DACs — Shanling UA6

The UA6 is a pocket DAC with a built-in headphone amp, part of the UA line from Shanling of Shenzhen, China, released at 159 USD in black, silver or titanium finishes. It uses a quad-DAC layout and a small built-in battery, and it connects to the host device through a single USB-C connector.

Key specs that matter

Four Cirrus Logic CS43131 chips perform the conversion, and the user can switch between a dual-DAC and a quad-DAC mode. Playback covers PCM up to 32-bit and 768 kHz and native DSD512, and the response runs from 20 Hz to 40,000 Hz within 0.5 dB. The 3.5 mm single-ended output gives 31 mW into 32 ohm in low gain and 112 mW in high gain, while the 4.4 mm balanced output gives 101 mW and 361 mW into the same load. Signal-to-noise ratio is 127 dB single-ended and 132 dB balanced, THD+N is 0.00025% and 0.0006%, dynamic range reaches 128 dB and 133 dB, and output impedance is 0.6 ohm and 1.2 ohm. Channel separation is 68 dB on the 3.5 mm socket and 129 dB on the 4.4 mm socket. The aluminium body measures 68 x 33.5 x 13.6 mm and weighs 35 g.

Engineering and use context

A 220 mAh battery works with the Hybrid Power Supply System 2.0, which combines USB and battery power. Shanling also specifies an ultra-low noise, high current power supply. A colour LCD shows the volume and settings, and a separate status light changes colour with the sampling rate, from blue for 32 to 48 kHz through to red for DSD64 to DSD256. Three buttons handle control. The multifunction button plays or pauses, turns the screen off with a double press and opens the menu with a two second press. The menu offers low and high gain, five PCM filters, four key modes for the up and down buttons, left and right balance, brightness, a screensaver delay, eight fonts, screen rotation in 90 degree steps and a coaxial S/PDIF output mode. Holding the multifunction button for 10 seconds restores the factory defaults.

Pairing

With Android 7 or later, Windows 10 and macOS the UA6 needs no drivers, while Windows XP, 7 and 8 require Shanling's USB driver. Game consoles and older Android devices need the basic UAC 1.0 mode, selected as Switch Mode in the menu. iOS devices need a USB-C to Lightning cable. On Android the Eddict Player app opens further settings. The box holds a Type-C to Type-C lead plus an adapter for USB-A ports.

Alternatives

Shanling's UA6 II is a dongle DAC in the same UA line, using eight Cirrus Logic CS43131 chips.