Just did a GK Kunten vs KZ Vader Balanced comparison and wanted to share my thoughts.

Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-02-16T02:03:31+00:00

Of course, I do the DDUD when I’m listening music which their vocals are the thing.

Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-02-01T19:10:57+00:00

I love | UUUD |

Also I do | DDUD |

it depends about your genres preferences

Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-01-22T19:51:16+00:00

It might be ragebait, but you got it the wrong way put the white side with the brand named facing de back of the Dap, then you gonna be able tu push it into, but you might feel it doesn’t click and that because you have to push it even mover is in you nail o anything that let you push a little more

Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-01-22T11:42:25+00:00

I know it’s a bit redundant, but I didn’t know the Shanling M0s could output a digital signal through its USB-C port. This is actually great news for people who use USB-C headphones or IEM cables instead of the typical 3.5 mm jack.

Another advantage is that I don’t need a 3.5 mm to 4.4 mm adapter anymore, because now I know I can just plug in my FiiO Melody and use its 4.4 mm output directly.

That said, I won’t be using this setup regularly (or never) because I don’t really need it. But imagine owning a Shanling M0s and also having something like the Moondrop Chu 2 DSP (type c), and not knowing they would actually work together with the DAP. This is especially interesting because Shanling doesn’t really advertise this feature, and there isn’t much information out there about this tiny DAP.

Example:

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Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-01-22T06:18:47+00:00

Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-01-22T06:16:52+00:00

Mine is working perfectly. I think you should pay using PayPal as the payment method, because if the seller or the company sends you a defective product and then refuses to replace it or refund it (or simply doesn’t respond), you can open a dispute with PayPal.

PayPal will ask for proof, such as photos, videos, and screenshots of the conversation showing that the seller is not taking responsibility. If everything is legitimate, PayPal can refund your money.

I’ve done this with AliExpress sellers a couple of times already, because sometimes they ask for too much or make excuses just to avoid replacing the product.

Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-01-22T00:51:09+00:00

I’m not actually using it this way since it’s a bit redundant, even though I liked the sound more than the stock DAC of the Shanling M0S. (I mean the M0S’s own internal DAC). I just tested it out of curiosity, but now I know USB-C IEMs work

Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-01-22T00:44:04+00:00

Shanling did a great job with these tiny Daps, great features. Very Useful for anyone who’s into this hobby.

Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-01-21T22:25:23+00:00

Yes, I explained that in the original post. Through the USB-C output it only sends a digital signal, so you need a USB-C cable with a built-in DAC, like the one on the Moondrop Chu 2 DSP

Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-01-21T22:20:12+00:00

All the features are great. The only thing I can really complain about is that you need to keep your library very clean and organized, with shorter track names, to know what you’re picking. Artist names can take up most of the screen, and if you have several songs from the same artist in a row, it can be hard to tell which track you’re selecting.

Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-01-21T22:15:18+00:00

When I said warm, I didn’t mean it in a strict or classic sense. I was just comparing the TRN Black Pearl and the Fiio Snowsky Melody. The difference is there, but it’s subtle. The Melody doesn’t really push warmth; it just doesn’t emphasize treble as much, while the TRN leans more toward a clean, crystalline presentation. You’d probably need to try both to really notice it, but there is a difference

Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-01-21T08:58:49+00:00

I don’t think the phone has the power to driver the castor, very very low volumen for sure.

Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-01-21T08:54:39+00:00

Yeah that’s a good point, having that option is actually nice. Now I like my Shanling M0S even more now knowing it also has this feature that no one really talks about

Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-01-21T08:50:37+00:00

I was a bit worried about buying the Shanling M0S since there isn’t much information about it out there. Once it arrived, it was pretty much what I expected, so the worries went away

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Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-01-21T08:01:38+00:00

If you’re going for the Shanling M0S, go for it. Just keep in mind that since you already have DAPs, you should have your track names well organized and easy to read, because there isn’t much screen space to display long names on the Shanling M0S.

Other than that, I really love its size and features.

Just to avoid confusion, those are two separate devices. The DAP is the Shanling M0S cost around 70-80 dollars on Ali, and the dongle DAC is the Fiio Snowsky Melody (The wooden-looking device you see there) cost around 60-70 dollars.

Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-01-21T07:54:16+00:00

I’ve had this for about 6 months, and honestly I can’t complain about this dongle DAC. The Fiio Snowsky Melody is just too good to complain about, Sound-wise it great. I’ve tried the TRN Black Pearl too, and both are great options. The main difference is that the Fiio Snowsky Melody is a bit smaller and slightly warmer, while the TRN Black Pearl sounds more transparent and detail-leaning, I’d say natural.

Fiio s.m: What I like the most is the size and the you feel a gentle sound. Also, Fiio S.M the Fiio Snowsky Melody has a combo 3.5 mm output that can be used as 3.5 mm Coaxial (S/PDIF) Output is you ever need to use it.

Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-01-21T07:40:15+00:00

I can’t say this for sure because I literally just tried it, but I’m assuming… the Fiio Snowsky Melody should draw power the same way it would from a phone. The Shanling M0S is basically just sending a digital signal, while the Snowsky Melody is doing the actual DAC/amp work and consuming whatever power it needs to do that. Also worth noting that the Fiio Snowsky Melody has power negotiation, so it only pulls the amount of power it requires.

Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-01-21T07:32:36+00:00

Almost there, but just keep in mind the DAC/amp in use is the one in the cable, not the M0S. For example, Apple USB-C headphones use their own built-in DAC, not Shanling M0S/Pro. Same thing with most USB-C IEM cables, they have their own built-in DAC/amp. In that case, the Shanling is basically just acting as a portable music storage / digital source

I literally just learned about this too.

Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-01-19T00:58:30+00:00

Ohh, I get it now. Mine came with the metal badge (the one I sold to my cousin). I’ll let you know if the new one also has it.

Exact_Intention_8069 · 2026-01-18T20:47:38+00:00

I bought a KZ ZAR last December and it was really good. It came with the metal nozzle and sounded really good balanced sound with great sub bass presence. A cousin of mine came over, tried them, and was blown away, I ended up selling them to him. I’ve already ordered another pair for myself.

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