP2R was bundled with a Focal headphone at one point. I wish the company kept going. There was some hype around a new player from them bit it tanked because the QP2R didn't sell well enough. It's too bad nobody else is really trying to use that sort of amplification tech with better operating mechanics/software in another device. I'd be very interested.

 

Dynamics and the bass authority is my only nitpick with the M6. It is not velvety or soft, but it isn’t quite authoritative as I would like. The head stage is very spacious for a device in this price range. The real specialty of the M6 is its timbre and the lack of any digital nasties for a DS chip based device.

 

Is there a Dual DAC mode for single ended @purr1n? I thought I read it somewhere that it does.

 

Sorry for the quick off-topic but for what it's worth, Upscale Audio has a blingy gold QP2R on sale for $600. I'd considered getting it when looking for a DAP for my Andro 2020 a few months ago but ended up going with the ZX2 instead.

It's good to hear that the M6 is a successor to the ZX2 and that it does streaming well. Lots of folks have complained that the AK SR25, at a comparable price to the M6 Pro, fails to maintain a decent, stable wifi connection. Were it not for this the AK player might have been a good option, with its slightly higher OI for the Campfire BA IEMs. Kudos, then, to Shanling for getting the wifi and streaming down so well.

 

On M6, both DACs are active in single ended use.

Dual DAC mode switch for now is only available on M6 Pro, as it's using more power hungry DACs and switching to single DAC can prolong battery life when desired.