Disclaimer: Disclaimer: Shanling sent the Q1 to me for a review at Headfonics. That you can read here: Shaling Q1 review. I also reviewed it here at ohm. Check that here. I paid nothing for it and have enjoyed it immensely. It is a pre-production unit in special reviewer purple. Production versions look different. They also come in boxes. Check out the Q1 Kickstarter page for more information.
So, how good can a sub-100$ DAP be? How good can the same sub-100$ DAP despite packing in a hell of a technological punch? How’s almost 118dB noise and dynamic range sound? How’s 117,4dB stereo separation sound?
Surely, Shanling cut corners, right? Well, the UI iconography is naff, and despite a tubby body, battery life is just so-so. But otherwise, this thing is killer. Gapless works, Bluetooth range and functionality are spot-on, and in the hand, the Q1 feels and operates great.
Sans load and at max volume the Q1 spits out about 10x the distortion of an AK380, but, at 0,00450%, it is totally inaudible. Under the load of an Earsonics SM2, it never rises above 0,038%, and driving the same earphones, it keeps 89dB of stereo separation into my ADC, rising to 103dB whilst driving a Beyerdynamic DT880, and dipping only as far as 84,9dB whilst driving an Audio Technica ES7. These numbers total a number of mid to high-end DAPs out there. In fact, the Q1 surpasses Cayin’s N6ii and Astell & Kern’s AK380 in a number of measurements.
Its ESS Sabre E9218P DAC-level filters are decent, but nowhere near as soft-edged and delicately crafted as those in Cayin’s N6ii. It keeps hiss as low as many if not most high-end DAPs out there. Still, you will find good smartphones here and there and a small number of DAPs out there that also hiss less. Still, I think for the money, the Q1 basically blows the competition out of the water.
Relevant links:
RMAA: Cayin N6ii 24-bit
RMAA: Fujifilm X-T3 microphone pre-amp and headphone output 24-bit
RMAA and review: Aiwa AM-F70 Minidisc Recorder 16-bit
RMAA AND REVIEW: SHARP MD-DR7 1-BIT AUVI MINIDISC RECORDER 16-BIT
RMAA and review: Sony MZ-EH1 24-bit
Minidisc VLOG - 07: Sony MZ-RH1 Review
Minidisc VLOG - 05: Sony MZ-NH3D
RMAA and review: Sony MZ-DH10P 16-bit
RMAA: Astell & Kern SPM1000M 24-bit
RMAA: Cowon Plenue D2 24-bit
RMAA: Sony MZ-RH1 16-bit
RMAA: Sony MZ-NH3D 16-bit
RMAA: Sony MZ-B100 16-bit
RMAA: Panasonic SJ-MJ500 16-bit
RMAA: Kenwood DMC-S55 16-bit
RMAA: Sony MZ-E55 16-bit
RMAA: Sharp MD-DS8/9 16-bit
Source: Shanling Q1
ADC: Lynx Studio HILO LT-TB
Computer: 2017 27" iMac Pro
Cables: 1,5m Hosa Pro 3,5mm stereo to dual 3-pin XLR (around 8$)
Loads:
NL - no load
SM2 - Earsonics SM2
ES7 - Audio Technica ES7
DT880 - Beyerdynamic DT880/600
24-bit VOL (Full) @+6dB - all targets (single-ended)
24-bit VOL (Full) @+6dB - no load (single-ended)
End words
Honestly, I didn’t expect the Q1 to either sound or perform as well as it does. I expected performance and sound closer to the FiiO M6. Thank goodness that isn’t the case. I don’t like the kickstarter aspect of the Q1, but if I may, please consider it. The Q1 is the real deal.