Shanling ME500 Review

Specifications

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For the nit-picker and nerdy ones here, I’m giving the specs and technical sheets. For all the others, you can just go to the next page to see how the ME500 performs.

Dual magnet Dynamic driver + Knowles driver

The Shanling ME500 is a hybrid IEM, blending the power of a dynamic driver with the finesse of a balanced one.

The dual-driver configuration consists of 1x10mm DD + 1xBA Driver, which may not look that impressive those days compared to some other brands. Fortunately, those are not just any drivers.

First and foremost, the dynamic driver doesn’t embed one, but two magnets. Thanks to that, it’s able to output more than one Tesla of magnetic flux density. Pretty much like the Beyerdynamic Tesla transducers found in the T5P and T1.

Made of a PE+PEEK Nano-composite, the membrane is 10mm wide, a classic diameter. Strangely, the best bass I heard those past months came from 6mm drivers wide and not 10mm. Even though, Shanling announced a “powerful and natural bass midrange”, all thanks to their custom made dynamic driver.

Knowles dual armature driver

Years after years, Knowles has been The Godfather of Balanced Armatures drivers, so far that now it looks like 100% of IEM makers use their drivers.

And Shanling makes no difference, as the ME500 is also equipped with a Knowles driver. A TWFK-3007, housing two chambers, in charge of the midrange and the highs. This one has become fairly common, featured in a lot of other models, for good reasons.

The sensitivity is fairly good for a dynamic IEM (111dB/mW) and with the low impedance (18 Ohms)  you should have no issue to drive them with any DAP or even a smartphone. Side effects? It can become very hissy.

Full specs

• Type : IEM
• Style : Hybrid
• Drivers : 10mm dual-magnet dynamic driver + Knowles dual balanced driver
• Socket : MMCX (detachable cables)
• Cable : 5N Silver-Plated Copper
• Shell : Brass shell with platinum plating
• Frequency response Range : 20Hz – 40 kHz
• Sensitivity : 111dB/mW
• Impedance : 18 ohms
• Weight : 12.5g
• Price : 299$

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