Shanling - Q1

Portable Digital Audio Player (DAP)

Sale price₹ 9,999 Regular priceMRP: ₹ 11,999
Discontinued
This product is permanently discontinued by the manufacturer and continues to live on in Headphone Zone's Museum.

Unfortunately, even if we desire to, we won't be able to resurrect this product. The Museum is where we pay our respects to end-of-life, old, archived, but not forgotten products. This page was made with a lot of love and will live on for posterity. What to say, we're sentimental people. 😔

While this product is gone forever, here are others we recommend

Customer Reviews

Based on 60 reviews
73%
(44)
18%
(11)
3%
(2)
3%
(2)
2%
(1)
N
Nafees (Bengaluru)
A Must Have for Audiophiles, the Best Budget DAP

IEM Used: LZ-A6 Mini with Magaosi TY-01 cable

Files played: FLAC(32bit/96 KHz), MP3(320 kbps)

Phone vs DAP:
This is my first DAP. Before this I was using UAPP/Poweramp on an Android phone(Redmi K20 Pro). Compared to the phone, audio from a DAP sounds much fuller and fleshed out. It may not be apparent at once, especially if one uses UAPP on Android. But over the duration of my listening session, I noticed various sounds which were not audible to me on a phone. Audio coming from a DAP sounds accurate while that from a phone sounds artificial.

Build Quality:
Q1 is built to last. Full zinc alloy body with metallic finish looks awesome, and feels sturdy in hand. It’s a really heavy device for its size. The only cons is that the physical buttons are very soft and can be pressed easily by accident.

Software:
Q1 uses a custom OS(MTouch 3.0) based on Linux. It can be updated from the Shanling website. One can access My Files, Settings, Equalizer, My Music, etc from the main menu. Navigation is intuitive and very comfortable. There is also an Equalizer with 10 bands and 8 presets(+3 custom presets). The only cons is lack of search option in My Music, but I guess it’s the same with most DAPS in the market.

Audio Quality(without Equalizer):
I paired it with LZ-A6 Mini. The audio signature is neutral and flat. Background is black. There is no noise/hiss. Whatever sound signature one gets will be based entirely on the signature of the IEM one uses.

The bass is very good and controlled. There is no bleeding. Mid bass is good and tight.
The midrange is also great. Vocals sound full and rich. Instruments sound precise.
Treble is extended and sounds transparent. Decay is fast. Treble performance depends much on the IEMS used.

Sound stage is awesome. Its wide and also has a lot of depth. Instrument positioning is accurate. Paired with a good IEM its sure to give one a 3D effect, placing the listener right in the center of recording room.

One can get really awesome sound quality when playing MP3 files, but FLAC is where Q1 really shines. One can hear the intricate details in a music not heard while playing the same FLAC file on a phone/PC.

External DAC:
Q1 can also be used as a DAC. Previously I had never used a DAC before, so when I connected the Q1 to my PC in DAC mode and listened to the audio, my mind was blown! Audio sounds MUCH better from a PC when using a DAC. Even if one doesn’t buy a DAP, but uses a PC for audio purposes, one must at least get a DAC.

Wireless:
Q1 supports 2-way audio through Bluetooth and can play files with aptX or LDAC which is awesome. Even though wireless audio is no match for wired, still, when required Q1 gives the best available in wireless audio.

Pros:
Build quality, Audio quality, external DAC, 2way BT with aptX & LDAC, 2TB sd card support

Cons:
Buttons easy to press accidently, No search in My Music

Should you but it?
If you call yourself an audiophile, but still listen to music on a phone/PC, hell yeah! Just go ahead and order it!
But if you are not an audiophile and haven’t heard about FLACs, stay away.

Hey Nafees, thank you so much for sharing such an elaborate and well written review with us. This will definitely help a lot of customers to make an informed decision.

S
Sanjay Vijayan (Ernakulam)
Awesome

I have just been using it for a day now... but all I can say is that it has surpassed all my expectations. I would recommend it to anyone. Absolutely superb.

We are incredibly grateful that you took the time out to leave us this note. We look forward to serving you again.

N
Nafees (Bengaluru)
A Must Have for Audiophiles, the Best Budget DAP

IEM Used: LZ-A6 Mini with Magaosi TY-01 cable
Files played: FLAC(32bit/96 KHz), MP3(320 kbps)

Phone vs DAP:

This is my first DAP. Before this I was using UAPP/Poweramp on an Android phone(Redmi K20 Pro). Compared to the phone, audio from a DAP sounds much fuller and fleshed out. It may not be apparent at once, especially if one uses UAPP on Android. But over the duration of my listening session, I noticed various sounds which were not audible to me on a phone. Audio coming from a DAP sounds accurate while that from a phone sounds artificial.

Build Quality:

Q1 is built to last. Full zinc alloy body with metallic finish looks awesome, and feels sturdy in hand. It’s a really heavy device for its size. The only cons is that the physical buttons are very soft and can be pressed easily by accident.

Software:

Q1 uses a custom OS(MTouch 3.0) based on Linux. It can be updated from the Shanling website. One can access My Files, Settings, Equalizer, My Music, etc from the main menu. Navigation is intuitive and very comfortable. There is also an Equalizer with 10 bands and 8 presets(+3 custom presets). The only cons is lack of search option in My Music, but I guess it’s the same with most DAPS in the market.

Audio Quality(without Equalizer):

I paired it with LZ-A6 Mini. The audio signature is neutral and flat. Background is black. There is no noise/hiss. Whatever sound signature one gets will be based entirely on the signature of the IEM one uses.

The bass is very good and controlled. There is no bleeding. Mid bass is good and tight.
The midrange is also great. Vocals sound full and rich. Instruments sound precise.
Treble is extended and sounds transparent. Decay is fast. Treble performance depends much on the IEMS used.

Sound stage is awesome. Its wide and also has a lot of depth. Instrument positioning is accurate. Paired with a good IEM its sure to give one a 3D effect, placing the listener right in the center of recording room.

One can get really awesome sound quality when playing MP3 files, but FLAC is where Q1 really shines. One can hear the intricate details in a music not heard while playing the same FLAC file on a phone/PC.

External DAC:

Q1 can also be used as a DAC. Previously I had never used a DAC before, so when I connected the Q1 to my PC in DAC mode and listened to the audio, my mind was blown! Audio sounds MUCH better from a PC when using a DAC. Even if one doesn’t buy a DAP, but uses a PC for audio purposes, one must at least get a DAC.

Wireless:
Q1 supports 2-way audio through Bluetooth and can play files with aptX or LDAC which is awesome. Even though wireless audio is no match for wired, still, when required Q1 gives the best available in wireless audio.

Pros:

Build quality, Audio quality, external DAC, 2way BT with aptX & LDAC, 2TB sd card support

Cons:

Buttons easy to press accidently, No search in My Music

Should you but it?

If you call yourself an audiophile, but still listen to music on a phone/PC, hell yeah! Just go ahead and order it!
But if you are not an audiophile and haven’t heard about FLACs, stay away.

Thnx for reading till the end! :)

We are incredibly grateful that you took the time out to leave us this note. We look forward to serving you again.

S
Shameer Mohamed (Karaikal)
Design and Comfort:
Great
Poor
Sound Quality:
Awesome
Awful
Value for Money:
Bang On!
Not at all
It's more than a DAP

Update : There is a problem in playing ALAC files , this system hangs and I have to restart it....hope they Shanling can sort out this issue soon in future software upgrade
:( , Time being am Cutting 1 star

First thanks to Abhishek, he cleared my doubt that this is not an update to shanling UA2 , it's for convenience, no review said this :)
Then why I buy this?! :) Wait

1.Support upto 2 TB , my music library is really big and so am not able maintain free space in my OnePlus 7 , 128gb
(bought 256 gb samsung sd card, Q1 don't have internal memory)

2. Type C charging and also I can connect my shanling UA2 (have to enable DAC option)

3. SyncLink - this is the important feature I bought this, you can control this Q1 from your phone by installing SHANLING MUSIC APP in your phone , for this you have to enable bluetooth & SyncLink options in wireless setting
In this mode it's working in LDAC codec, what else you want :)
Intially I planned to buy a BT DAC for my presonus Eris 3.5, but cuz of SyncLink Q1 feature I shifted my focus from TOPPING TC3 DAC (6K) , now am using Q1 as BT DAC as well as my DAP, charge last for 15+ hrs fro my usage

4. Can pair your bluetooth headphones , but there is a slight disadvantage in this option it supports aptx only not aptx HD , so if have a LDAC supported BT earphone it's well and good , according to me this is the only con, am having OnePlus bullets 2 which won't support LDAC

Apart from all these utilities the sound quality also good infact very good it's clean and detailed, it's sounds better than my 10 yr old ipod classic , you can also use DIGITAL FILTERS, but to be honest am not able find the difference between the presets filters :)
It's sound signature is NEUTRAL AND BALANCED, DETAILED

Iems checked - fiio fd1 , tripowin tc 01, moondrop ssr , Blon 03

moondrop drop ssr - I activated HIGH GAIN option, seriously it requires more power and the volume level is 75 to 80 - but the sound is just great

Fiio FD1 - it's sounds very balanced , even though I tried to increase the Bass :) same for blon 03 and tripowin

Only con is the UI handling, but you may used to that in 2,3 days :)

My thoughts : if u have large HI-RES library and you don't have enough money to buy DAC enabled flagship mobile :) and you can use this also as BT DAC as well as pair your BT earphones
jus go 4 this blindly

R
R.R. (Bengaluru)
Good entry level DAP, software leaves much to be desired

Pros: Super portable, feels high quality. Love the always-on album art display on a square screen and sleep function. Comes with a matching case and screen guard. The supplied USB cable is good quality braided cable. Sound quality with good earbuds is nice. EQ works well and is recommended to enhance the sound.

Cons: Software is not that great, but that's the case with most of the DAPs out there. No bookmark function for audiobooks/podcasts and managing playlists is pain and buttons are too sensitive.

Overall a good value for money

Great service by Headphone zone, got it in 2 days despite the lockdowns.

Going with 4 stars due to poor software

Hi Rishul, We appreciate your feedback and we are always happy to take suggestions from our followers. We are grateful for the time that you took to write such a detailed review!


Chi-Fi
Excellence

6 Months of
Warranty

Best Suited for Portable Use

Bluetooth with
LDAC, aptX & AAC

DAC Chip
You may not even realise it, but most of us use a digital-to-analogue converter (commonly known as a DAC) daily. Built into your computers, tablets and smartphones, a DAC is fundamental to unlocking the convenience of digital music. Any device that acts as a digital sound source will need a DAC to convert digital audio to analog. A DAC converts the digital information stored in “0s and 1s” into an analog signal that's passed to speakers or headphones and ultimately our ear. In short, DACs play a large part in making digital music hearable. 

While this technical process is undoubtedly impressive, the DAC embedded into your smartphones or laptops is nowhere good enough to listen to your favourite music recordings in high quality. So, if you want to listen to music in high quality, an external DAC is essential to allow headphones or speakers to perform at their potential. An external DAC, first and foremost, will improve audio quality dramatically.

80mW @ 32Ω
Power Output

2TB External
Storage

Battery Capacity of
1100 mAh

Super Lightweight
Design

The handy, sturdy, and portable build make the Q1 a fantastic to-go DAP for any beginner audiophile. It delivers Shanling's signature sound, with some colour making for a great on-the-go listening experience.
RAGHAV SOMANI

About RAGHAV SOMANI

Raghav Somani is the Founder & CEO of Headphone Zone. An avid audiophile and musician since 2008, his choice of headphones include STAX Electrostats, Audeze LCD 3, and for music on the go, the JH Audio Roxanne + Astell&Kern SP1000 is never too far away. On his playlist, you'll find A.R. Rahman, Michael Jackson, and the Eagles.

BRINGING THE RETRO MUSIC PLAYER BACK

The design of the Shanling Q1 is inspired by the retro look of the 1950s. This stylish retro design includes smooth curved edges and distinct chrome finishes. With their uniquely coloured shells, these are sure to stand out. The ESS Sabre ES9218P Hi-Fi DAC/AMP offers a premium and powerful sound output, blending style & great sound together.

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Headphone-Zone-Shanling-Q1
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PORTABLE. POWERFUL. PREMIUM PLAYER.

The Shanling Q1 is a small & lightweight music player that fits comfortably in your pocket. It comes with a 7H tempered glass and zinc alloy unibody for added durability. The classic analogue volume wheel makes controlling your music very seamless.


21 HOURS OF MUSIC PLAYBACK WITH A HIGHLY OPTIMISED OS

The Q1 houses Shanling's MTouch OS with a user-friendly and feature-rich 2.7-inch touch interface. This is a 3rd gen OS that comes with regularly updated features. The power-efficient design allows this player to last up to 21 hours of continuous playback.

Q1

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DOUBLES-UP AS A USB DAC WITH UP TO 2TB OF CARD SUPPORT

Enjoy high-quality sound with a wide range of file formats (including DSD128). You can expand the memory with an external memory card of up to 2TB. You can also use it as a Bluetooth receiver/ transmitter or USB sound card.

Q1

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Headphone-Zone-Shanling-Q1
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CONTROL EVERYTHING FROM YOUR PHONE USING THE SYNCLINK APP

Use your Android smartphone or tablet as a high-end remote with SyncLink. It lets you control your Shanling Q1 without the hassle of wires.

NOTE: To use the SyncLink function, you need to install the Shanling Music app that's available as a .apk file in the zip file with the firmware update.

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6 Months Warranty

Don't sweat it, this Shanling - Q1 comes with a 6 Months warranty from Shanling that covers manufacturing defects. All products featured on Headphone Zone are backed by an original manufacturer's warranty.

Read more about Shanling's warranty in India.

Setting the Standard for Audio Excellence Since 1988

Founded in 1988 in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, Shanling has been a key player in the audio industry for over 30 years. Specializing in audio products, it gained recognition for its Hi-Fi stereo amplifier and expanded into Hi-Res portable music players, amplifiers, headphones, DACs, and more. Committed to innovation and integrity, Shanling incorporates patented technologies like SONY LDAC, Hi-Res from the Japanese Audio Association, and others, ensuring top-notch product quality. Renowned for its dedication, Shanling has become a trusted name in the industry, prioritizing customer satisfaction.

Over the years, Shanling has maintained strong relationships with high-end manufacturers, solidifying its position as one of the most respected companies in the audio industry. The spirit of innovation and dedication to quality continues to drive Shanling as it evolves and expands its range of audio products, catering to the needs of audio enthusiasts worldwide.

Explore Collection
IGN Awards

Portable music player

VGP Awards
Dec, 2019

Headfonics

"The Q1 is feature-packed at any price. I love the Q1’s big buttons, easy to use GUI and hardware interface, nice screen, solid body, and quality sound."

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Stuff

"There’s a whiff of 6th-gen iPod nano about Shanling Q1, but sorry, Jony Ive, Apple’s tiny portable music player never looked this cool." "

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Head-Fi

"Its few flaws in UI and haptics aside, the Q1 is the best DAP I’ve reviewed in recent memory. And, while it lacks a unique sound signature, it sounds great."

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Twister6

"Q1 takes M0 to a new level - bigger and more user-friendly screen, playback buttons, easier to grip volume wheel, longer battery, and improvements in sound."

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Prime-Audio

"There is no doubt that the Shanling Q1 is a fantastic little DAP and in my opinion, is now the best value entry-level player on the market. The build quality of this device is outstanding."

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Medium-Media

"So the Q1 is a cheap, excellent-sounding and adaptable DAP for the modern age. If people are looking to get into playing their music off a DAP but don’t want to spend money on more."

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