You have two-way Bluetooth connectivity, which works exceptionally well. Wireless connection options are abundant. Nevertheless, the powerful and precise sound is something people at Shanling should take with pride. It's detailed, it has the accuracy, but it doesn’t go thundering from your speakers. M5S does lack a sense of warmth and color in its highs and mids, which you’ll probably miss if you want a more exciting ride.Īs far as low-end goes, M5S, like FiiO M11, doesn’t throw you off your feet. Although not as compelling as FiiO M11, it still offers excellent value for money.Ĭrisp and neutral highs and clean and flat mids feel like they were meant to be just like that, without ever sounding too dull or dry. Shanling has been killing it over the last couple of years, and it’s no different with M5S. The Chinese know a thing or two about their audio players! When you look at Fiio or Shanling, one thing becomes clear. But, all of this doesn’t change the fact that this is an outstanding DAP. Also, sometimes it feels that the controls could have been placed more naturally. The same goes for USB 2.0 which nowadays feels kind of obsolete. The previously mentioned Bluetooth is only 4.2, whereas the industry standard today is 5.0. However, this DAP does come with a set of flaws. If you want to learn more about the best A/V Receivers, take a look at our post! M11 offers two-way Bluetooth functionality, meaning you can relay and receive a Bluetooth signal. Wi-Fi connectivity and the ability to use a variety of streaming services is also a thing that distinguishes it from its close competitors. No matter the file size or format, the output is first-class. So, if you are a fan of strong bass sound, you might want to look elsewhere.Īll in all, M11 offers such clarity and richness of the sound that it feels like you could play every music genre with the same success. The bass sound also feels controlled and clean. It just feels natural, like it’s not trying too hard. Rather neutral, never too imposing and giving equal attention to all the aspects of the sound. The highs and mids are just a joy to behold. And M11 seems to be the best they’ve managed to make. Roughly at the same time they have released M9 and M11 players. With every new edition (which come rather fast), they keep on delivering. Well, FiiO keeps pushing the limits for other DAP manufacturers.