Loaner: Shanling M6 Pro DAP

Discussion in 'Closed Loaners' started by rhythmdevils, Aug 19, 2021.

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  1. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Shanling M6 Pro loaner

    Loaner courtesy of Shanling

    [​IMG]


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    I’m listening to this now and it sounds ridiculously good. I want one. I had no idea a DAP could sound this good. FYI it has 3 outputs: 3.5mm SE, 2.5mm bal and 4.4mm bal so any cable will work with it.

    Rules
    • Open to friends and contributors on case by case basis (please don’t be shy - ask. You’re probably welcome)
    • FedEx UPS only
    • Insure for 400$
    • Impressions required in thread I will create
    • 5 days loaner period after you get it setup and working with your local files/streaming apps
    • Sign up with your location.
    list
    @Tchoupitoulas NJ
    @YMO FL
    @jexby CO
    @Soups WA
    @E_Schaaf NY first week of October
    @Kunlun anywhere
     
    Last edited: Oct 11, 2021
  2. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    Specs are impressive, even with an MSRP of $749

    NOTE: this is the old version released March 2020

    Shanling M6 Pro Specification


    DAC – 2x AKM AK4497EQ
    Amplifier – 2x OPA1662 + 2x ADA4610 + 4x BUF634

    Hi-Res support – up to PCM 32bit /768 kHz & DSD256
    Outputs – 3.5mm Single-ended, 2.5mm & 4.4mm Balanced
    System – Open Android 7.1, With custom Android Global Lossless Output
    CPU – Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430
    Memory – 4GB RAM + 32 GB ROM
    Card slot – Single Micro SD card slot
    Touch Screen – 4.7inch, 720p
    Bluetooth – V4.2, two-way connection
    Bluetooth codecs in transmit mode – LDAC, LHDC, aptX, aptX HD, SBC
    Bluetooth codecs in receiver mode – LDAC, SBC
    Wi-Fi – 2.4 G & 5G
    Dimensions – 133.5 x 71.5 x 17.5 mm
    Weight – 244 g

    That is one heck of an output chain from a DAP.

    Battery – 4000 mAh
    Charging – USB-C with QC3.0

    Battery life:
    Single-ended, single DAC – up to 13 hours
    Single-ended, dual DAC – up to 9 hours
    Balanced output – up to 8 hours

    Output Power:
    Single-Ended – 19 mW (Low Gain) / 47 mW (High gain) / 200 mW (Ultra gain) @ 32Ω
    Balanced – 56 mW (Low Gain) / 141 mW (High gain) / 600 mW (Ultra gain) @ 32Ω
    Signal-to-noise ratio – 121 dB Single-ended / 123 dB Balanced
    THD+N – <0.0009% Single-ended / <0.0011% dB Balanced
    Channel separation – 75 dB Single-ended / 110 dB Balanced
    Output impedance – <1Ω Single-ended / <2Ω Balanced
     
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2021
  3. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    I’m surprised they went with AKM for this.
     
  4. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    FWIW, it does not sound “velvet” at all. It’s extremely resolving, dynamic and incisive though not sharp sounding. My first 5 second impression is that it is more resolving and dynamic than my Yggdrasil -> Loki mini + -> 789 w/ Sigma 11 LPS. I will have to compare more because I don’t know how that’s possible. But suffice to say it sounds damn good.
     
  5. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    actually this is the M6 Pro (21) version and has a Sabre DAC chip.

    [​IMG]
     
  6. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Sign me up since I have the lower-end but very super solid Shanling M3X DAP with the lower end ESS DACs that don't sound like complete ass. M3X was recently released and you get one with the leather case for less than $400.

    Jacksonville, FL
     
  7. Tchoupitoulas

    Tchoupitoulas Friend

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    I'd ask to join the tour except I don't have my Andros at the moment. I'd be very grateful for impressions of the DAP with these IEMs. (It's great that the M6 Pro doesn't have the AKM chip; they'd probably have sold out by the time I'd've saved up).
     
  8. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    yes, please! would love to hear the M6 Pro- but only if a Roon app or a JRiver Remote app can be installed and work on the M6?
    I'm not going to load GB of music on a micro SD card often based on my musical whims changing over time.

    i really enjoy the Shanling UP4 as a walk-around bluetooth DAC with iPhone.
    paired with JVC FDX1, CA Vega 2020 and CA Solaris 2020.

    location: Colorado
     
  9. neogeosnk

    neogeosnk Friend

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    I agree with everything said by @rhythmdevils, this dap is da shit.
     
  10. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Roon will be an issue on anything Shanling ATM. While the Roon app will install just fine on the M3X and on the M6, it upsample everything to 192 hz and there is no way to fix it at this time. It is a software issue within Roon that doesn't allow sampling rate adjustments. Roon will still work however on the DAPs, just this is a bug that will turn people off.

    Honestly I don't like to use Roon on my M3X. Screen and resolution is too small for my taste.

    I don't use JRiver so I can't comment on the Remote app. If you do have a DLNA/UPnP Server in your apt/house, you can install something like UAPP if you paid for the one time license (or I can get the DAP first and install UAPP but then my google info is on the device, so I dunno). Shanling Music App (in Android Mode and Pure Music Mode) also have UPnP folder searching as well for your music. Catch is as of today their Music App don't support gapless playback.

    On my M3X I use UAPP to handle my SD card files, access my DLNA/UPnP Music Servers, and Qobuz access. People still like to use Roon on it, but that is more for tablets and desktops routing to their main music systems than anything else.
     
  11. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I’ll send you my andromeda 2020 so you can hear the two. Adding you to the list. :)
     
  12. lcmusiclover

    lcmusiclover Friend

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    Apparently they are calling the Sabre-based version:

    M6 Pro 21

    or

    M6 Pro Version 21

    DAC spec is:

    Dual ESS Sabre ES9068AS DAC

    (all per the Shanling announcement post over on HF)
     
  13. Tchoupitoulas

    Tchoupitoulas Friend

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    Thank you - that’s very kind of you, I really appreciate it.
     
  14. Soups

    Soups Sadomasochistic cat

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    I'm interested as an M6 (AKM) owner, in WA.
     
  15. E_Schaaf

    E_Schaaf MOT: E.T.A Headphones

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    Id like to try it out but I am in the process of moving so put me at the end of the list. Should be settled in by first week of October - NY
     
  16. Tchoupitoulas

    Tchoupitoulas Friend

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  17. Tchoupitoulas

    Tchoupitoulas Friend

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    On its way to @YMO
     
  18. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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  19. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Loaner will be dropped off to FedEx tomorrow in @jexby direction. I'll post back once it is shipped.

    To make this loaner easier for some, the following was done after I factory reset it (to remove my info):
    • Firmware updated to v1.5.
    • With the enclosed APKPure app, I installed various music apps like free version of BubbleUPnP Bandcamp, Roon, Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify, etc.
      • USB Audio Player Pro (UAPP) wasn't installed since it required a license to be purchased via your Google Account via Google Play Store.
    • Speaking of Google Play Store, it has also been installed on the loaner.
      • However, for it to full pull up your paid licenses like UAPP or your paid BubbleUPnP license, you have to first log into Google Play with your Google Account (which Google Play Store will ask you to update the version of Google Play Store). You log into Google Play and update any apps to their current versions. You will then need to log-in into your Google Account on the loaner itself in the Google section of the loaner. If Google Play isn't seeing your paid apps, log off your Google account from Google Player Store & Google account from the loaner and relog into both of them again. That should take care of it.
      • Make sure you manually adjust the loaner to your local time zone and time/minute (since loaner is not a phone with a SIM Card). If not, then UAPP will give you an error message when trying to run it if you have a paid license for it.
        • @jexby won't have this issue since I did the work for him in MST. ;)
        • @Soups if using UAPP or paid version of BubbleUPnP will need to adjust the time of the loaner when he receives it from @jexby.
     
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  20. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    Yeah, sheesh all this android setup shit is a time-sink; picked up one of these to replace an essentially bricked Zx2 due to no SW support from Sony. I hate android and doing all this was 2 hours of my time just to get the M6 to play music via Qobuz or Roon. That being said, it sounds pretty clean running OG Solaris. Really good bass. Also, can confirm it seems like this thing rips through its charge pretty quickly, but haven't done a full 8-ish hour workday on it yet. I might post some thoughts after a couple hundred hours if I notice anything that hasn't yet been stated.
     
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