Think of Shanling’s M8T as a high-end iPod with tubes

A new flagship portable audio player is incoming from Shanling: the M8T’s Android 13 operating system is powered by a Snapdragon 665 processor to run on a 2160 x 1080 6″ LCD touchscreen for microSD card and streaming app playback (via the Google Play Store). Headphone outputs, each with three gain settings, number two: single-ended 3.5mm for up to 500mW into 32 Ohms and 4.4mm balanced that ups the ante to 1125mw into 32 Ohms. The Chinese company’s spec sheet confirms that both headphone sockets have an output impedance of less than one Ohm for full compatibility with sensitive and/or low-impedance IEMs.

In between input and output, a DAC built around a pair of AKM’s flagship AK4499EX chips – whose delta-sigma modulation and digital filtering are handled by a pair of corresponding AK4191EQ – converts the incoming digital signal to analogue. File format compatibility stretches all the way to PCM 768kHz and DSD1024.

Shanling rates the M8T’s internal 8350mAh battery at 15.5 hours when using the 3.5mm socket and 13 hours when headphones are connected to the 4.4mm socket. Two-way Bluetooth is also part of the deal with LDAC, AAC and SBC supported in both directions.

Now comes the twist: the M8T is loaded with a pair of Raytheon JAN6418 tubes that can be partially switched into the circuit in Triode mode for a ‘bit of added warmth’, or fully engaged in Ultralinear mode for a sound that’s reportedly, ‘thick, smooth and relaxed’. Otherwise, Transistor mode gives us solid-state playback (ergo: no tubes) with a sound that Shanling calls ‘dynamic and hard-hitting’.

Buyers’ pockets will need to be sturdy and deep as the M8T weighs 383g and is priced at US$1500.

Further information: Shanling