: Lush Shanling sound, build, power, OS, UI, battery life, value
: A bit bulky for on the go
Intro and disclaimer
I have and have had several Shanling products in the past. I’m a big fan of their house sound. It’s warm but not lacking detail. I was very excited to get some time with their newest offering, the M8T.
The M8T was offered to me at a discounted price in exchange for my honest option. At no time did MusicTeck or Shanling influence my review. My thoughts on the M8T are my own.
The M8T can be purchased from MusicTeck here (non-affiliated). I have been buying from MusicTeck for years and have yet to have a bad experience. Andrew, Leo, and the rest of the team are very response and helpful.
Note
There are two quick things I wanted to mention before getting started. Out of the box, there is a massive gap between the tube mode and solid state. The tube section needs time to burn in before getting to its actual signature. The tube state was a bit lifeless with a flat stage when compared to the solid-state mode. After about 15 hours, it started to dramatically improve. Give the tubes time to settle in before judging the tube sound. Also, some M8T users have had some charging issues. There are reports of the player freezing during charging and charging slowly. I didn’t have the freezing or slow charging issues, but the battery app said that it would take longer to charge than it actually does. The app would tell me that it would take a day to charge from 30% to full when it took only 2-3 hours. I connected the M8T to a battery pack that I have and confirmed a draw of 17-18w which is normal. VERY minor issue in my opinion. Shanling hinted that the issues are linked to going to Android 13 and is aware of the issues and working it. I’m confident that Shanling will fix the issue with a firmware update, and this is not a hardware flaw.
Gear Used
Shanling M8T
Cayin N6iii (DAC/AMP module C201 and E203)
Fiio M15S
Dan Clark Audio E3
Audeze EL-8
Sennheiser IE900
Sennheiser HD620S
Test Tracks Used:
Emancipator – Afterglow
Lindsey Stirling – Elements (Orchestral Version)
Angus and Julia Stone – Yellow Brick Road
Grateful Dead – Touch of Grey
Eric Clapton - Old Love (Acoustic Live)
Build
The M8T is very well built. The buttons have a nice satisfying click. The volume knob is smooth with a slight click for each volume step. I feel it’s a bit larger and easier to adjust versus the M9/M9+. The Jacks are nice and tight. I saw no defects in the paint or any other part of the player. I have zero complaints about the build on the M8T. The player has a nice feeling in the hand.
Size wise, the player is substantial. I remember pulling the player out of the box for the first time and thinking it’s a big player. It’s the same size as the Shanling M9 and M9+. It’s a bit too big for a one-handed operation and is simply too big to go into the pocket.
The player is all black besides gold accents around the headphone outputs. I really like the looks and feel of the M8T. It’s just clean and functional. In my opinion, Shanling makes the cleanest, best laid out players on the market.
Accessories
The M8T comes in very simple packaging. I really like the tubes laid out in the shape of a T on the cover of the box. Nice touch! There is warranty information, quick start guild, extra screen protector and installation wipes, Shanling product line brochure, and a USB A to USB C cable. A case came in a second box.
Specs
- Newly Upgraded Android 13, Open System with Google Play Store
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 CPU
- 6GB RAM + 128GB Internal memory + MicroSD Card slot
- DAC Setup 2×4499EX DAC & 2×4191EQ
- AMP Setup AD8397 + OPA1612 + ADA45253
- Tube Setup 2x JAN6418 (Expected lifespan at 5000 hours)
- Can switch between two Tube Outputs (Triode/Linear) and pure Transistor Output
- Display 6.0-inch 1080x2160 Sharp
- Same Body Construction as M9 / M9 Plus
- Dimensions 147 x 82 x 22mm
- Weight 383g
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Wifi 2.4G/5G
- XMOS XU316 USB Input
- 8350 mAh Battery
- QC3.0 & PD2.0 quick charging
- 15h Single-Ended / 13 h Balanced
- 3.5mm & 4.4mm Output
OS/UI
The operating system of the M8T is very smooth and I didn’t experience any hiccups minus the slight charging issue mentioned earlier. The M8T runs on Android 13 and does include the Play Store installed from the factory. There is very little bloatware which I really appreciate. Shanling has a great support app that has an icon to update firmware, FAQs, User Guild, and an icon to contact Shanling. The M8T arrived at my door with the latest firmware and didn’t have an update while I was writing my review. Therefore, I can’t comment on the firmware update process. That said, I have never had an issue updating the firmware on a Shanling DAP so I would not expect the M8T to be any different.
There is a handy drop-down menu that gives you access to all the functions that you would use on a regular basis including Wi-Fi/Bluetooth settings, LO/PO, Work Mode (Android Mode, Prime Mode, USB DAC, Bluetooth Amp, and AirPlay), Gain, Tube/Transistor, and Triode Mode/Ultra Linear (only available in Tube mode. You also have access to current apps, settings, and power button.
I won’t talk too much about the apps since the experience is universal across most mid-tiered players. I tend to stick to the player’s stock app. I think they all work well and Shanling app is no exception. My SD card was quickly and accurately scanned. The app is well laid out and has a nice-looking interface. Zero issue.
Battery Life
The M8T is rated at 15h single-ended and 13h on balanced. During my time with the M8T, I have no reason to dispute that. Even during my heavy screen use testing sessions, the battery lasted several extended listening sessions.
Overall signature
Overall, the M8T is about what you would expect from Shanling. The sound is warm while still having good detail. No matter what track or headphones I threw at it, there was never any harsh sounds or sibilance even at higher volumes in either Tube mode or Transistor. Being able to significantly alter the sound signature at the push of a button is great. When I felt like EDM, I would use the Transistor mode. When I was in the mood for some classic rock to go with my single malt, I would pick tube mode.
I have a few headphones that tend to have spicy treble at times. With the M8T, these headphones really shined. The treble on the EL-8 with the M8T in either mode is stunning and the pairing of the two is good. I’ve been a huge fan of the EL-8 since it came out and the pairing with this Shanling made me appreciate them again all over again. Very enjoyable.
Despite a lot of effort, I was not able to decern a difference between the Triode and the Ultra Linear setting within the Tube Mode. I went back and forth with several headphones and genres and didn't perceive a difference. I'm not saying it's not there. I just wasn't able to hear it. To me, it's like different filters. Some people hear it and others don't.
Comparisons
M8T (Tube) versus Cayin N6iii w/C201
With the IE900, the first thing that I noticed staging to be a bit deeper with the N6iii. Overall, the tonality is very similar in both DAPs. The stage is a bit deeper and around you versus the M8T which is a bit more in front. The kick drum also has a little more texture and punch with the Cayin. Vocals are also slightly more forward on the Cayin. There is no sibilance with either device. I’m not saying the N6iii is better listening experience. I think it depends on your preference. The N6iii has one of the deepest stages that I have heard on a dap. I tried the Shanling with the IE600, IE900 and EL-8 and noticed zero harshness in the treble which can sometimes be an issue with these three headphones. Overall, the sound is very similar.
M8T (Transistor) versus Cayin N6iii w/C201
In transistor mode, the Shanling makes up ground to the Cayin in terms of staging. The M8T loses a bit of that analogue smoothness that you get with the tube mode but makes up some of the gap in staging. The win still goes to the Cayin but not by much. There’s more detail and more bite to the sound in transistor mode versus Tube mode. The bass on the Cayin reaches a bit lower and has a bit more energy. Vocals were more forward on the Cayin with the track Yellow Brick Road. Old Love sounded like you were on stage with Eric Clapton versus the 5th row with the Cayin. Again, not better or worse. Some people may prefer the stage wise and pushed back.
M8T Tube versus Cayin N6iii w/E203 (Hyper mode on)
Immediately you notice the smooth/softer nature of the Shanling with the IE600. There is more bass on the Cayin and less treble with the Shanling. Again, the Cayin’s stage is deeper and more around you while the Shanling is more in front of you with similar width. There is more clarity with the Cayin. This is not to say one is better than the other… Just different.
M8T Transistor versus Cayin N6iii w/ E203 (Hyper mode on)
I was not expecting this… They sound very similar. I had to go back and forth several times and really couldn’t notice any meaningful differences.
M8T Tube versus Fiio M15S (Desktop mode)
Well, another surprise. The M15S sounds extremely similar to the Shanling in Tube mode. I knew the M15s leaned a little warm but I didn’t expect this. Both have a super smooth and enjoyable listening experience.
M8T Transistor versus Fiio M15S (Desktop mode)
Pretty much what you would expect here. There is a lot more depth to the sound, more energy in the treble and there is a touch more bass on the Shanling. Also, vocals are a bit more nature and forward with the M8T.
Conclusion
The M8T is a great dap. Great feel in the hand albeit a bit big. Having two distinct sound signatures at the push of a button is a great feature. You can tailor the sound to your preferences, or headphones very easily. Combined with the looks, build, ease of use, and relatively attractive price makes for a compelling device.
