Shanling Sono Review – Living On A Prayer
In this Article
IN THE BEGINNING
Shanling has a thorough product catalog including many IEMS including their latest iteration the Shanling Sono. While I am more familiar with their various portable DACs (UA2+, UA3), they make wonderful DAPs from entry level to premium players. We have not explored the earphones they offer so when Shanling offered up their Sono for dissection, I was compelled to investigate given the unique dual dynamic coaxial hybrid BA configuration.
The Shanling Sono departs from the usual universal shell and goes for a more compact, smooth, and well built zinc alloy IEM while competing in a normal retail price point ($79) for other brands found in the local big box stores around here. There are some well regarded IEM’s in this cost segment, and for a few bucks more the options expand further. The Shanling Sono physical design is a welcome departure for those that despise bulkier IEMs clouded by a mixed bag of slow bass, clear mid-range, and aloof treble.
WHAT’S INSIDE
When the Shanling Sono arrives on your doorstep inside you will find a shiny set of zinc oxide polished metal earphones with a spacious zippered carrying case. The shell takes the form of their ME100/500 models from what I can see. It comes with a set of 4 tips, XS, S, M L, additionally there is a non-standard dual flange type for deep ear cleaning insertion depths. I find those uncomfortable, but they typically provide good anchoring and isolation as long as the flanges maintain their shape.
The only hiccup with the included accessories was the 2 pin cable. I find it comfortable and lightweight with the twist inside a twist coming out smooth on top around the ear hooks, but the plugs going into the earphones have a sharp edge on the outward facing side. This was a purposely done design feature to match the lines of the earphone connection point, but I find it an unnecessary an unwelcome design choice.
The final surprise was inside the case of the Shanling Sono – a second set of nozzle filters that screw on. This has become a simple and effective way of making drastic changes to the tuning of the earphones. The Shanling design utilizes a vent hole on the side of the actual filter. I have not seen that concept since the BGVP DMG days. The vent hole is guarded by a filter so it is more than just a hole.
The filter with the black o-ring is the balanced one, and the red o-ring one is the bass filter. They both have absorbing foam in them, with the black ones having less. The problem is that on this particular set, the black ones do not have an even amount and this impacts the bass output both in listening and measuring.
The good news, you can roll your own materials and create your own concoctions. I pulled out the foam and re-positioned the foam that was originally sideways and it seemed to improve channel balance.
Upon a quick listen of the Shanling Sono, the red filter balances out the upper mid-range gain, but the bass is overpowering and unfocused. The balanced filter is my choice despite putting up with the shrillness that plagues the tonality. With the filters removed you can see inside the shell and marvel at two peculiar design factors.
One is that the BA driver is deep inside firing at an angle into the side of the nozzle. The other is the filter is oblong and once tightened the squashed side matches up with the thicker portion of the nozzle. I do not know if this was to provide a surface for the BA driver sound to traverse, was done to reduce resonances, or most likely both.
SOUND
The Shanling Sono is not the most efficient and paired with a smartphone you will have good luck at protecting your hearing, but I feel a dongle is a must with these or a strong DAP. Amplification improves them further when using the SMSL DO100/HO100 combo because not only are they inefficient, the impedance dips to 8 ohms requiring some current capability. Out of the two Shanling dongles at my disposal, the UA3 is a great fit while the UA2+ is adds to the already present presence. The smoother nature corrects for some 5khz shrillness from the middle treble.
Cymbal riding sounds twisted up- snares sound lively but the rest is smeared. I cannot help but think that sideways balanced armature is struggling to define itself. The treble also feels a little disconnected from the rest of the music. It takes front stage, over the bass and vocals.
Mid-range emanating from the coaxial 6.8mm dynamic is pleasant although recessed. Vocals have a dryness to them, the female vocals are missing some breathiness. Rush’s Tom Sawyer sounds very much like listening to them in an intimate room.
Bass is very heavy and slow exacerbated by the red filters, and again sounds disjointed from the treble. Cohesion is not a strong point even though the bio diaphragm 9.2mm dynamic should align with the midrange coaxial driver. Here the issue is speed. Smearing both the bass and treble does not bode well for the Shanling Sono. With the proper amount of filling in the black filter, it could knock down the stuffiness at least.
Jazz works well with the Shanling Sono, when I listen to Angelina by The Yellowjackets the sax solo is front and center and the intimate stage fits well with the piano in the background. Rock and electronic are second place music types that and can work with them as well, but I prefer other tunings for that music.
COMPARISONS
Given the $79 price tag of the Shanling Sono, I quickly realized I do not have much to compare with in this prices range. I know the class leader Moondrop Aria would be a good comparison, so melding Jürgen’s thoughts is what I can offer. Bass on the Aria was articulated and composed, not smearing like the Sono. The upper mids on the Sono peak higher and will sound more forward. On top of that the plateaus tip in different directions. Finally, if the 10khz peak was too much on the Aria, the Shanling Sono takes it to level 11.
Truthears Hexa is direct competition at $79, however it is still on loan to Loomis. The coherence is better on the Hexa, bass is snappy where the Sono straggles behind. The Truthears Hexa had a diffuse field curve and the presence region was scooped out making the Shanling Sono more energetic, but pitchy. Staging is pulled back on the Hexa where Sono brings you closer.
The ancient Ibasso It01 V1 ($99) with it’s U shaped signature has sweet treble and stronger controlled bass with better extension. The It01 sounds more homogeneous, but with its grungy midrange due to less pinna gain perhaps a little more crowded than the Shanling Sono. The Ibasso IT01 is easily driven whereas the Shanling Sono requires amping.
THE END IS NEAR
Keeping in mind the Shanling Sono is an entry level earphone for Shanling, it does not have enough pluses for me to like it and is definitely not a leader for this class. The unique small shell is great, the driver placement needs improvement, cohesion is struggling and there is no standout frequency band to hold up and claim victory.
At least the tuning is somewhat unique peaking at around 5Khz, if you like intimate jazz these might work for you. I really dislike the quality of the treble though making this set soon to be forgotten. The requirement of amplification to deal with the low impedance of the frequency spectrum below 2khz and low sensitivity makes this not so affordable either, if you add that to price of admission.
Disclaimer: I thank Shanling for providing these free of charge for review. My opinions are my own thoughts, good or bad.
SPECIFICATIONS SHANLING SONO
Earphone Type In-Ear Monitors
Sensitivity 103dB±3dB
Cable 4-core Silver-Plated Copper
Plug 3.5mm
Frequency Response 16-40000Hz
Impedance 16Ω
Earphone Connector 0.78mm 2Pin
GRAPHS
- Left vs Right Red Filters
- Left vs Right Black Filters (after I re-positioned)
- Red vs Left and Right Black filters (as delivered out of the box)
- Impedance Plot
DISCLAIMER
Available from Amazon or other retailers.
Purchase Link (no funny business) https://www.amazon.com/SHANLING-SONO-Headphones-Earphones-Replaceable/dp/B0C9MCVM1R
Our generic standard disclaimer.
