Shanling UA1

I don't want to double up on packaging and physicals, and focus on sound.
You find the rest at https://www.audioreviews.org/shanling-ua1-jk/

Equipment used: Macbook Air/iPhone SE first generation; Sennheiser HD 600 & HD 25; Sennheiser IE 400 PRO, JVC HA-FDX1, TRI I3 Pro.

The Shanling UA1 features the ESS ES9218P (dac + amp), a “System-on-Chip” (SoC) that leaves the audio engineer little room for tweaking, it comes down to mainly filtering. This means devices with this SoC will actually sound alike or very close.

The UA1 is close to neutral, but has a faint tone colour with a slightly boosted bass, but also with an elevated upper midrange/lower treble, which adds some grain to the top end top-end that can be fatiguing to some in the long run – and that’s the UA1’s only downside. There is a companion app for Android phones that allows filtering which may mitigate the issue, but it does not work with a computer or iPhone.

Presentation is leaner compared to a $100+ dongle, but not in a bad way. Staging is fine. Midrange is clear and clean, and resolution is pretty good. Nothing sterile or analytical. I also did not record any hiss.

It drives my 300 ohm Sennheiser HD 600 with some pain but any iems, including the power-hungry planar-magnetic TRI I3 Pro earphones with ease.

The $99 Helm Bolt and Shanling UA1have a very similar general sound signature (and even a very similar build; the Bolt decodes MQA, the Shanling does not). The Bolt has less bass, which is a tad tighter and cleaner, it sounds more open and the vocals are more up front because of it, and it is a bit more dynamic. The UA1 has more low-end rumble whereas the Bolt is more composed and “sweeter” at the top end. These differences are not earth shattering but the Bolt appears o be better balanced by more sophisticated filtering.

When going up the ladder, the $85 Shanling UA2 has a richer, bassier sound, better staging, better 3D rendering, more punch, and the corners are smoother.

At $45, the Shanling UA1 is an impressive performer with a warm-bright, organic signature, good staging, dynamics, and resolution that does justice even to $200-300 iems (I have not tested any higher-priced ones as I don’t have any). The only polarizing feature may be its hot upper midrange/lower treble glare, other than that it plays one league higher than its price and comes close to the $99 Helm Bolt that shows a few better rounded corners. However, the Shanling’s lively top end will bring some life to iems with an early treble rolloff.

I am a particular fan of the great haptic and build of Shanling’s UA1 (and also the UA2) that compare even to the most expensive models.

Disclaimer​

The Shanling UA1 was included with the UA2 and ME80 in a review package from the manufacturer. I thank them for that. I sent the UA1 to Biodegraded for a second opinion.

Shanling UA1 Dongle DAC - Rhombus Sounds



We're having a look at Shanling UA1, a dongle USB DAC priced at 45 USD, making it one of the most affordable DAC/AMPs, so today's mini review will focus on the sound of UA1, as within this price point there are far too few competitors capable of the same feats as UA1.

---

Introduction

Shanling is a large company from China, and while their experience with high-end desktop systems is undeniable, they want to offer some of that to us entry-level, budget product lovers. You can expect great service from them, but if you purchase their products from Amazon, and other websites that offer direct warranty, you're better covered, as for entry-level products, sometimes you'll end up thinking that it would have been cheaper to get a new product than ship a defective one back to China, where they are produced.

It should be noted that I have absolutely no affiliation with Shanling. I'd like to thank Shanling for providing the sample for this review. This review reflects my personal experience with Shanling UA1. Every opinion expressed is mine and I stand by it. The purpose of this review is to help those interested in Shanling UA1 find their next music companion.



Packaging

First things first, let's get the packaging out of the way:





The package for Ua1 is rather simple; it comes with the DAC/AMp and a Type-A to Type-C adapter too.



Build Quality/Aesthetics/Functionality

We're having a look at one of those DAC/AMP units with a tail, where the Type-C cable is connected to the main DAC/AMP, so happy thoughts and feelings for all of us who want it to be tailed. The advantage of those, versus those like those made by ddHifi is that they place slightly less strain on the Type-C connector of your smartphone. The disadvantage is that the Type-C cable is generally the first thing to break, rendering the entire unit useless. If you abuse them, every type of Type-C DAC will eventually break though, so as long as you use them carefully all will survive equally well.



Ua1 is a low power, low cost option from Shanling, and it features 80mW of power at 32 OHMs, being one of the highest power portable DAC/AMps you can get for such a low cost, but the Channel separation is about 77dB at 32 OHMs. We have a low output impedance of 0.5 OHMs, so Ua1 is well suited for usage with low impedance IEMs, and won't induce hissing or noise to them. The extremely low weighty of 8.3 grams makes Ua1 one of the smallest tail-style DAC/AMPs you can find out there.

The thing with today's review is whether getting Ua1 will improve the quality of your listening experience compared to the default DAC/AMP that comes with your smartphone, or using your smartphone's Audio Jack. Since it uses an ESS ES9218P as a DAC, we can expect good things, this DAC being used in some pricey configurations too. We have support for hi-res, including 384kHz, and DSD256. The cable is shielded as well, so Ua1 is fit for more serious listeners on a budget too.

Inline controls of IEMs and remotes do not work with Ua1, and it can get rather warm during usage, eating a bit more power from a smartphone than most DAC/AMPs. Even though I call it low power, the driving ability is better than most DAC/AMPs in this price range.



Sound Quality

For the sound quality part of today's review, I have experimented with IEMs mostly, like Tin Audio T5, Campfire Holocene, Master & Dynamic ME05, Queen Of Audio Adonis, and even Moondrop Illumination. Generally, Ua1 is able to drive all of them very well, with minimal noise, and minimal trouble, and it works alright even for easier to handle headphones too, like Valco VMK20. The general signature can be described as wide, slightly forward in the mids, but with open highs, zero roll-off, and a slightly thinner, yet clean bass.



The bass would be the least interesting part of Ua1's sound, as it is slightly lower in power and output than Ua2, and iBasso DC01. On songs like Panic! At The Disco - Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time, the bass guitars are not very present, but the voices are slightly forward, while the cymbals are airy and bright. The soundstage is wide, and the entire sound is generally clean and open.

The midrange of Ua1 is clearly its central element, and while I can't call it bright, it has a thinner presentation thanks to its lower bass quantity. Instrument separation is fair. There's a slightly sweet resonance to all instruments, and even on songs like Gorillaz - Rhinestone Eyes, the voices are slightly pushed forward, while instruments are placed behind, and on a wider plane.

The treble of UA1 is surprisingly not rolled off, which I enjoy, and it is able to render some cymbal crashes where they're called for. UA1 is also able to play well with technical music, like technical death metal, but its general speed is medium, with a good amount of detail for the 45 USD paid.



Value and Conclusion

Priced at 45 USD, Shanling Ua1 is great value, and I urge you to find something that's better in raw value, or something that can deliver a better overall clarity and detail for the same price right now. Because I want to know what can be better to recommend to all my friends reading audiophile-heaven. As things stand, and based on my experience, Shanling Ua1 is a safe option if the 80mW of power is enough for you, and if you mainly use IEMs.



The overall sound will be better when using Shanling UA1 rather than using your smartphone, or the default Type-C adapter dongle that came with it. This includes the Huawei basic Type-C USB DACs that have a smoother, but rolled off sound that's thicker but with less resolution than Shanling UA1. Most dongles in this price range will have even lower power output than Ua1, and worse support for hi-resolution files.



At the end of the day, if you're looking for a high quality dongle, with a clean, well extended sound, and with good overall ergonomics, an ESS chip, and 80mW of power, Shanling Ua1 is recommended at its 45 USD price point.

While most known for it’s portable audio line-up (DAPs, IEMs, DACs, Amps), Shanling is also a manufacturer of serious pieces of audio gear (desktop DACs, full-sized Amps, CD Players, and also a number of tube audio equipment). Also, many might get tricked into thinking that Shanling is a recently founded company, when in reality it was founded all the way back in 1988.

The UA line-up, consisting of the UA1 and the UA2, was announced in late 2020 and released around the same time. In this article I will be discussing both products and comparing them, addressing their differences and similarities.

Unboxing Experience

UA2:






Both devices share very similar packaging. In fact, the dimensions are the exact same. The visible difference is in the design, or to be more exact, the visual illustrations that are present on the front of the packaging. I must say that the unboxing experience was fairly pleasing and perhaps rewarding. This is mainly because of the flap system and the neatly thought out packaging. The flap system is similar to a wedding ring box or to the famous Pulp Fiction mystery briefcase (crazy reference, but I just cannot forget the fabulous nature of the briefcase when it was opened in the movie).

Once you open the flap, you will be met with hard foam that houses the UA1/UA2 and the USB-C to USB-A adaptor(s). Below the foam, you will find the Quick Start Guide and a Warranty Card. Unlike the UA1, which features a fixed cable, the UA2 has a USB-C to USB-C cable included in the packaging. I also received a USB-C to Lightning cable in a separate metal case.

Overall, a very satisfying experience for a package that only houses a portable AMP/DAC and an adaptor.



Design

While the UA2 is the bigger brother in size, it features a more minimalist design. Unlike the UA1, the body is stadium shaped — the shape and the form factor heavily resembles a slim Bic lighter.

Speaking of the body, both the UA1 and the UA2 share a similar visual design. Both devices feature the company’s logo, device name, bit depth/sample rate/DSD decoding capability, and a Hi-Res logo. However, there are some subtle difference in the arrangement of how these are printed and featured.

The UA1 features the company’s logo centered on the upper part, while on the bottom part the device name (UA1), bit depth/sample rate/DSD decoding capability are left-aligned and printed with the same technique and color as the logo. Also on the bottom part is the Hi-Res logo which is also printed in the same white color as the rest of the visual illustrations.

On the other hand, the UA2 looks cleaner due to its flat surface. On the left side is the print of the company’s logo, in the middle is print of the device name and the bit depth/sample rate/DSD decoding capability. Instead of a print, the UA2 features the famous gold metallic Hi-Res sticker.

And that about sums it up when it comes to visual differences. Obviously, the UA2 has the Balanced 2.5mm output on the front, next to the SE 3.5mm output. Another difference is that the UA2 has a dedicated "Mode" button which specifically allows it to be used on the Nintendo Switch.

There are three main technical differences that make the UA2 superior:
1. 2.5mm balanced output
2. Removable cable
3. Support for portable consoles like the Nintendo Switch

Build Quality

There is not much to say about the build quality except that both the UA1 and the UA2 are made of high-quality aluminum. The build quality is superb and I wouldn’t be concerned to carry either of the devices in my pocket.

The UA1 has a built-in cable, but it matches the cable quality of the separate cable that is included with the UA2. Both the UA1 and the UA2 feature a thick strain relief on either sides of the cable. It is also worth of mentioning that the housings on the cable and the adaptors are made of the same aluminum as their bodies.

Another visual difference is that UA2’s included cable & the USB-A adaptor feature the company logo on the aluminum housing. UA2’s adaptor also has a rounded design of the USB-A adaptor, unlike the rectangular design of UA1’s adaptor.

All in all, the build quality is more than pleasing at either of these price points.



Performance

Before I jump into the sound performance, I want to cover some details regarding the user experience you get from either of these devices. I mainly used both of these on through USB-A adaptor > MacBook Pro (Early 2015). Neither the UA1 nor the UA2 required any drivers. It was a plug & play experience. However, the UA2 is superior to the UA1 because it is immediately recognized by the system, whereas the UA1 requires you to plug in an audio device in its 3.5mm output in order for it to be recognized. If you plan to own only one of these, then it is not a big deal. However, as a reviewer, it is something that got in my way, especially when it came to A/B tests.

Unplugging my headphones from the UA1 and plugging them into the UA2 resulted in no latency. When I switched to the UA2 the audio playback was immediate. However, when doing the opposite, I had to wait for ~4 seconds until the audio playback started playing. This goes back to the fact that UA2 is immediately recognized by the system, while the UA1 probably has the latency because of the time it takes the system to load it up as an output device.

A possible turn-off for some people is that both the UA1 and the UA2 get quite hot, around 40˚C - 55˚C (104˚F - 131˚F). I first thought that this is overheating and that it is an issue. However, when I contacted Shanling, Mr. Frankie reassured me that the high operating temperatures are normal. Either way, this is something everyone should be aware of. I should also clear up that the high temperatures aren’t regular. The heating is irregular.

I am yet to test the UA1 (will update the review once I do so), but the UA2 definitely has some RMI/EFI noise. It can be as mild as some noise and crackling, but can also be extreme, to the point where there are loud pops and crackling. The worst thing that happened to me was when I was biking, the UA2 and the phone were in my front pocket, and the playback suddenly stopped and there were repeating beeping sounds — almost like the sticky notes sound on Windows. Once I took my phone out of my pocket, I found the playback fully stopped, so I had to go back to my music player and press play. I am yet to come across a dongle DAC/Amp combo which doesn't suffer from similar problems. I cannot give suggestions as to how to solve this, but I know that some people who had RMI/EFI noise issues on the EarMen Sparrow, they fixed it by buying a high-quality cable. I should say that I didn't encounter any of these issues when I was using the UA2 on my laptop.

Sound Performance

The table below represents the volume needed to power the following headphones on the same (subjective to my ears) volume level as on the iBasso DX300 digital-audio-player with the stock AMP11 MK1 module. The volume values below are for the UA2. The UA1 is roughly 0.5-1 MacBook volume bars quieter than the UA2, so you can subtract the below-shown values by that amount to get an idea of the volume levels on the UA1.

MacBook has 16 volume bars. When holding alt + shift, you can adjust the volume with micro bars. There are 4 micro adjustments, meaning that, in total, you can adjust the sound with 64 micro bars. When you see 0.5 (e.g. 1.5, 5.5, etc.), it represent 2 micro bars (4 micro bars are equal to 1 bar).

Single-Ended:


Balanced:

The balanced output is roughly 1-2 micro bars louder than the Single-Ended output. I don't recall hearing any noise when using it.

After dozens of A/B tests, I came to several conclusions and findings. One of the good things is that the UA1 and the UA2 sound just about the same, so switching between them should be a smooth experience. However, for some reason, there is a problem when pairing the UA2 with the HiFiMan Deva. The only other time I faced this issue was when pairing the Deva with some of the budget Tempotec amplifiers. The problem occurs in the sub-bass regions, and it is distinct on tracks like Hans Zimmer’s “Why So Serious?” and MOON’s “Hydrogen”. It is also present on just about any track that has a lot of lower frequencies. What happens is that there is a distortion on the right driver on the headphone, this distortion sounds like a rattle — a very unpleasing sound — but the same distortion is not present at extreme volume on the UA1 or other amplifiers. This leaves me at a dead end. It leaver me wondering why it is happening. It is also worth of mentioning that this distortion is not present on other planar-magnetic headphones like the Dekoni Audio Blue or the SIVGA P-II. I want to repeat that this problem only occurs at extreme volumes (>75%) and is only present with the HiFIMan Deva.

Besides this issue, the sound performance on both the UA1 and the UA2 is quite pleasant and free of problems (based on my usage on my laptop).



Conclusion

I think that both the UA1 and UA2 offer an exceptional performance for the price. They are of great value and do their job.

I’m assuming that you want to know whether the UA2 is worth extra $40. To answer this question, you must make some things clear to yourself:

Do you need a balanced output? Do you care about and/or need a removable cable? Do you want a blacker background (lower noise floor)? Do you need the DSD512 and 32bit/768kHz decoding capability as opposed to the inferior DSD256 and 32bit/384kHz on the UA1? Do you need 125mW (3.5mm SE) and 195mW (2.5mm balanced) output power as opposed to UA1’s SE 85mW max. output power?

These are the questions you need to answer to yourself to pick one of these two. Both are excellent, but one is more versatile and powerful than the other.

As humans, we always want more. We want more even when we don’t need it. With this being said, if you are not using power-hungry or high-sensitivity headphones/IEMs, you will be happy with the UA1. However, if you want one or more of the benefits that the UA2 offers, you will not regret paying the extra 40 bucks. The flagship ES9038Q2M is the same DAC chip used in the EarMen’s $250 TR-Amp, which I also loved.

If you are looking for a small DAC/AMP that doesn't break the bank, I can recommend either of these two devices.



Explanation for the rating: I believe that both devices deserve a firm 4.0 rating. Lack of MQA and in-line controls support is not a turn-off for me, but considering that people will most likely use either of these devices on the go, lack of in-line controls negatively affected the rating by 0.5. While the UA1 had the recessed USB-C ports, I had to remove another 0.5 rating points for the UA2, resulting in a final 4.0 rating. The UA1 was also affected by the lack of in-line controls, but I couldn't give it a rating of 4.5 considering it's not compatible with iOS devices.