Shanling MO Review - Smallest Hi-Res Portable Music Player - Does Size Matter?

Welcome to my review of the Shanling MO.
More info & latest price on Amazon - amzn.to/2uCeUTe
Shanling MO case - amzn.to/2JJOBPF
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Shanling M0 includes Hi-Res audio certification, in a tiny size, with Bluetooth wireless capability, the M0 digital audio player represents the pinnacle of portable, high-fidelity listening. Pushing the limits of technology the Shanling M0 incorporates everything required of a Hi-Res portable player, with the size of a wristwatch. It has the capability to hold SD cards with up to 512GB and features a high-definition touch screen developed by LG.

[@DaveWestMedia]

Wow it's pretty incredible an OEM has managed to squeeze all that info something so small. Great job Gav - very thorough as always 🔥

[@GavinsGadgets]

Yeah pretty amazing Dave 👍

[@SergioGarcia-jg3yy]

Great review! I'm happy to see someone answering each and every question in the comments btw. I have the M1 and I'm happy with its sound and bluetooth capabilities, not so much with the interface. If you have a lot of tracks it's a bit painful to reach something in the middle of the list, so I'm considering M0. I've read M0 sound is not as good as the M1's is but I'm not very sure about this. Have you tried both? Thanks in advance. Sergio.

[@GavinsGadgets]

Hi Sergio, thanks for your feedback. Appreciated. Unfortunately I haven't tried both

[@mikecambridge5493]

Golly Gavin, this looks good for the price. I must look into this immediately. Thanks for review.

[@GavinsGadgets]

It's great Mike. Absolutely love it

[@steelyscott]

Such a small yet powerful gadget! Great review, I hope they fix the bt issue in an update. 👍👍

[@GavinsGadgets]

Thanks. I'm hoping they do too for the wire free earphones. There has been a firmware update already so fingers crossed .

[@drkrpr155]

Great, quality review. Good work.

[@GavinsGadgets]

Hi Vinc, thanks for the feedback , appreciated 👍

[@johntait491]

Thanks Gavin. This has been very helpful. Is it easy to load music/audio on to M0 by connecting it to my desktop via the USB cable?

[@GavinsGadgets]

Hi John, thanks for your feedback. Appreciated. Yes you can.

[@whoever_81]

Nice comprehensive review. I am between M0, M1, M2s and the coming Hidizs AP80. I am wondering which one has the best SQ.

[@GavinsGadgets]

Let me know when you find out :)

[@geryong5712]

Hi Gavin, nice review! Want to ask, if I want to use this as a Bluetooth receiver from my phone (using Spotify from phone), how's the sound quality? Will it suffer? Thanks!!

[@GavinsGadgets]

Hi Gery, thanks for the feedback. Depends on what quality your phone can transmit ie what bluetooth codec. Bluetooth isnt as good as wired, though.

[@antoinep9733]

Nice review thank you, lots of questions answered. Shame about the Bluetooth performance. I don’t own any BT earbuds yet, but they would be a perfect complement for such a portable DAP, especially for exercise and commuting.

[@GavinsGadgets]

Thanks for your feedback.

[@Rakshit0076]

Amazing gadget for the size and price... looks like its got a quad dac that is included in the LG V30!!

[@GavinsGadgets]

Indeed it does

[@edwingm8790]

Ready to pull the trigger on the M0 to pair with my DSR9BT but one thing concerns me when you mentioned of the BT connectivity and you never mentioned anything about the audio quality via BT. Maybe a little insight on that?

[@GavinsGadgets]

The quality is fine, just connection us ing truly wireless wire free earphones

[@edwingm8790]

Got it. So now, when you say the audio quality is fine, does that lean more towards the negative side or positive side? Asking because your answer isn't too enthusiastic lol

[@GavinsGadgets]

Positive 👍

[@tpacalypse]

Hey Gavin :)! How's the sound in Bluetooth mode compared to the ifi Xcan?

[@GavinsGadgets]

The ifi sounds better mainly as the amp stage is more powerful

[@hermanessences]

Do you know whether the Shanglin M0 music player is compatible with Sennheiser CX 400BT earbuds? On Sennheiser's page, it says that it's Bluetooth 5.1 compliant (class 1), whatever that means. As far as I understand, bluetooth compatibility issues are common.

[@GavinsGadgets]

I can't comment on your model specifically, but bluetooth is just bluetooth.

[@Hemang.H]

Good Review. Does it work while charging?

[@GavinsGadgets]

Thanks. Yes it does.

[@naftaLidgzYT]

Which is better for neutral/balanced sound, sound stage and imaging, shanling MO or shanling M1? I'm using only a audio-technica m40x, Takstar Pro 82 and a Fiio F5 for iems.

[@GavinsGadgets]

No idea as I haven't used the M1

[@pierregrave5971]

Hi, Do you know where I can get a detailed M0 user's guide on the Net. THanks for help and congratulation for your detailed presentation

[@GavinsGadgets]

Thanks Pierre. The best and only guide I've found is on their website.

[@pierregrave5971]

Thanks Gavin for your rapid answer. I even didn't found it on their web site. Could be so nice giving me the link to download it ?

[@GavinsGadgets]

shanling.com/download/List# - click on MO picture, second from top left.

[@FlorinVizuroiu]

It's been possible to use Bluetooth headphones controls for adjusting the volume or to skip a track?

[@GavinsGadgets]

Not sure

[@abhishekpadmashri2434]

Does this need a high impedance headphones like lg phone to sound loud or juz works fine wit normal headphones (normal headphones =32 ohms)

[@GavinsGadgets]

Lower impedance headphones are better.

[@goodnightmoon]

i think it's also supported up to 300ohms, not sure

[@Theenemy38]

Looks like a good player would this be good for replacing a ipod classic?

[@GavinsGadgets]

Yes it is.

[@Theenemy38]

@@GavinsGadgets Nice gonna order mine tomorrow.

[@MrSkorp411]

How about a review with Fiio M5 audio dac output with earphones vs Bluetooth headphones

[@GavinsGadgets]

Hi Rajesh. Not tested that combo yet

[@williamwoodgate]

That's an impressive device for the money. And its ability to support up-to 512GB storage certainly makes it a strong competitor to the iPod. Hopefully they'll be able to get the Bluetooth glitches sorted.

[@GavinsGadgets]

Its an amazing device, sounds superb too. Bluetooth only seems to affect the wire free wireless earphones which can be problematic even with the best devices. All the bluetooth headphones I used which had a headband or were connected via a wire were fine. The iPod isn't even close to this in sound quality. The Shanling MO is a proper hi res music player that can power some reasonable headphones extremely well. Also, you can swap out micro SD cards giving endless options and storage.

[@ariweiss8992]

Hi it have enough power (volume) for Bluetooth earphones ?

[@GavinsGadgets]

The ones I used, yes

[@subhankarsarkar595]

how loud it is ?how its tunning compare to lg quad dac as it also have ess 9218 p?

[@subhankarsarkar595]

how this is compare to btr5 ?

[@GavinsGadgets]

BTR5 is bluetooth first and does this better.

[@GavinsGadgets]

You can find the specs on Shaling's website. Similar sound wise.

[@peterandersson6762]

Nice gadget! Can you connect it to an iphone, and stream music from the phone?

[@GavinsGadgets]

Yes. If using lightning connector, you’ll need the usb 3 Apple Camera Adapter and Power. Via Bluetooth, no cables needed.

[@peterandersson6762]

So you can connect the phone with bluetooth to the M0 on one connection and the M0 putts out LDAC to the headphones Sony hear on 2?

[@GavinsGadgets]

No. It can operate Bluetooth in separate directions, but not at same time.

[@peterandersson6762]

Gavin Fabiani-Laymond So if im connected with cable iphone to M0, i can stream with LDAC from M0 to headphones?

[@ellison438]

Have you tried the two-way bluetooth connection?

[@GavinsGadgets]

Yes, it works , it's just Bluetooth to the wireless wire free earphones that seemed problematic at the moment. When the next firmware arrives, I'll leave an update note in the description if it fixes this

[@ellison438]

Does it automatically charge itself when using it as a DAC on PC?

[@GavinsGadgets]

Don't know as the screen displays the bit rate is large numbers and nothing else. (I think it might be, but I am not 100% certain yet)

[@GirLTech5]

Will this work with bluetooth headphones?

[@GavinsGadgets]

Yes it does and has LDAc too amongst other codecs

[@GirLTech5]

@@GavinsGadgets Thanks for the response. This is just as much as the sony a35. Any advice? :)

[@GavinsGadgets]

The MO is better quality but not as easy to use as the Sony.

[@GirLTech5]

@@GavinsGadgets Thanks Gavin. More power.

[@GavinsGadgets]

MO for more power

[@zeppu2671]

Can this be connected to a BT speaker as a source?

[@GavinsGadgets]

Yes it can play to a BT speaker

[@shinotenshi5192]

How was it compare to nw a45?

[@GavinsGadgets]

Much better than the Sony for driving wired headphones

[@hmm2928]

Can I stream from Spotify from it?

[@GavinsGadgets]

From it no as it has no internet. Play spotify on your phone and connect it via USB or bluetooth is only option

[@marktsundokupasha9995]

This or M3K or Hidizs AP80?

[@GavinsGadgets]

Hi Mark. I can't help you there as not heard either.

[@rappercosa]

any wifi connection

[@GavinsGadgets]

No there isnt Tony.