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DACs — Shanling UA5
Description, images, technical data and specifications
Shanling UA5
Image source — © Shanling
The Shanling UA5 combines a DAC and headphone amplifier in a USB dongle, released in May 2022 for use with Android and iOS phones as well as Windows and Mac computers. It sits in a metal body with a small screen and a rotary control, and adds a battery so it draws less power from the host device than a simple bus-powered dongle.
Key specs that matter
Two ESS ES9038Q2M chips handle conversion, followed by two Ricore amplifier chips. Supported formats reach 32 bit / 768 kHz PCM and DSD512, and the frequency response is 20 Hz to 50 kHz. Rated output is 137 mW into 32 ohms from the 3.5 mm single-ended jack and 211 mW into 32 ohms from the 4.4 mm balanced Pentaconn jack. Signal-to-noise ratio into 32 ohms is given as 120 dB single-ended and 122 dB balanced, and THD+N as 0.0005%, while dynamic range is 116 dB single-ended and 121 dB balanced. The body measures 68 x 27 x 13.5 mm and weighs 29 g.
Engineering and use context
The input is USB-C with USB 3.0 support, backward compatible with USB 2.0, and holding the knob while connecting switches the unit to UAC 1.0 mode for hosts that need it. Beyond the two headphone outputs, the single-ended socket can also carry an S/PDIF digital signal through a separate adapter. The internal 220 mAh battery does not switch the UA5 on by itself. It feeds the DAC and amplifier stages, and runtime is about 6 hours from the single-ended output and 3 hours from the balanced output, with charging taking about 30 minutes. Power mode can be set to USB only or to a hybrid mode that uses the battery, and charging can be turned off.
A 1 inch monochrome OLED screen and a multifunction rotary knob give access to all settings on the device itself, without a phone app. The menu covers high and low gain, channel balance, seven digital filters (including Hybrid, Apodizing and Brick wall), a choice between single and dual DAC chip operation, S/PDIF on or off, and screen timeout, brightness and rotation. A double press of the knob locks the volume. The housing is metal apart from the cap around the USB port, and the UA5 comes in black or red and ships with a double-ended USB-C lead plus a USB-A adapter. Drain on a connected phone battery is about 3% per hour of playback.
Pairing
The balanced output and gain switch suit demanding in-ear and full-size headphones, while low gain helps with sensitive IEMs.
Alternatives
The Shanling UA2 is a smaller USB DAC dongle from Shanling that uses one ES9038Q2M chip.
Key specs that matter
Two ESS ES9038Q2M chips handle conversion, followed by two Ricore amplifier chips. Supported formats reach 32 bit / 768 kHz PCM and DSD512, and the frequency response is 20 Hz to 50 kHz. Rated output is 137 mW into 32 ohms from the 3.5 mm single-ended jack and 211 mW into 32 ohms from the 4.4 mm balanced Pentaconn jack. Signal-to-noise ratio into 32 ohms is given as 120 dB single-ended and 122 dB balanced, and THD+N as 0.0005%, while dynamic range is 116 dB single-ended and 121 dB balanced. The body measures 68 x 27 x 13.5 mm and weighs 29 g.
Engineering and use context
The input is USB-C with USB 3.0 support, backward compatible with USB 2.0, and holding the knob while connecting switches the unit to UAC 1.0 mode for hosts that need it. Beyond the two headphone outputs, the single-ended socket can also carry an S/PDIF digital signal through a separate adapter. The internal 220 mAh battery does not switch the UA5 on by itself. It feeds the DAC and amplifier stages, and runtime is about 6 hours from the single-ended output and 3 hours from the balanced output, with charging taking about 30 minutes. Power mode can be set to USB only or to a hybrid mode that uses the battery, and charging can be turned off.
A 1 inch monochrome OLED screen and a multifunction rotary knob give access to all settings on the device itself, without a phone app. The menu covers high and low gain, channel balance, seven digital filters (including Hybrid, Apodizing and Brick wall), a choice between single and dual DAC chip operation, S/PDIF on or off, and screen timeout, brightness and rotation. A double press of the knob locks the volume. The housing is metal apart from the cap around the USB port, and the UA5 comes in black or red and ships with a double-ended USB-C lead plus a USB-A adapter. Drain on a connected phone battery is about 3% per hour of playback.
Pairing
The balanced output and gain switch suit demanding in-ear and full-size headphones, while low gain helps with sensitive IEMs.
Alternatives
The Shanling UA2 is a smaller USB DAC dongle from Shanling that uses one ES9038Q2M chip.
Specifications
Model name
UA5
Conversion type
N/A
Engine
ES9038Q2M
DSD compatability
Yes
Parameters
up to 32 bit / 768 kHZ and DSD512
Frequency response low +/- 3dB (Hz)
20
Frequency response high +/- 3dB (Hz)
50 000
Gain (dBu)
N/A
Output Level (balanced) (V)
2.6
Output Level (single-ended) (V)
2.1
Input Impedance (balanced) (Ω)
N/A
Input Impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
N/A
Output Impedance (balanced) (Ω)
N/A
Output Impedance (single-ended) (Ω)
N/A
Analog outputs
N/A
Signal to Noise Ratio (dB)
116 (balanced), 121 (single-ended)
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (% at 22 kHz)
0,0005
Dimensions (mm)
68 x 27 x 13.5
Weight (kg)
0.029
Official link
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