M6 is a 3,000 yuan high-end lossless music player launched by Shanling in 2019, due to the shortage of DAC raw materials such as the built-in AK4495SEQ, it had to make changes in order to continue its life.
It is reported that the new M6 (also known as the M6 21 version) has been replaced by an ESS chip and redesigned and tuned.
Judging from the comparison of official data, this "change of heart" has significantly improved the sound quality compared with the original work (the battery life has dropped by 1 hour). At the end of the article, the actual battle is compared.
The gain here, from the original M6 two gears to three gears, are low, medium and high.
High gain is selected, and the thrust\loudness feels comparable to the high gain of the original M6.
Wireless connectivity still has a lot of options in terms of sound quality. Here it is the same as the original M6.
The model number has been added here with the word (21).
The output selection of the 3.5mm hole remains unchanged, and the headphone output and linear output are still the same.
This is true of all the Android players currently in production at Shanling. Personally, I'm not satisfied with this, and I would like the SPDIF digital output to be integrated.
Fei Ao and Haibei have both.
memory.
Shanling M series Android player full lineup.
In the middle, the original M6 with the holster and the M6 21 version with the golden knob next to it.
The most obvious difference is also the knob. This knob texture, feel are good, the color is also beautiful, the real thing is very high-grade, more amazing than the original.
Shanling firmware update is also quite positive. Take advantage of the contrast to upgrade.
Sound, sound quality:
Refer to the M8 (Flagship), M6 PRO (High-End), Legacy M6 (Mid-To-High End) and Entry-Level M3X
Back-end: Shanling ME80, Hzsound Heart Mirror, ibasso am05 and head-on SIVGA SV005, Philips X2HR
It takes about 3 hours, during which I take notes, write my thoughts, and after the whole process, I find that it is like an exam.
Actual acoustic pressure at the same gain and volume (based on 3.5mm port)
1, the most dick is the M6 PRO. With easy-to-push earbuds, when the high gain is turned on, when the volume is 50, it will blow up the ears, which is very dangerous!
It is not surprising that there is this performance, but this time the comparison is shocked again. It is recommended that players who purchase the M6 PRO pay special attention to the choice of gain or volume value.
2, the original M6 and M6 21 versions are very close in terms of actual hearing sound pressure, and it is not easy to detect changes. All pretty awesome, but it's also really inferior to the M6 PRO.
3, the flagship M8 is stronger than the new and old generations of M6 in this regard, but inferior to the M6 PRO (the same gain, the same volume value)
quality:
Among the M series Android players produced by Shanling, if I had to choose a relatively bad one, I could only choose the original M6.
If you don't compare, you won't perceive it too quickly. If I listen to it for a long time and compare a lot, I will find that its sound base will be a little "dry and hot". Mainly the low-frequency to low-frequency parts are not transparent enough, and there is a feeling similar to the sticking of gravel blocks.
Shanling has always been keen on charm, such as M5S pure tone player, this is really good, but M6 this sound, I think some of the heat has passed, it will affect the purity of the earbuds.
The following is a horizontal comment:
1, the new entry-level player M3X, the reason why a while ago was madly recommended by me, one is that although the price is low, but the middle and lower plates do not have the original M6 "sticky" feeling, it sounds very transparent, very refreshing, this smooth feeling is pleasant.
2, M6 21 version compared to the original M6, improved nearly a notch.
Specifically, the clarity of the middle and lower plates is improved, and it is no longer as viscous as the old model. At the same time, the mid-high frequency to high frequency has also been greatly improved, and the high-frequency overtones are rich, and the color is extended, and the brightness is better. Due to the purity of the full frequency band, dynamic and transient also have a more excellent performance, and it is easier to "excite" and "move" than the original M6.
The M6 21 version actually has a little bit of the shadow of the M6 PRO, that is, the "sharp feeling", while the original M6 is not easy to show this feature. In addition, in addition to "Ling Li", the position of the M6 21 version of the vocals is closer to the "slightly farther" of the M8 than the "paste" of the M6 PRO, so the M6 21 version is more suitable for showing the layered beauty of the "big scene" rich instrument situation.
3, M6 PRO dynamic is very strong, but the high frequency extension and the softness of the vocals is not as good as M8, if the special fever \ pay attention to the human voice, it may be slightly rushed, the need for a slightly weaker sense of medium frequency energy headphone matching. In addition, the M6 PRO soundstage is not as regular as the M8, which is a slight pity for it.
All in all, the M6 PRO is best known for its strong sense of density and excellent dynamics. It is the most suitable front end of the Shanling M series player to show the momentum of "crashing on the shore".
4, the flagship M8 and the new M6 21 version in the vocal image and sound field presentation is somewhat similar, but the sense of density, softness, high-frequency extension and sense of volume, delicacy, or to lead the M6 21 version some.
Occasionally, though, with some music, some volume, and some headphones, the M8 and M6 21 versions won't have an ear difference. This also indirectly indicates the current state of evolution of these high-end players with high thrust of Mountain Spirit.
Summary: M6 21 edition is strong in the "excellent analysis under the sense of limited space", it is a re-evolution on the basis of M3X transparency and clarity, the sound is relatively more atmospheric, and the texture of some details in the sound is more vivid and solid. At the same time, it is also very good at pushing those so-called "high-resolution" headphones into place. The original M6 is not able to fully show the deep strength of high-resolution headphones.
Combining shape, feel, system response and sound quality\timbre, the M6 21 edition is one of the current 3000 players, which I personally like very much.
I also recommend it very much.
above. Thanks for reading and a lot of thumbs up!