Shanling M0: Meet This Compact, Inexpensive And Versatile MP3 Player

The Shanling M0 is one of the most popular MP3 players on the market. This company has produced several excellent DAPs (Digital Audio Player), such as the M2 and M3, but this model stands out for its price/performance ratio.

It's a beautiful DAP, an ideal choice for audiophiles looking for a portable and affordable model. The Shanling M0 is very small, lightweight and offers all the capabilities of the previous models. It integrates a touch screen for easy operation, and works with LDAC and aptX codecs.

The Shanling M0 can play DSD files natively and any other format you need. It offers great features for an MP3 player of this size.

Shanling M0: Design and build quality

All Shanling MP3 players have excellent build quality, especially considering the price. The Shanling M0 is as robust as previous models, but features a novel design that integrates a 1.54-inch touch screen. This way, you don't need to use the volume potentiometer if you don't want to.

It's an attractive and very small DAP. It has an aluminum chassis and is scratch resistant. The volume potentiometer is thinner than that found on previous models, which is a good thing as it's less vulnerable to shocks. In addition, this control also serves as a power button. Therefore, it's very easy to use.

The display of the Shanling M0 has curved edges that give it an elegant feel. It weighs only 38 grams, and has a slot for microSD cards up to 512 GB. It really looks great and you can't ask for more in terms of build quality for an affordable DAP.

Excellent software

One of the best features of the Shanling M0 is its software. Most programs used on small screens are not the best, but the program used by this DAP is perfectly adapted to the size. It allows you to navigate through the different menus by swiping your fingers to the right or left. Also, you can return to the main menu by holding down a finger on the screen.

It's practical and very easy to use. If you have large hands, it can be a bit difficult to handle as it's very small. However, you soon get used to it. The Shanling M0 is perfect to take to the gym as it fits in any pocket.

Functions of the Shanling M0

Another plus point is the dual function of the potentiometer. It allows you to assign three modes to change songs or play/pause. It's useful if you want to change the song without taking the Shanling M0 out of your pocket. As for the settings, you can manage the signal balance, gain and maximum volume levels.

You can also use different sound filters and shuffle mode. It doesn't have manual equalization, but this is understandable given the size of the screen. In addition, it offers several presets to modify the audio to your personal taste.

Connectivity

This MP3 player integrates the SABRE ES9218P chip. You can use it as a DAC USB or a Bluetooth module. This means you can wirelessly connect your smartphone to use any online streaming application. It works with the technology Bluetooth 4.1 and supports aptX and LDAC codecs from Sony.

Battery life

The autonomy of the Shanling M0 is very good, and the standby mode is efficient. We left it in standby mode for over a week, and when we tested it, it had used almost no battery. It gives about 15 hours of continuous playback at moderate volumes, and the charging process takes about two hours.

Technical specifications

The most important feature of a digital music player is the audio quality. The Shanling M0 excels in this department. The 32 bit ES9218P chip performs remarkably well. It offers a power of 80 mW @ 32 Ω, has an output impedance of 0.16 Ω and works with a frequency response of 20-20kHz. The most striking feature is that it doesn't produce any noise.

The technical specifications are remarkable for such a small and inexpensive DAP. Output power is solid and impedance is very low. The sound profile of the Shanling M0 is impeccably balanced. The audio is perceived as warm and pleasant. It doesn't offer sublime details, but the sound is very good for such a small DAP, and this sets it apart from the competition.

Shanling M0: Sound quality

The bass is not strong enough to satisfy those looking for exaggerated bass. They are subdued, but well controlled, and the mid/bass tones give a solid body to the mix. The tonal balance is excellent.

The mids sound natural and realistic, with a certain pleasant warmth. The details of the instruments are great for this price range. The treble doesn't stand out when compared to the mids. Even so, they do not present imperfections. It offers good separation and transparency between the different shades.

Sound spatiality is limited, although quite decent for the size. The Shanling M0s do not offer the widest audio on the market, and the depth is not remarkable either. That said, resolution and tonal balance are very solid. Dynamism is also quite good, and power is among the best we have heard in such a portable DAP.

Conclusion

The Shanling M0 is inexpensive, and offers great performance. It sounds great, the software is excellent and it's versatile. You can use it as an external DAC, it natively supports any file type, including DSD, and the build quality is superb. Therefore, it offers everything you need in a very compact body.

If you are looking for a portable DAP to take anywhere, the Shanling M0 is a great choice. In its price range, it stands out. Interested? Find the best price on Amazon.