Shanling
Shanling M9 Plus
Last updated August 12, 2026
We may earn an affiliate commission from links on this page — this never affects our picks. Read our full affiliate disclosure.
A flagship Android digital audio player with a quad-DAC design (4x AK4499EX) and a 6-inch 2K display.
Official product pageOverview
The M9 Plus is Shanling's flagship portable Android player, pairing a 6-inch 1080x2160 display and Snapdragon 665 octa-core CPU (Android 10, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage) with a quad-DAC design using 2x AK4191 and 4x AK4499EX chips in an 8-channel balanced circuit, amplified through a MUSES 8920 J-FET and BUF634 combination. It supports Bluetooth 5.0 (LDAC/LHDC 5.0/aptX HD), Wi-Fi 2.4G/5G, and runs on an 8350mAh battery with QC 3.0 fast charging.
Pros
- Quad-DAC design using four AKM AK4499EX chips plus MUSES 8920/BUF634 amplification
- 6-inch 2K display running Android 10 with 8GB RAM/256GB storage
- 1125mW balanced output power at 32Ω — enough to drive demanding headphones directly
- 8350mAh battery with up to 18 hours (SE) / 11 hours (balanced) playback
Cons
- $2,959 is a major investment — the most expensive product in this batch
- 379g weight and 147x82x22mm size are large for a portable player
- 10-20 working day pre-order processing, non-cancellable per Linsoul
Specifications
- DAC System
- 2x AK4191 & 4x AK4499EX
- CPU / OS
- Snapdragon 665 octa-core, Android 10
- RAM / Storage
- 8GB RAM, 256GB internal (microSD up to 2TB)
- Display
- 6-inch, 1080x2160
- Output Power (SE)
- 4.08V @ 32Ω (520mW)
- Output Power (Balanced)
- 6.0V @ 32Ω (1125mW)
- Frequency Response
- 20Hz–40kHz
- THD+N (Balanced)
- 0.0007%
- SNR (Balanced)
- 126dB
- Battery Life
- 18 hours (SE), 11 hours (balanced)
- Dimensions / Weight
- 147 x 82 x 22mm, 379g
FAQs
Can the M9 Plus power demanding headphones directly?
Its balanced output is rated at 1125mW @ 32Ω (6.0V), which Shanling positions as enough for most demanding portable headphone loads without a separate amp.
How long is the battery life?
Up to 18 hours single-ended or 11 hours in balanced mode, per Shanling's rating.
Does it run apps like a phone?
Yes — it runs Android 10 with Wi-Fi 2.4G/5G and Bluetooth 5.0, so streaming apps can be installed directly.
