All tests are done using the balanced mode and linear phase fast roll-off filter aka the factory default. The ES-3 is a warmer earphone that offers great PRaT for the price. Combining it with the M3X results in a great pairing. The presentation is warm, energetic, and exciting. The sub-bass goes deep and the bass is impactful and textured. The midrange is clear with plenty of details. The upper midrange is slightly recessed but shows good resolution and definition. The treble extension is brilliant, clean, and precise. The soundstage has moderate width with good depth. The instrument separation is excellent, as well as the layering. The general presentation is quite airy and spacious with the M3X. Overall, they offer a great synergy together. Pairing: Sennheiser HD58X With full Android and all the advanced features, of course, we are able to hook this DAP up to other USB devices. Like what we have experienced on the M8 and M6 series, there aren’t any issues connecting to other USB devices also no sudden volume changes or pops that will make you jump.

Shanling M3X เป็นเครื่องเล่นเพลงพกพาระดับ Hi-Res ตัวแรกที่ใช้ชิป DAC/AMP ESS Saber ES9219C X2 เป็นชิปรุ่นใหม่ที่ได้รับความนิยมอย่า่งมาก ซึ่งก่อนหน้านี้ก็ได้เอาไปใช้กับ M0 , U4 และตัวอื่นๆ เพื่อให้ Output ของตัว 4.4 Balanced เสียงดีและมีกำลังขับที่มากขึ้น และรองรับ MQA 16X เต็มรูปแบบ เหมาะสำหรับนักฟังเพลงตัวยงที่ต้องการสตรีมเพลงในระดับ Hi-Res นอกจากนี้ยังใช้ตัวเก็บประจุ AVX Tantalum ที่มีความจุเป็นพิเศษสำหรับวงจรเสียงของ M3X ซึ่งช่วยเพิ่มประสิทธิภาพเสียงย่านความถี่ต่ำ We listened to more songs than those named in this playlist, but those are excellent for identifying a sonic signature. PRaT, Texturization, Detail, Resolution, Dynamics, Impact, and overall tonality are all revealed by those songs. We recommend trying most of the songs from this playlist, especially if you’re searching for new music! Bluetooth connectivity is also satisfactory, as long as you don’t move or turn around fast the signal remains stable. The device supports receiving and broadcasting a Bluetooth signal, supporting LDAC, SBC codecs as a receiver, and can emit LDAC, SBC, LHDC, aptX HD, and aptX as a transmitter.Accessories and unboxing​Inside the box we get the player, a charging/data cable, two extra screen protectors and the user guide/warranty card. I’m honestly ok with the included accessories as most people don’t need more than the basics for a DAP. impressed if we remember the price range of this DAP. I also liked the focus, present but always pleasantly soft and tending to warm. The sound in general is however in its totality quite neutral with (as already mentioned) a tendency to warm always pleasant and never over the top. Its forgiving bass and adequate resolving power work well with different genres of music. It will easily impress if you are migrating from the previous-gen players or phones. On the left of the device, there are three distinct function keys allowing users to choose between next, previous and play/pause functionalities. The buttons are tactile and easily decipherable by touch allowing easy adjustments when not in direct sight. The same indented grooves aids overall handleability of the DAP. Under the hood, we have an 8-Core Snapdragon 430 CPU, with 2GB of RAM and 32-GB ROM. MQA Supports extended as far as full 16X Unfolding, and there is support for both 5G and 2.4G Wifi signals. The Bluetooth support includes LDAC, LHDC, aptX, aptX HD, and SBC. The bluetooth signal is great on my unit, and in line with most other high-end DAPs. M3X also works as an LDAC receiver, if you want to use it as a Bluetooth DAC/AMP. The typical file support includes Mp3, FLAC, and High resolution files, including DSD, and even Opus and ISO files, for those who like to listen to an entire album in one go.

DAP/portable: Fiio M15S, X7 MK II (3A/3E), BTR3, KA5 | Hidisz AP80 Pro | LG G7 ThinQ | Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 | TRI TK-2 | Tanchjim Space | HifiMuse M1 does not give the idea of being an entry level DAP, especially from a qualitative and multimedia point of view. I have previously worked on their M5s, M6 and both of these were the best sounding DAP of their time, much better at balance and value proportions than their competitors like DX120 or DX160. Even the Sony ZX300 had more colored and uneven emphasis across the spectrum. The ESS Sabre decoder decodes up to 32/384kHz and supports DSD256 native decoding. You can switch instantly on the drag-down menu between a single DAC mode to save power or the dual DAC mode that gives you the full performance, this will also affect the output in some ways.Remember, there are only 1500 units available (only 500 available for the international market). So act fast before it is all gone! The heat in question does not invade and does not invalidate either the clarity of the sound or its three-dimensionality which is not very large but far more than sufficient. M3X combined with very easy to drive IEMs (like the Faerless S8P) amplify this factor even more. But this obviously happens a little with all the IEMs I've tried, and logically with different results. Whether they like it or not becomes a subjective factor. Part 3 - Sound Configuration Settings​Here is where I describe the sound differences between different outputs, lowpass filters, gain modes, and DAC modes. Introducing Shanling M3X​M3X is our newest Android Hi-Res portable player, built on the same platform as our previous three Android models. But this time we are aiming at the more affordable part of the market, with a little bit less focus on the most demanding DAC chipsets and the most powerful amplifiers.

The tuning has Shanling’s usual mid-lows coloration, also gentle roll-off in the treble to color the vocal sweet and rounded, without compromising transparency by adding a bit of brightness to the treble. Exciting News is the SDM430 has QC 3.0 and can be topped up in around 1hour 40 mins with a 15w charger. Using a 10w charger will take around 2 hours and 30 mins.There is a hint of warmth in the mids that adds to the lushness of the vocal and paints the whole picture softer. This works well with expressive music and balances out the tighter clean treble. The M3X is equipped with the new Dual ES9219C DAC chips, a chipset that is not yet widely used. Shanling has USD Sabre before, for example, the Q1, but further up, such as the M6 Pro, you will notice they use AKM chipsets so this new ESS implementation will give the M3X a different character in sound. Customers are to bear the consequences and fees incurred, if the parcel was undelivered due to any of the following situation: There is more and more software and hardware supporting this licensed codec and the M3X is considered one of the more advanced MQA streaming players in the market right now. The place you’ll wanna go is the Audio settings, as that’s the only really interesting place in M3X’s settings menu. The Headphone output can be configured to work as a Line Out, there are multiple filter modes, and M3X can work in Dual or Single DAC mode. It is possible to select the Boot and Max Volume, and what codec Bluetooth will be trying to use. M3X also has Airplay and a Vehicle mode.

The M3X offers 32 gigabytes of storage. The system and cache take around 6-7 gigabytes and the rest is available for your apps, FLACs, and DSDs. Of course, the M3X supports SD cards up to 2TB. It also supports external storage devices via the USB OTG feature. It is nice to have the option to use Tidal offline and load everything on to the SD-card. As for the treble, I would describe it as being detailed, airy, and snappy. It is well extended with great "treble air qualities". Just like most of Shanling's sources, the treble is never bright sounding. In M3X Limited's case, it is never bright, fatiguing, edgy, or dry sounding. You will have no issues pairing bright-sounding gears with the m3x limited. Shanling M3X vs FiiO M11 PRO (340 USD vs 650 USD) – This may seem like an unfair comparison, as M3X is far cheaper than M11 PRO, but being cheaper in price does not necessarily mean that it is cheaper in build or features. From the start, the battery life is better on M3X, and driving power is much better on M11 PRO on Single Ended. In fact, M11 PRO has on single ended as much as M3X has on balanced, and the balanced of M11 PRO is far better than even that. M11 PRO is still a killer DAP in general, but if you need a downsized version of that, there is nothing from FiiO to fill in the gaps, so I would like to nominate M3X as the best option there if you loved M11 PRO, and wanted to get something for half the price, and for about half the driving power. M3X is sweeter in the midrange, has a similar bass presentation to M11 PRO, and a deeper presentation, with a more rounded presentation, where M11 PRO is wider than it is deep. M11 PRO has better detailing and overall clarity, but not twice as good, so for budget-limited folks, M3X may be able to give that better price / performance ratio if M11 PRO doesn’t cut it. The overall treble is a bit more sparkly on M11 PRO, with M3X having a smoother and more refined treble, being more forgiving. What's inside?: Dual ES9219C DAC/Amp from ESS Sabre + Panasonic tantalum capacitors. The non-limited M3X uses "special large-capacity tantalum capacitors" instead.Single DAC mode is smoother and more relaxing sounding. It isn't as resolving nor is it as detailed as dual DAC mode, but I can see myself using Single DAC mode on days when I want better battery life or a smoother sounding experience. BT/TWS: Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 pro, Liberty Air 2 pro | Soundpeats Truengine 3 SE, Sonic, H1, Capsule3 Pro | KZ SK10 | Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 Features: 16x MQA unfolding, Bluetooth both ways, AirPlay, Wifi… You name it, the M3X Limited has it. However, I find that the WiFi here takes a bit longer than expected to connect to 5Ghz Wifi bands. Do keep that in mind as I find it annoying at times.