Shanling M9 Plus Review

Design

Shanling introduced a new design for the M9, and that design has been kept for the M9 Plus, except for some differences. The headphone out is changed and we now have 4.4mm on the top left, and 3.5mm on the top right, permanently.

The design of the M7, M9, and this M9 Plus unit is very authentic, and Shanling remarks that the design is derived from their 25th-anniversary edition HiFi line. The chassis is from a single piece of aviation-grade aluminum. The sides of the player have a complex “wave” created by CNC processing. The backside and the top/bottom of the player are made from glass. The back glass is notably frosted glass. And I like what Shanling does with the ”waves” on the sides.

The M9 Plus’ design is a bit different and the unit is 0,5cm shorter than the M9, and that small difference makes the player more compact and easier to hold in the hand. Moreover, the color is now full black with a golden volume knob. The playback buttons also have a different design, as it looks like a cut-out area for a more prominent playback button location.

I think it all works well, and the differences in design approach all make sense. And yet, the original M9 still looks more impressive to me, but in terms of practicality, the new design is simply better, and that includes the new case. This case is much more protective and makes the player easier to hold, rather than the ultra-impressive very special case of the M9, which was not necessarily protective.

Information Screen

Shanling also retains that unique, small secondary screen on top. This is influenced by the modern-day smartphone “notch” design, but Shanling decided to use that area with a new functionality. This screen shows battery charging and volume information together with sample rate and current time, depending on what you do with the player. Not a game-changing design, but it provides an easier operation without using the actual screen. Especially the volume level information when you turn the knob is the most obvious quirk, which is helpful since you don’t have the open that 6K screen for seeing that bit of information. 

Build Quality

As with the M9, the M9 Plus feels like a rock in the hand, and the aluminum chassis has good weight and toughness. The premium feeling is close to the rival flagship players, so I can say this is a worthy flagship player. The glass top/bottom adds an extra layer to the luxury feel. The sides of the player feel great in particular when holding the device. This is one of the best players I’ve held in terms of overall feeling and quality.

The one thing I don’t quite like with Shanling units is the volume dial. The dial wobbles around a bit and it doesn’t look quite as luxurious as the rest of the player. This dial also acts as a power button so it’s frequently used. When you press it though, the clicking sound is not the most premium. So, I think Shanling is not at the level of A&K in that sense yet.

Another point I’m going to make is the back panel. It’s a frosted glass as far as I can see, but the sound when I tap that panel is not very premium. This is not an issue when you attach the protective case though. I think the device feels better with the leather case.

Package

The package content is the same as the previous model. Once again we have a protective case, and a USB Type C cable inside a nice premium wooden box. The wooden box of Shanling players since the M8 has been very impressive, and you again have it here. You also have a screen protector film. The case that comes with the new M9 Plus, as I mentioned above, is a very nice one. It’s much more protective and usable, and it also feels high quality. Putting on the case is also easier, with magnets on top so you can always remove it very easily.

User Experience

The Shanling M9 Plus has a very good and satisfying user experience from top to bottom. I didn’t have any significant problems while using the player.

Size

The Shanling M9 Plus is huge. It’s not quite in the same territory as the original M9 though. Shanling managed to squeeze all the tech inside a more compact chassis, so that’s a good accomplishment. It’s similar to the HiBy RS8, except for the weight, since the RS8 has an enormous battery. 

However, it still is in the transportable category to me, so don’t think about taking it and doing activities or running around easily. It’s OK for trips on a train or bus, but it’s not like a companion for walking outside for instance. It’s doable, but wouldn’t be very comfortable. I can fit it in my pockets with coats or trousers but it’s still nowhere near the best solution for portability.

You can put it in a bag and control it from your smartphone though. The “SyncLink” feature allows you to do that, which I will mention just below.

Hardware

First of all, the CPU performs very fast for a DAP, almost like a smartphone’s quickness. Going through different screens, apps and songs is no problem at all. It’s fluid, smooth, and very easy to operate. The switch between Android Mode and Prime Mode is very fast in particular. The device opens up quickly as well, and the 8GB of RAM allows great multitasking.

As far as a DAP goes, this is almost a perfect experience. I recommend modifying the animation scale to .5x from developer options in Android. I do this with all my Android phones to get a faster feel. As for WiFi, I find out that it has great reception which is as good as my Android phone with a great 5 GHz performance.

As the Shanling M8/M9 owners would agree, these are hot-running DAPs. Shanling chooses to use the chassis as a heatsink, so you should expect some heat after playing songs for about 1 hour. So be careful if you live in hot climates, as the device gets considerably warm in those situations. It’s not like something’s going to happen at all, but in terms of comfort, it’s difficult to put the device in your pockets for instance.

Page 1: About the Brand and the Device

Page 3: Display, Software, Sound Quality

Page 4: Technical Performance, Comparisons, Conclusion