If Google is showing you this page directly, click here to go to the start of the article.
Specifications
For the nitpickers 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 Shanling HW600 performs.
Copper Voice Coil + Dual Magnet
Like the Sono, the Shanling MG20 comes with a dynamic driver. But, if the first one gets an hybrid setup, combining two dynamic drivers assembled together, and a classical balanced armature, the latter only come with a single one – dynamic.
10mm wide, the driver comes with a DLC (Diamond like carbon) plated diaphragm for enhanced stiffness and rigidity, resulting in an overall increase of control and resolution, as well as reduced distortion. Nothing new, but this should provide good performances, paired with a good source. But, going upstream, this is where things get really interesting. Why? Because instead of packing one magnet, the MG20 embeds a dual system with a smaller one on top of the regular one, both of them positioned one behind the other – much like the passive radiators you’d find in modern speakers.
Add to that, a custom-designed cavity, directly caved into the raw body, further combined with a flexible driver suspension design, and you get a very potent build on paper. On that should “bring the most natural-sounding earphone to the widest range of users, ideally combining pulsing bass, with pleasing mids and clear treble” (Shanling words).
To push things further, the Shanling MG20 is also equipped with a lightweight premium copper voice coil that provide “greater resolution and more expressive sound quality”.
Sensitivity / Hiss
Impedance is low, sensitivity is high, so yes, you could drive those headphones with almost everything – even if it’s a planar
Paired with the FiiO KA17 I never had to use the high gain mode to get really good bass, and even the KA11 was a right match for the Shanling MG20. My top choice? If your budget has no limit, go for the Shanling H7 , but more reasonably, check the M1 plus from the same brand which not only matches the Shanling MG20 configuration but its signature too.
And for the hiss, I encountered none with all my sources, Hurray!
Bundle
Inside the box
The Shanling MG20 comes with an unsurprisingly sparse bundle, in adequation to its price. In the box, you get:
- the Shanling MG20
- a six-core single high-purity copper wire cable with a straight 3.5mm termination (very good one)
- some eartips
- a travel pouch
- and… that’s it!
A scarce bundle, but considering the asking price, I didn’t expect more stuff like a second set of earpads, or a travel pouch. Still, that default bundle should suit most users, even if you’ll have to get a better cable if you’re using a balanced source.
Additional accessories
What should you add to your MG20? Only two things actually:
First, you could add a good DAC or DAP. Personally, I chose the FiiO KA17 as my main source and the Shanling M1 Plus which paired wonderfully well with the IEM.
Second, you can replace the default cable for a balanced one. Shanling has some good offers, but third party like ddHifi are also a great match. It’s up to you !
Full specs
- Model: Shanling MG20
- Type: universal IEM
- Style: single dynamic driver
- Drivers: 10mm wide DLC coated diaphragm with dual N52 magnet
- Socket: 2 pins (0.78)
- Cable: 6 core single high-purity oxygen free copper
- Cable plug : 3.5mm TRS or USB-C
- Material: zinc-alloy shell
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
- Impedance: 16 ohms
- Sensitivity: 116dB
- Sound Isolation (up to): -30 dB
- Cable length: 130cm
- Weight: 5,6g excluding cable
- Price: $49 USD
The article continues on Page three, after the click here
Page 1: About the brand, design, comfort
Page 2: Specifications, bundle
Page 3: Sound performances
