Are DAPs DEAD? Shanling M7, M1S & M0 Pro review

Buy Shanling DAPs here: 🇦🇺 melbournechifiaudio.com/colle... or 🌏 bit.ly/3qB8BPS or 🌏 bit.ly/AoshidaM1S
A review of the Shanling M0 Pro, M1S and M7 digital audio players (DAPs) including comparisons with each other and comparisons with the Questyle M15 dongle.
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My top recommended HEADPHONES (prices in USD)
HarmonicDyne Athena - $179 - bit.ly/3QvQdlq
Moondrop Para - $299 - amzn.to/4c1C4F9
Sivga SV023 - $449 - amzn.to/3UKXsZ5
Meze 109 Pro - $799 - amzn.to/3y6l6qi
ZMF Atrium - $2,499 - www.zmfheadphones.com/
Meze Elite - $4,000 - bit.ly/3UMIDWb
Focal Utopia (2022) - $4,999 - amzn.to/44xEHvx
My top recommended IEMS (prices in USD)
KZ ESX - $30 - amzn.to/4bpMyxC
Tangzu FUDU - $89 - amzn.to/3UvOrlk
Simgot EM6L - $129 - amzn.to/4a3SLy1
Meze Audio Alba - $159 - bit.ly/AlbaIEM
Thieaudio Elixir - $209 - amzn.to/3ULd9zr
7Hz Timeless - $220 - amzn.to/3QslVA8
Yanyin Canon II - $379 - bit.ly/YanCanII
Xenns Mangird Top - $530 - bit.ly/XENNSTopLin
Sennheiser IE600 - $700 - amzn.to/44AxcUQ
Sennheiser IE900 - $849 - amzn.to/4b66wxy
Westone Mach 70 - $1,400 - amzn.to/3ULUK5P
My top recommended TRANSPORTS (prices in USD)
WiiM Pro - $168 - amzn.to/4bpTDOw
SMSL PL200 CD - $669 - amzn.to/3Wsd0lJ
Eversolo DMP-A6 (Master Edition) - $1,299 - amzn.to/44sBMUR
Eversolo DMP-A8 - $1,980 - amzn.to/3QxRU1B
My top recommended DACS (prices in USD)
Topping E30 II - $149 - amzn.to/3JQyGkd
Topping E50 - $199 - amzn.to/3WucWSO
SMSL DO200 Mk2 - $469 - amzn.to/4a5Di0C
Topping D70 Pro OCTO - $599 - amzn.to/4a8bubZ
Geshelli J2S AK4499EX - $680 - bit.ly/J2SAKM
Schiit Bifrost 2/64 - $799 - www.schiit.com/products/bifro...
Gustard R26 - $1,650 - amzn.to/3QyZ0mB
Schiit Yggdrasil - $2,299 - www.schiit.com/products/yggdr...
Chord TT2 - $5,295 - chordelectronics.co.uk/produc...
My top recommended HEADPHONE AMPS (prices in USD)
Schiit Magni - $119 - www.schiit.com/products/magni...
xDuoo MT-604 - $169 - amzn.to/4bpNYrW
xDuoo TA-26S - $319 - amzn.to/3UJbfzx
Geshelli A3 Pro - $499 - bit.ly/GLA3Pro
Aune S17 Pro - $699 - amzn.to/4a75v7b
Schiit Mjolnir - $1199 - www.schiit.com/products/mjoln...
Burson Audio Voyager - $5,300+ - bit.ly/4a8Mwcq
My top recommended DONGLE DACS (prices in USD)
Moondrop Dawn Pro - $50 - amzn.to/3y2dd57
Simgot DEW4X - $80 - amzn.to/4b68rlK
Questyle M15i - $349 - amzn.to/4doMSyp
My top recommended WIRELESS 'PHONES (prices in USD)
Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe - $40 - amzn.to/3UIXQr4
Soundpeats Air4 Pro - $79 - amzn.to/3Wyj4tj
Edifier Neobuds Pro 2 - $130 - amzn.to/3WwMpEf
Sennheiser Momentum 4 - $379.95 - amzn.to/3WrEqZ0
HiFiMan Svanar Wireless - $499 - amzn.to/4amOhmx
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00:00 Introduction
00:41 Glamour video
02:16 Shanling M0 Pro pricing & specs
05:02 Shanling M1S pricing & specs
08:18 Shanling M7 pricing & specs
11:49 Shanling M0 Pro vs M1S
14:38 Shanling M7 sound quality
17:10 Why a dongle might be better
18:34 Dongle Fondle 2 reminder
19:30 When DAPs still make sense
22:25 Final conclusions
#audiophile #audioreview #digitalaudioplayer

[@PassionforSound]

Huge apologies to Aoshida who sent me the Shanling M1S. I overlooked this in my filming and didn't mention them. Here's a link so you can go check out their range and help me say sorry: aoshida-audio.com/products/shanling-m1s?DIST=RkFGGQ%3D%3D

[@dragonsofnorway]

Shanling M1S added the feature to turn the screen 180 degrees so you can choose whether the keys stay above or under the screen.

[@PassionforSound]

Someone else just mentioned that too! Thanks for the tip. I didn't have time to go into depth on all three models

[@joaodiniz3320]

@@PassionforSound , i was also going to mention that to you. You have that function available. Another thing you must understand with daps, is the fact that those are for portable use, only, and yes, headphones conections must be ontop of the devices, so we may keep them inside out pockets, without damaging the wires, and, with Shanling, they do things the correct way. Volume knob on top, as well the headphones conections. Portable devices, were created to use outdoors, not to stay at home. Daps are not dead for a reason. We love great sound, great musicality, without being annoyed by calls and messages all the time, when we use smartphones. And if a dongle is better than a dap, we can attach it to a dap, and there you go. Great upgrade, without spending a fortune on a brick. On this, i totally agree with you. Large daps, with a lot of weight are not worthy of spending. Cheers

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks for sharing your perspective, João!

[@watchtvatmyplace6691]

Thanks for this video 😊 i have a og fiio m11 and like it very much.. But your open look on dap upgrades and the idea of a dongle together with all the tips i liked allot 😄. Have a great weekend 😊

[@PassionforSound]

Glad you liked the video! The M11 looks like an excellent DAP, but I never got the chance to try it. Thanks for watching and commenting! 🙂

[@watchtvatmyplace6691]

@@PassionforSound you are welkom 😄, to me the player sounds great and the 2 sd cards are great 😄 40.000 songs on the go so far. Have a great day, love how you do your video's.

[@paultomaszewski1964]

Since I don't stream at all and barely use a cell phone for anything but the basics, I use a DAP. I purchase my music either physical media and rip to a FLAC file or download a digital file. Use my Shanling M3X, has about 22 hours of battery and if I need more power than it has for over ear headphones I have a portable amp that does the job.

[@PassionforSound]

That makes a lot of sense

[@lukasjanecka9996]

This feels like a realistic and useful review that can actually save one considerable amount of money. Thank you!

[@PassionforSound]

My pleasure! I do hope it helps 🙂

[@freovegan]

Good to get your take on DAPs Lachlan. I’ve had my Shanling Q1 for a some years now (first DAP). I am using it much more than I imagined I would - appreciating its versatility. I don’t ever stream music, so having 1Tb for music works pretty well. Most of my music on there is for when working in cafes and trains (with mojo 2 + Penon Volt), with about 1/3 of the music for running (with TWS buds). Small screen but as I have organised my music library in folders for different moods, tastes, they work like big playlists (I’m an album listener).

[@freovegan]

P.S. I often listen your videos on TWS earbuds as I put my son to bed.. often appreciating the extended length of your thorough analysis 🙃

[@PassionforSound]

So glad I can provide value! Sounds like you've got a good setup with the Q1 and it makes total sense for local libraries. 🙂

[@TontNZ]

Hi Lachlan, thanks for this particular video. I've been contemplating a DAP upgrade (from my Pioneer XDP-300R). One of the biggest pluses for me about the XDP-300R is that it has two micro SD slots, the negative is that it has a micro USB connector. But now you've got me thinking about dongles and just opting for a dongle upgrade (something I've never given ANY thought to). I know you publish and maintain a list of equipment, but what about a dongle shoot out? Even if it's only a short format video.

[@PassionforSound]

I've actually done a couple of dongle shootouts, Peter. Do a search for "Passion for Sound dongle fondle" and you'll find them. My favourites so far are in the second dongle fondle 😁

[@jlemaster1157]

Great review Lachlan - totally agree that the ‘time of the DAP’ seems to be coming to a close. Even for those with a sizable music library, with the advent of Roon Arc (if one is a Roon user) one can listen to all one’s library on an iPhone wherever one goes (as long as there is a good wifi signal -which I guess isn’t universally available yet globally). I have the Cayin RU-6 R2R dongle and also the much more expensive Hiby R8 DAP (which I’ve had for a while), and I’m not sure which I prefer. Having watched this, I might check out the Questyle M15 as a backup.

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks Joe. Great point about Roon Arc!

[@doc8125]

I stil think there is a huge amount of value in dedicated devices. Like when I'm studying I keep a notepad and the book on whatever subject at hand, but if I have any internet capable device nearby I'm going to be distracted ... so having a DAP lets me still listen to music while doing this. I do in general like to leave my phone and laptop behind sometimes too, so it's nice to still be able to listen to music.

[@PassionforSound]

That's a great point!

[@VeloVios]

I recently purchased the M1S and I really enjoy it. I have a few other daps that are bigger and I brought this for on the go or when exercising. The buttons at the front are amazing. I though I'd hate them, but I'm in love, they work through a 4mm neoprene case and in a pocket. I recommend this over the M0 pro, unless you want something really small, but the menu just looks like it will be a pain imo. I couldn't be happier with the m1s, especially with its 4.4mm balanced port. Yes it doesn't have many features, but what else do you need? It plays music and sounds great. Yes some others have more features but they aren't really needed. All in all I'm very happy and even temped to buy a second to use in my home music setup. Apparently they will introduce tidal streaming, but I doubt that will happen tbh. It still has Bluetooth that you can connect from your phone and play anything you want, I sometimes use this when riding the bike long distance as I have a phone mount on the bike. I recommend it Amazon Australia currently has the M1S available for $280 AUD

[@PassionforSound]

So glad you're enjoying your M1S and thank you for sharing your experiences!

[@4762mc2]

I appreciate M1S more because for a compact device, it can provide 4.4mm headphone jack, which is convenient for audiophiles who will upgrade their cables. I look forward to seeing different companies making their own compact DAPs with updated specs.

[@Mixail747]

Thanks for laying out the points straight! To me, SE output on M1s definitely sounds warmer than balanced. But thankfully the difference is limited to the tone only, technically they sound the same (unlike many other sound devices with SE and BAL)

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks MH. I actually didn't compare the outputs on the M1S or M7 due to limited time on this one.

[@RiverdogAVFC]

Fantastic video! If I got the Meze Elites, do you think the dongle dac solution would work well? 👍🏻

[@PassionforSound]

Absolutely! The Elites are easy to drive and will happily run from a nice dongle like a Questyle M15 or Shanling UA5. Be aware that you won't get their best sound from a dongle or a DAP - you'll need a desktop setup to get maximum quality (not due to power requirements, just overall signal quality)

[@RiverdogAVFC]

@@PassionforSound Thanks, really appreciate the response. I'll get a dongle dac in the meantime for my 4xx's and look to get something desktop like when I eventually get the Elites.

[@xmarksthespot327]

Great review thanks. M1S screen can be rotated 180 degrees in the settings.

[@PassionforSound]

Oh, thanks for the tip! I didn't even think to check that and didn't have time to go into depth with three different models.

[@asan1050]

Hey Passion for Sound ThanksMuch!

[@PassionforSound]

Always a pleasure 🙂

[@dfung4351]

Many just stream music nowadays. DAPs also makes sense when you watch videos with any 5+ inch screens. And help separate entertainment from work with different devices. Curious to see how you would feel when you get your hands with the newest additions from Hiby this year - R6 Gen 3 and R6 Pro II. They`re offering so much at their respective price points that Shanling, iBasso, Fiio has some catch up to do.

[@PassionforSound]

Yes, I do need to try the Hibys. I hadn't thought about movie watching. Depending on the smartphone, a larger DAP might be better, but I find myself using wireless for movies more often (maybe that's just me)

[@jamesmiller4487]

I will second the recommendation for the HiBy R6 Pro II. I recently bought one and I find it is a very capable and versatile device.

[@fotoarray532]

I have the M1s and I really like it. I have a 1 TB SD card inserted with the same music library as on the SSD in my DMP A6 ME. Since the data structure is the same, I can play playlists (M3U) I created with the DMP A6 (using the IP controller APP) on the M1s. I connected the M1s to the RCA of my amplifier and the A6 to the XLR - and switched forth and back. I can hardly hear any difference - the sound of the M1s is just great. The DAC in the M1s is very good, I think better than the Qudelix which I also have. Most notably I get higher volumnes with the M1s.

[@PassionforSound]

I'm glad you're enjoying the M1s so much!

[@howardroark3670]

I use my iPod Shuffle for my daily jogs and skateboarding. Using my smart phone is not practical. I need something that's light, small and unnoticeable. Excellent review. Thumbs up! When my Shuffle stops working I plan on getting the M0 Pro. It seems superior to the Shuffle.

[@PassionforSound]

The M0 is perfect for that type of situation!

[@eliasmodernell3348]

Does the 0 pro support gapless playback? Amazing review

[@PassionforSound]

I didn't specifically check that feature - sorry!

[@Hbomb22Kaboom]

Great video! Which DAP do you recommend from the 2, Shanling M0 Pro or the Hidizs AP80 Pro-X? Thanks

[@PassionforSound]

I will continue to reach for the AP-80 Pro-X because I slightly prefer the form factor, but both are excellent

[@Hbomb22Kaboom]

@@PassionforSound thank you! Looks like I have a winner recommended by an expert! Continue your excellent reviews!

[@PassionforSound]

Glad I could help!

[@GadZookz]

Great video, Thanks! Most people don’t even want to carry a dongle but there will always be a few that will never have enough pockets to carry all the gear they want to carry. My guess is there will always be enough of these to support products like these. 🙂

[@PassionforSound]

I do actually hope so. DAPs still do have a place (despite the title of the video) - it's just a niche one these days 🙂

[@markseymour8365]

I don’t carry my phone with me all the time so small DAPs will always be on my radar. Don’t want a ridiculously oversized iPhone in my pockets when out walking/running, for example. But then I am a bit of an old git.

[@PassionforSound]

You're definitely not alone. I've had multiple comments from people who want them for the same reason.

[@Martijn1234]

I used a Dragonfly Cobalt a lot with my Samsung tablet and it sounded great but a bit fiddly in that tablet + usb c cable + dongle + headphones was a but much. Enter the ifi GoBlu which sounded great but was also very portable and connected via LDAC. I could hang it around my neck and wander around the house. A great little device. Now though I have the Sony NW-WM1AM2 which I think sounds awesome (warm but still very detailed) and what I like about that solution is that - without a smartphone or tablet attached you can just enjoy music. Even though you can install any Android app you can (if you wish) avoid all interruptions from notifications or emails. I have an unlocked version from the US with high gain but I really don't need it since I use the Meze Elites. I do think there is a place for DAPs but also agree a dongle will perform just as well if not better but the DAP is a good choice to avoid interruption. YMMV. Cheers

[@bradenpershing86]

How does the Wm1am2 compare to your other equipment? I have been interested in getting one but want to make sure it is worth the asking price.

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, Martijn 🙂

[@Martijn1234]

@bradenpershing86 morning. When it comes to DAPs I have tried a few. I tried the iBasso 320 and it sounded great but the screen broke after 1 day which raises questions about build quality. It was a similar sounding DAP to the Sony. On the warm side but still very good technically. I had an A&K SE180 and it was nice but more analytical sounding and didn't sound as good imo. You could change the DAC cards to tailor the sound. It was very good technically but I didn't connect with it as much as the Sony. I think that Sony is fabulous. If you have less demanding headphones like the Elite or Empyrean it drives them very well, and very loud. Build quality is amazing too. It can't really compare to my main head-fi setup but thats to be expected as its more than 20x the price. If that Sony is all I'd ever heard though I'd be a very happy camper. Since its open Android its great to be able to install Qobuz, Tidal etc. directly but the internal player sounds the best imho. I played it to some non-audiophile friends recently and they both listened for hours!

[@KetansaCreatesArt]

I was looking for the Hi Res bluetooth/cable dongles around the budget of BTR5. And now discovered this M0 Pro with benifit of storage and good screen and interface. Should I go for the M0 Pro for the sound quality over BTR5 and price point? Or should I wait for the M1s? sound better? (must be expensive?)?

[@PassionforSound]

The M0 Pro is a great option, but the Hidisz AP-80 Pro-X is perhaps slightly better while still very compact. M1S doesn't sound better than M0 Pro IMO

[@KetansaCreatesArt]

@@PassionforSound Thank you for the reply. Alright will look for the Hidisz :)

[@briantooze3415]

I bought an M0 Pro as a "walkabout / travel" player. The screen is a bit small so I have mine setup in shuffle mode which just plays random tracks from an micro SD card. I just double click the volume button to move to the next track. It's small, fits in my pocket and sounds great for the price.

[@PassionforSound]

Nice idea!

[@dentboxhero1717]

Same biggest selling point for me when I got the original M0 and being that the M0 is wearable with it's clip case. I set my wheel button to 2 clicks next track and 3 clicks pause. Didn't jump on the M0 Pro right away as I was waiting for a clip case to be made but the M0 Pro was on Amazon Prime Day at 20% off and that $26 saving was enough to cover the cost of the case and 4.4mm adapter, basically buying M0 Pro at regular price and getting the case and adapter for free.

[@dentboxhero1717]

I travel a lot and the M0 was a godsend. It does everything you want it to do and it's bi-directional BT is not dumb. It displays tile and (song/video) infos when used as a BT streaming receiver, very useful when streaming in music discovery mode as you don't have to keep reaching for your phone to see music info/title. Other dedicated BT dac/amp can not do that, it does not display song/video title, it only display a giant billboard of the codec like it's a big deal. Getting the M0 Pro as we speak as it's on Prime Day deal.

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, DBH!

[@RealJonzuk]

the dongle interference stuff is crazy i have all my music local anyway so ill just get the m0 thanks for the video i cant imagine spending more than 129 on a DAC I am buying a moto g7 though and that i can use SD Cards on that so maybe i will use the dongle since i could use airplane mode would the airplane mode prevent that clicking bs? what you think i should do i dont really care about anything i just want good sound quality i use the sony mdr 7506 and im gonna be getting the DT 770 headphones can the DAP run that or should i use the dongle ?

[@PassionforSound]

That's a good point about interference getting into some dongles. It seems the cable you use to connect to the dongle has a part to play in that too. If the noise concerns you, running a nice, compact DAP might be the better choice. Most modern DAPs can also act as a dongle too so they can be the best of both worlds.

[@joelescalera9667]

Hello! For my first DAP, which model recommend, the shanling m1s or the AP80 pro-x? Which has a better sound experience?

[@PassionforSound]

I prefer the AP-80 Pro-X

[@joelescalera9667]

@@PassionforSound thank you so much for your answer!

[@59250em]

I also discovered the DAP with the Shanling M2 which was very good for the price. Then, I bought the M3X which is very good as well. I've just ordered the M6 Ultra a few days ago. I hope to receive it very soon..

[@PassionforSound]

Nice! Glad you're enjoying the Shanling DAPs

[@59250em]

@@PassionforSound It's weird but I think you're right because the Moondrop Dawn Pro sounds better with my Mac mini than the M3X when I use it as a DAC for the computer.

[@PassionforSound]

The Moondrop Dawn Pro is a bit of a beast at the price

[@TheCujo1956]

I've never heard my music with a dongle. My OTG setup is a Samsung galaxy A20 phone running poweramp music player and the sound to me is great. Again, I don't know if a dongle would sound better but the bottom line is, that what I have sounds great to me and I'm happy. Don't need a dap or dongle

[@PassionforSound]

If you're happy and enjoying the music, that's all that matters 🙂

[@simas861]

I just bought Fosi Audio DS1, do i need to buy Shanling M0 Pro?

[@PassionforSound]

Not if you're happy running the DS1 from a smartphone or PC

[@paulosilva8200]

I use big daps for home or places. And small daps to be attached to a neck lace with real iems . Great sound...

[@PassionforSound]

That makes sense. Enjoy!

[@Cestmoi50]

The only problem though, a lot of dongles use up the phone's battery, and I already don't like the battery stamina of most phones as it is (a dongle makes it even worse). I am using a Ifi DAC : xdsd gryphon now, with a IEM, and it sounds better than most dongles I have used. I love the (mobile) sound of almost high end desktop dac/amps for IEM, the xdsd comes quite close, but I don't like the use of a phone and connected cable etc.. A DAP is a all in one device, so streaming and offline music. Haven't found my ideal DAP yet though, so still stuck with the xdsd gryphon. ;-).

[@PassionforSound]

Yes, battery life is a factor. Many of the new dongles and the new phones are very efficient with their power usage so that can help, but I get your point.

[@rodm1949]

When I see these DAP's - I always whish the Apple watch was in 16:9 format and the DAP was an amp extension without it's screen. Both could be on the one watch band.

[@PassionforSound]

That would be kind of cool!

[@markothomas9765]

What about when it comes to bluetooth solutions. Things like the M0 and the AP80 pro x are relatively affordable (as it comes with a screen too) when it comes to bluetooth audio sources and you spoke very highly of the ap80 even amongst things like the shanling UP series in an old video. If I was to get a bluetooth device that I can connect to tv or my phone would any of these dap options with bluetooth be a better option than the usual suspects like the Fiio BTR7 or shanling up5 or the ikko ITBO3 etc I am hoping to get it to drive iems and some headphones

[@PassionforSound]

I think the UP5 is great and the iKKO too. The AP-80 Pro-X is also still a great choice. When it comes to Bluetooth, the BT performance won't really change between devices so it's more about selecting the product that suits your preferences on design, functions and general sound quality

[@markothomas9765]

@@PassionforSound awesome 😎 do you think if they were all the same cost is there one of those devices that particularly has an edge over the others sound wise?

[@PassionforSound]

I've not compared them all directly, but the AP-80 Pro-X really won me over with its sound so that's my go-to recommendation

[@topandrun126]

I'm looking to buy the m23 also. The last music player I had was the Zune player. I understand these fiio dap have better dac chip now. My question is how those Dap compared to a smartphone in terms of music quality? I mainly want to use it in my vehicle which already have a decent sounds system. Honestly I'm not sure if this would be a worthy investment.

[@PassionforSound]

Unless you've got a high quality stereo system, buying a really high end DAP probably doesn't make much sense and a nice dongle with your smartphone will probably be just as good. There are also some excellent, affordable DAPs from companies like Hiby that are worth a try too.

[@topandrun126]

@@PassionforSound thanks for the info.

[@topandrun126]

You just save me from buying the fiio k19

[@topandrun126]

@@PassionforSound you just save me from buying the fiio k19

[@StephenIngraham]

I think you missed a couple of use cases for daps. Exercise! I don’t want to dealing with a phone an dongle when I am using my iems while doing gi gong. Too much. And air travel. Same thing. Dealing with a phone and a dongle on the tray table or in your lap is not a fun experience. And I do not want to drain my phone battery while on the plane…I will need the phone for communication. I exercise daily and I travel by air a few times a year at least. That makes the dap worth owning. And, honestly my M1s sounds as good to me with most iems as my TempoTec March III desktop dac. :) I would love it if it streamed Apple Music, but that is not happening any time soon.

[@PassionforSound]

Both great points, Stephen! Thanks for adding them to the conversation

[@frederf69]

Been using the m1s with DCA/ Drop closed x cans for a couple of months & sounds good enough for OTG; plenty of features including gapless playback. what more do you need while walking the dog etc 🤷‍♂ ✌💩👍

[@PassionforSound]

Absolutely - for walking the dog and similar OTG activities, it makes plenty of sense

[@DarkFire515]

I used to use a DAP but eventually moved to simply using bluetooth ear buds paired with a phone. Did the DAP with IEMs provide higher quality audio? Yes, though not hugely better. Did I ever really notice that difference when I was sat on public transport on the way to or from work, or walking around my local park? No, not at all. Given the simplicity and convenience of wireless ear buds and a phone, I'm struggling to see what the use case is for a mobile DAP.

[@PassionforSound]

That's the way it's going for many people I think 🙂

[@DJ_BROBOT]

its 100% about not being distracted by a phone...which has texts, emails and other crap. This is the exact reason why I ditched my phone for a dap. Cant listen to music without it being intertwined with all the other crap on it, so that I cannot ever get away and just enjoy the music. For me, either I get daps or an extra celly with no service on it, but I will never use my real phone for music listening ever again--its a sh*tshow and not worth it. There is still a case for buying Daps than not.

[@PassionforSound]

Yep, that's fair enough. Admittedly, there are plenty of ways to avoid the distractions, but I take your point.

[@BrianVallotton]

I bought the Shanling M6 Ultra last year. It sounds really good but its operating system is clunky. It does sound way better than my iPhone 13 with my AirPods Pro 2, but I listen to the iPhone 20 times to every one time I use the Shanling. So convenience wins out for me as much as I do love the sound on the Ultra. I doubt if I would ever by a DAP again. I wish I knew this last year before I spent about 800.00.

[@PassionforSound]

Yeah, convenience is a big factor too. We've almost always got our phones with us so adding a tiny dongle (or going wireless) is just easier, even if not quite as good

[@geereesh77]

Responding to this since I have a similar set up. I do use AirPods Pro for general use with my iPhone however the moment I pick up M6 Ultra with Sennheiser IE600 or 7Hz Timeless, it brings a smile every single time, even though the frequency of usage is 10:1 in favour of AirPods.

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks for sharing your experiences!

[@paulok2153]

how do you see the chord poly as an alternative to daps?

[@PassionforSound]

That's what I use. I love that it can house local files or stream from Roon or a UPnP/DLNA server.

[@paulok2153]

@@PassionforSound Woah, you pushed me over my purchasing precipice!

[@PassionforSound]

Hope you love it! The software is a bit fiddly to get setup, but the sound quality is brilliant

[@blankname5612]

@@PassionforSound How’s the latency on it?

[@PassionforSound]

Do you mean the Bluetooth latency? I've never used BT with the Poly, but maybe someone else can reply if that's what you mean.

[@damnbrosky]

I was always thinking that one day I will buy Dap, its something different when you going out ,or for holidays and you just live your phone home and only thing you have is your music, this is kind a rich , expensive thing to do, leaving rest of the world out of reach. Finally I can't afford this life style and have be always under my phone in the case my clients wants something from me haha. So for me Dap is only some fantasy dream device which those days do not need to exist. In my home simply Fiio k7 for my desktop setup and on the go my lovely Qudelix 5k which is a best thing that happens to me and to my cheap Iem's for long time. But if you really in this hobby than I can't believe that you do not look on top shelf Dap's with hungry eyes, even if you know that you don't need it, you want it. Same way like you did with all your gear which to be honest you buy but never really need.

[@PassionforSound]

I like that approach to it - it makes it an aspirational and rewarding purchase. Did you buy one yet?

[@damnbrosky]

@@PassionforSound Hi, not, not yet. Few days ago I was so close to push te button on Fiio 11s but this thing is very controversial, like you say in video Dap is a thing you not really need those days. But, probably finally I will buy one some day.

[@chronometa]

I actually will be using mine as a music server and streamer

[@PassionforSound]

Makes sense for mobile use like that, FM. I like the streamer/server/transport idea too, kwahi.

[@muhasrulsetiawan482]

still keep my Q1, So...i don't need to upgrade from Q1 to M1s for sound quality.... Got that

[@PassionforSound]

I don't know the Q1, but I suspect there would be limited sonic improvement.

[@DushanTorbjorn]

Highly recommend trying the Hiby RS6 (r2r) Hiby r6 gen III & I've just picked up the Hiby r6 pro II which is quite nice also.

[@LSDScreen]

EDIT: The original comment below is actually about the RS2 as I stupidly got them mixed up. (I found the RS6 to be sharp and sibilant, and basically unlistenable without EQ.)

[@DushanTorbjorn]

@@LSDScreen That's interesting, I had the grey version which was burnt in, very lush, euphonic & warm. Really nice analogue separation within the presentation. The rs2 was harsh & sibilant with poor technical performance within the price range.

[@LSDScreen]

@@DushanTorbjorn You’re right! I was thinking of the RS2. I didn’t really bother burning that in- returned it asap.

[@DushanTorbjorn]

@@LSDScreen The Hiby r3 pro 2022 saber is nicer than the rs2, I returned mine also.

[@PassionforSound]

I need to try a Hiby DAP because I've generally heard good reports

[@taidee]

Your older phone and a dongle is mostly the best if you want to save your current phone battery.

[@PassionforSound]

Dongles shouldn't hurt your phone battery. They're very efficient these days

[@dave91863]

I recieved the shanling m7 listened to it for about 30 minutes, put in the box and sent it back, all i heard was a very brightly tuned audio player, there was absolutely nothing special about it, ive owned loads of high res players and the m7 is most clinical and brightest ive ever heard, there was nothing in the sound quality that could beat a decent dongle.

[@PassionforSound]

The unit I had was a demo unit so I can't say how these sound when they're brand new, but some players do need burn-in because capacitors and similar components really do settle with use (that's physics, not conjecture). Having said that, I was also not particularly impressed with the M7 either.

[@howardroark3670]

The M0 Pro is the perfect upgrade from an iPod Shuffle.

[@PassionforSound]

💯

[@garybennett7835]

I bought the M1s and nothing but problems where it won't play then it will then it won't. Never an issue with my other daps.

[@PassionforSound]

Wow. That's not good to hear. Hopefully that's a one off, but sorry that you got it. ☹️

[@frederf69]

try updating the firmware over wifi

[@Mr1stcat]

DAPs are definitely NOT dead I absolutely LOOOOVE my Sony nw-wm1zm2 😍

[@PassionforSound]

Glad you're loving it!

[@kmwong1786]

Dongles can't drive high impedance headphones besides that iphone don't have enough juice to drive power hungry IEMs.

[@PassionforSound]

I definitely think you need more than just a phone for good quality sound and difficult headphones are one of the exceptions where DAPs still make a lot of sense.

[@darrellross8609]

L, Had the battery in an expensive $$$ model go bad, will never buy again. Best, D.

[@PassionforSound]

Wow. That's not good to hear! I don't see myself ever buying another DAP either.

[@Mr1stcat]

You most likely bought a Chinese dap those things have horrific QA and QC issues 🤣

[@CLaudiusClemensJimmy]

todays premium daps price is range from $1k to $2k and for many is ridiculous, while todays best dongles prices below $500, no i haven't try any dongles yet so no comparison for me in sound. for me better go with 2 years old premium flagship daps prices is more make sense to me.

[@paultomaszewski1964]

But if you are getting a flagship phone/folding phone, the prices are over $1k as well and then add a good dongle you are at almost the same price. Damned if you do, dmaned if you don't type situation.

[@CLaudiusClemensJimmy]

@@paultomaszewski1964 i don't do flagship phone anymore, for me make no sense to have a $1k phone and use a dongle

[@paultomaszewski1964]

@@CLaudiusClemensJimmy Same hear, have a two year old Motorola with SD card expansion, so if I do go the dongle way I can put all my music in it and go. It has a headphone jack, but it's not the best. You would think a flagship phone would have SD card expansion, but it seems they are all about the camera.

[@CLaudiusClemensJimmy]

@@paultomaszewski1964 dongle is the most economic way to go if u want the best of musics, but for me is save a little bit & go for ex prime dap & still get the best of it without spending over $1k, for $500 to $800 in use market u can get a great dap tho

[@PassionforSound]

Yeah, unless people need the storage capabilities of a DAP, the phone and dongle combo makes more sense because we've almost all got smartphones these days already.

[@syn010110]

it's so irritating now because while I'm fine with listening to music on my phone, the manufacturers keep taking the fucking sdcard slot away. my current phone (S23 small) only has 128gb of storage. I can't put my music library on it because it just doesn't have the space, and the higher storage options were *significant* bumps in price. the m0 pro is probably my best bet here but the lack of hardware controls is suboptimal at best, and the battery life is ass. damn sony for discontinuing the A55

[@PassionforSound]

Yeah, it's a tough balance to find. Have you considered the AP-80 Pro-X from Hidisz?

[@masterazlan6999]

Wait untill u hear fc6 frm hiby Cute but kings of dongle.. peace sir try it.

[@PassionforSound]

It will need to be a big step up from FC4 🙂

[@masterazlan6999]

R2R beb.. ops peace sir!

[@PassionforSound]

Interesting!

[@beepover]

DAPS to me are made for IEMS. They will be around for awhile. The issue to me with Chifi IEMS progressing so rapidly and being so good, should headphones be dead? For DAPS, I have 2 R3 Pro Sabre, Shanling Q1, and a Shangling M6 Pro. I would like to add a desktop amp with zero noise to drive my more than dozen IEMS.

[@PassionforSound]

That's where dongles come in for me (driving IEMs from smartphones). As for a desktop amp to use, I'd go with the Geshelli Labs A3 Pro: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3jcfZaufLWNhtE

[@wahid-lg1kk]

With dongles your music goes through the android stack, and then is interrupted by phone calls and notifications. The balanced output through 3.5 jack is not balanced by the time it reaches your headset, as your headset is not wired for it. All you get is the power boost. You are back to one ground wire for two positive wires. It's nice to have the extra power, though. But it's not balanced when you hear it. I repeat. It's not balanced.

[@PassionforSound]

I don't think anyone said that it's balanced through the 3.5mm. With dongles, you can use software like USB Audio Player Pro to bypass the Android system.

[@wahid-lg1kk]

@@PassionforSound Talking about headphones which sometimes have balanced cables available, but they are not internally wired for them. Forget it.

[@PassionforSound]

Any headphone that comes with balanced cables and has separate left and right inputs on the cups will be wired for balanced.

[@aaronfriedman8201]

Only top tier DAPS are better.

[@PassionforSound]

I think it's a little more nuanced than that. I think it depends on the brand and model. Each model is a unique case.

[@indranilmitra6535]

you can get phones from xiaomi, realme and other chinese companies that are cheap and have dual sim+micro sd suppoprt upto 2tb. its the apples, samsungs that have done away with that. so point 1) of owning a dap is nullified. even if you buy another phone for cheap for music exclusively and attach a usb dongle, it will still give you a much faster performance, screen, refresh rate and sound (with a good usb dongle dac) than any dap out there, at still a fraction of the price. daps are stupid, and yes, daps are dead.

[@PassionforSound]

I still think DAPs have a place as a single box solution as transport, DAC and amp all in one, but they're definitely becoming niche

[@indranilmitra6535]

@@PassionforSound yeah that's the only use case, but at what cost...really niche indeed.

[@DJ_BROBOT]

this is what I do too, along with owning daps...but in no way will I use my regular phone with service for music listening. I own two no-service phones from Motorola and One Plus, plus a Questyle, Astell and Kern daps.

[@indranilmitra6535]

@@DJ_BROBOT why not? If i may ask.

[@user-wr5we2xg6h]

Lol none of the thousand people in my local headphone club thinks any of the dongle sounds better than a dap, even a lower end dap like m6u.😂 I don't know what you heard to say a dongle is on par or better than a dap but it definitely isn't true😅

[@PassionforSound]

No doubt it depends on which DAP and which dongle you compared. I was referring specifically to the DAPs in this video and a high-end dongle like the M15, which is exceptional