Shanling M0 Pura announced as new M0S successor

The Shanling M0 Pura was officially announced today (30) by its manufacturer. In Shanling’s publication, nearly all specifications of the Digital Audio Player (DAP), which will replace the M0S, were revealed. In addition, the company disclosed the launch date and pricing for the M0 Pura. Below are all the details regarding this upcoming release.

Update (July 30): The Shanling M0 Pura is now available internationally for US$151 and can be purchased through the Woodes Store on AliExpress.

M0 Pura will replace the M0S

The Shanling M0 was first released in 2018. Four years later, the manufacturer introduced the second version of the DAP, the M0 Pro. The third-generation Digital Audio Player, the M0S, was launched within a shorter interval, arriving just two years after the M0 Pro. The lineup is now reaching its fourth generation, represented by the M0 Pura.

Higher output power for more demanding headphones

The M0 Pura delivers output power comparable to that of the M0 Pro (236mW), although slightly higher at 250mW. Compared to the M0S, which provides only 60mW, the new model offers more than four times the output power.

The primary reason for the substantial power difference between the M0 Pura and the M0S is the inclusion of balanced output support. However, similarly to the M0 Pro, the M0 Pura features a 3.5 mm headphone output that requires a 3.5 mm-to-4.4 mm adapter to unlock its maximum output power.

Power consumption has increased

Power consumption on the M0 Pura is higher. Unfortunately, this DAP is capable of providing only 9 hours and 30 minutes of continuous playback. For comparison, the M0 Pro and M0S models deliver battery life ranging between 13 and 15 hours.

Possible reasons behind the reduced battery life

I believe the reduced battery life of the M0 Pura is mainly related to its increased output power and DAC chip configuration.

There was a 14mW increase in output power on the M0 Pura compared to the M0 Pro. In addition, Shanling implemented two Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chips. It is worth noting that the M0 Pro adopts dual ESS ES9219C DACs, while the M0S utilizes a single Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC.

The operating system used across all M0 models remains unchanged, namely MTouch OS. Therefore, from a software standpoint, there are likely no significant changes affecting battery consumption.

Connectivity remains unchanged

Both USB DAC mode and bidirectional Bluetooth connectivity remain available on the M0 Pura. In other words, users can utilize the DAP as a DAC/amp by connecting it to a PC, while also pairing it via Bluetooth with both headphones and smartphones. It is also possible to use the device solely as a music transport by connecting a USB Dongle DAC to the DAP.

Bluetooth codec support also remains unchanged. For headphone connectivity, the supported codecs are SBC, AAC, aptX, and LDAC. When connecting the M0 Pura to a smartphone, the supported codecs are SBC, AAC, and LDAC.

Shanling M0 Pura: Specifications

General specifications

• Bidirectional Bluetooth 5.0 (signal transmission and reception)
• Bidirectional USB-C port (signal input and output)
• DAC: dual Cirrus Logic CS43131
• Display: 1.54-inch HD (720p) touchscreen
• Headphone output: 3.5 mm with balanced output support (via adapter)
• microSD card support: supports cards up to 2TB
• Operating system (OS): MTouch OS
• USB DAC mode support
• Weight: 35.8g

Battery specifications

• Battery capacity: 650mAh
• Battery life: 9.5 hours

Bluetooth audio specifications

• Supported Bluetooth codecs for signal reception: SBC, AAC, and LDAC
• Supported Bluetooth codecs for signal transmission: SBC, AAC, aptX, and LDAC

Wired audio specifications

• Dynamic range: 121 dB
• Native decoding: PCM 32-bit/384kHz and DSD128
• Output impedance: < 1 Ohm
• Output power: 250mW at 32 Ohms using the 3.5 mm-to-4.4 mm adapter
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 121 dB
• THD+N: 0.0004%

Launch date, pricing, and availability

The Shanling M0 Pura is now available internationally in Orange, Purple, and Black for US$151 through the Woodes Store on AliExpress.