Shanling M3X Review

In this section, I will pair the M3X with a couple of IEMs and the Sennheiser 58X, which is relatively easy to drive. I will talk about the pairings in the upcoming sections so that you will have a better understanding of how the M3X sounds.

Sound Signature

The M3X sounds smooth and balanced across the spectrum. The midrange has a slight hint of warmth in it and the general presentation is fairly smooth with plenty of details. It feels like a complete all-rounder and provides a good listening experience, regardless of the IEM choice. It has a solid PRaT foundation for a mid-range DAP, especially when using it in balanced mode. Transients are fast and snappy. However, there is a big performance difference between the modes and I will talk about that soon.

The tonality is good, it is not overly warm or analytical. It does not sound digital or artificial. With most of the pairings, it sounds clean and linear with good dynamics. Instrument separation is satisfactory and I will talk about the soundstage in the next chapter as there are some things you have to know about that.

Balanced vs. Unbalanced

Before the detailed sound breakdown, I want to tell you that the difference between the bal. and unbal. output is bigger than I thought it would be. I am using the same cable with the same earphones and hearing much better layering and a wider, deeper soundstage from the balanced output. The single-end sounds somewhat linear, somewhat compressed compared to the balanced and the difference is not negligible.

All tests are done using the balanced mode and linear phase fast roll-off filter aka the factory default. 

Shanling M3X

Low

The low range of the M3X sounds tight, fast, and rounded. The bass quantity is adequate and accurate. It does not over-power the midrange or overlap other frequencies. It is quite controlled and textured. This kind of bass reproduction enhances the PRaT and makes it easier to track the fundamentals. The sub-bass quantity is moderate with good attack and decay. The impact is there, although it highly depends on the pairing synergy.

For example, compared to the Etymotic EVOs, Earsonics ES-3’s kick had more power and impact. Mid-bass fares similar to the rest of the low-range and has adequate body and control. The controlled mid-bass results in a clear transition between the lows and the midrange.

Mid

The midrange has a slight hint of warmth and the vocals are clear with plenty of air. Stringed instruments have good body and the note-weight feels fairly accurate. Mid-dependant woodwind instruments feel natural and airy with plenty of details. Upper mids have adequate energy and edge. While it is easy to track the cymbals and hi-hats, they do not leave their territory and stay controlled within range. The presence range has good detail-retrieval and definition. The positioning of the vocals feels accurate and the whole midrange feels musical and dynamic thanks to the fairly warm tonality. 

High

The treble reproduction of the M3X is clean and clear with plenty of details. The extension is good and controlled, you won’t be bothered by them and you won’t find them lacking in quantity. Shanling found the perfect balance here and the resolution is just as good. The M3X performed above my expectations and surprised me. The performance is quite good for a mid-range DAP. 

Shanling M3X

Technical Performance

As I mentioned earlier, the PRaT of the M3X is quite good. The attack and decay are fast and the transients are distinct. I found the separation to be very good as well along with a wide and fairly deep soundstage, especially for the price. The DAP presents the frequency with absolute control, no major humps or dips can be spotted by my ears. The dynamism and energy are really good, especially when you pair it with an earphone that has good dynamism and PRaT. The layering is great as well and you can track individual instruments within the stage quite easily. You won’t get distracted easily because the whole presentation feels coherent and neat. The M3X performs well from a technical standpoint and it fared above my expectations for a budget DAP.

Pairing: Etymotic EVO

This pairing offers a linear and fairly neutral presentation. The EVO‘s bass is tight and fast, quantity-wise it is adequate but the sub-bass extension is somewhat limited. The midrange is clear and the general presentation is transparent. The upper midrange shows quite a bit of energy and the treble extends into the top octave. The separation is good and the instrument positioning is precise. 

Pairing: Earsonics ES-3

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

Sennheiser & Drop exclusive, 58X has a 150-ohm impedance and it is a fairly easy-to-drive headphone. It has a warmer tone and the M3X can feed it adequately. The warmer tonality of the 58X complements the fairly detailed presentation of the M3X beautifully. The bass has a good impact and agility. The midrange is warm and detailed at the same time. The vocals are definite and clear. The upper midrange is trimmed but has enough energy so it does not impact the perceived clarity. The treble is great, has good control, and extends well. Instrument positioning feels accurate and the reproduction feels natural. Especially the stringed instruments sound great, have good authority on the stage and their thicker note-weight is satisfactory. I liked this pairing as well. I also tried the 58X out of the single-end out but it hindered the technical capability of the pairing. I would suggest sticking to the balanced out with the M3X.

Shanling M3X

Last Words

The Shanling M3X is a brilliantly designed player that offers a good feature set and sound for the price. In a compact package, it offers hi-res streaming, dual DAC circuit, LDAC, a fast processor, and a neat UI. It has a very good balanced out with plenty of power for all your IEMs and easy-to-drive headphones.

It offers an excellent user experience and the sound is quite good from a technical standpoint. It offers a fairly balanced signature with good detail-retrieval capabilities and thus it is a great contender in this price bracket. 

Page 1: Shanling, M3X Player, Packaging & Accessories, Design & Build Quality, Interface & Stability

Page 2: Features, OTA Firmware Updates, MQA, LDAC, USB DAC, Storage, Power

4.4/5 - (236 votes)
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Long time Tech Enthusiast, an ambitious petrol-head, Yagiz likes his gadgets and always finds new ways into the tinkerer's world. He tries to improve anything and everything he gets his hands onto. Loves an occasional shine on the rocks.

4 Comments

  • Reply June 28, 2021

    James McCook

    Well written and objective review in my opinion, Yagiz. Thanks for sharing.

    • Reply June 28, 2021

      Yagiz

      Thanks for reading!

  • Reply June 28, 2021

    Hasan AkA Bose-Hifi

    ı think waifu version(special edition) has better desighn by the way good review.

    • Reply July 12, 2021

      Yagiz

      Haha, you may be right about that 🙂

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