Shanling - UA5
Portable Balanced DAC & AmpUnfortunately, 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
This product is rated 5.0 of 5.0 stars.
It has received 1 review.
Chi-Fi
Excellence
Ideal for Audiophiles
Best Suited for Portable Use
4.4mm
Balanced Output
ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M
Dual DAC Chip
Pair with Laptop via USB
A majority of people use a laptop as the primary source device to listen to music or watch movies. Since the laptop is an essential part of the audio chain there are headphones and devices designed to work a laptop or computer system flawlessly. With the availability of USB connectivity, it becomes easier to pair various devices like an Amp, DAC or even headphones without worrying about drivers or any additional piece of software.
211mW @ 32Ω
Power Output
Battery Life
Battery Capacity of
200 mAh
Metal
Build
Volume Controls
The Shanling UA5 is a great example that shows how far USB DAC & Amps in the form of dongles have come in the past few years. UA5 has a solid build and features an OLED screen, volume wheel and a built-in battery that works great, especially on the go. The sound is a big step up from the cheaper dongles, and it can drive demanding headphones.
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.
DESCRIPTION
EMBEDDED WITH DUAL ESS SABRE DAC CHIP AND DUAL RICORE AMPLIFICATION CHIPS
Shanling is well known in the Hi-Fi audio world to introduce and present high-quality devices with innovative features and forward-thinking approaches. The latest UA5 also follows the same suit and embeds two high-performance ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M DAC chips. The ES9038Q2M is a 32-bit stereo DAC that demonstrates unprecedented performance in decoding high-resolution audio sources up to 32bit / 768khz PCM and DSD512 natively. The UA5 has two DAC chips, one for each channel, creating a perfectly balanced architecture. The Shanling UA5 also features two Ricore RE6863 amplifier chips. It is arranged in a balanced design with the DAC chip. The Ricore amplifier produces powerful output thrust, allowing the UA5 to output a clean and powerful driving force. The maximum rated output of the UA5 is 211mW @ 32Ω (balanced port). The UA5 offers high-resolution signal decoding with ultra-low distortion and high SNR ratings. This also delivers a ultra-low noise output for supreme clarity.
DUAL OPERATING MODES WITH FULL USB POWER AND HYBRID BATTERY POWER MODE
Shanling has the know-how to design HiFi audio gear. Over the years, they have done extensive research and development to develop the highest performance audio gear. Taking advantage of that experience, the UA5 is designed as the world's first USB Type-C DAC and Amp with a built-in 200mAh battery with 6 hours of battery life. The unit can operate in two different modes: USB full power and hybrid battery mode. In hybrid mode, the Dual DAC and Dual Amplifier get clean power from the built-in battery. When Hybrid Battery Power mode is enabled, certain sections of UA5 will still be running on USB power, like USB Controller and FPGA. But the crucial parts of the DAC and amplifier will instead use cleaner power from the battery.
BALANCED AND SINGLE-ENDED CONNECTIONS FOR DRIVING YOUR FAVOURITE HEADPHONES
The Shanling UA5 offers both single-ended and balanced headphone output jacks. You can connect your choice of headphones or in-ear monitors to the UA5 with a 3.5mm single-ended or 4.4mm balanced jack cable. In addition, SPDIF digital output is also possible from the 3.5mm terminal. UA5 has a rated output power rating of up to 137mW @ 32 Ohm SE // 211mW @ 32 Ohm Balanced, more than enough to power your headphones with ease. Doesn’t matter whether you need a balanced 4.4mm connection or a single-ended 3.5mm headphone output port, Shanling has equipped the UA5 with them. Pair your headphones or earphones with your choice of termination option.
THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED WITH SUPPORT FOR MULTIPLE DEVICES AND OPERATING SYSTEMS
The design of the Shanling UA5 is compact, allowing it to slip easily into a pocket. It is equipped with a monochrome organic EL 1.44" OLED screen displaying various settings of the device and USB-C for connecting devices. A wheel placed on the edge of the UA5 allows it to adjust the volume level, also serving as menu navigation. This is a welcome feature for a portable device like the UA5. Shanling UA5 is built with a rich anodised finish. UA5 can be selected in two types of colour variations, red and black. The Shanling UA5 offers both UAC 2.0 and UAC 1.0 modes to offer compatibility with multiple devices such as Windows, MAC, iOS and Android devices. It can also be connected to Nintendo Switch game consoles. A lightning cable is needed for use with iOS. UAC2.0 and UAC1.0 mode compatible, for use with a Nintendo Switch and other gaming systems or older devices.
SPECS
DAC | Two ESS ES9038Q2M |
AMPLIFICATION CHIP | Two Ricore RE6863 |
DIGITAL FILTERS | User selectable from 7 options |
BATTERY | 220mAh |
BATTERY LIFE | 6 hours 3.5mm output,
3 hours 4.4mm output |
MICROPHONE PASS-THROUGH | Not supported |
DIMENSIONS | 68 x 27 x 13.5mm |
WEIGHT | 29g |
SUPPORTS UPTO | 24bit / 192kHz |
TRRS | 3.5mm TRRS standard |
OUTPUT POWER | 2.1V @32Ω (137mW) |
FREQUENCY RESPONSE | 20Hz - 50kHz (-0.5dB) |
THD+N | 0.0005%@32Ω (A-Weighted@ 1V) |
DYNAMIC RANGE | 122dB@32Ω (A-Weighted) |
CHANNEL SEPARATION | 77dB@32Ω |
SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO | 121dB@32Ω (A-Weighted) |
OUTPUT IMPEDANCE | 0.8Ω |
OUTPUT POWER | 2.6V @32Ω (211mW) |
FREQUENCY RESPONSE | 20Hz - 50kHz (-0.5dB) |
THD+N | 0.0005%@32Ω (A-Weighted@ 1V) |
DYNAMIC RANGE | 120dB@32Ω (A-Weighted) |
CHANNEL SEPARATION | 110dB@32Ω |
SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO | 116dB@32Ω (A-Weighted) |
OUTPUT IMPEDANCE | 1.6Ω |
BOX CONTENTS | 1. Shanling UA5 |
2. USB-C to USB-C Cable |
EMBEDDED WITH DUAL ESS SABRE DAC CHIP AND DUAL RICORE AMPLIFICATION CHIPS
Shanling is well known in the Hi-Fi audio world to introduce and present high-quality devices with innovative features and forward-thinking approaches. The latest UA5 also follows the same suit and embeds two high-performance ESS Sabre ES9038Q2M DAC chips. The ES9038Q2M is a 32-bit stereo DAC that demonstrates unprecedented performance in decoding high-resolution audio sources up to 32bit / 768khz PCM and DSD512 natively. The UA5 has two DAC chips, one for each channel, creating a perfectly balanced architecture. The Shanling UA5 also features two Ricore RE6863 amplifier chips. It is arranged in a balanced design with the DAC chip. The Ricore amplifier produces powerful output thrust, allowing the UA5 to output a clean and powerful driving force. The maximum rated output of the UA5 is 211mW @ 32Ω (balanced port). The UA5 offers high-resolution signal decoding with ultra-low distortion and high SNR ratings. This also delivers a ultra-low noise output for supreme clarity.
DUAL OPERATING MODES WITH FULL USB POWER AND HYBRID BATTERY POWER MODE
Shanling has the know-how to design HiFi audio gear. Over the years, they have done extensive research and development to develop the highest performance audio gear. Taking advantage of that experience, the UA5 is designed as the world's first USB Type-C DAC and Amp with a built-in 200mAh battery with 6 hours of battery life. The unit can operate in two different modes: USB full power and hybrid battery mode. In hybrid mode, the Dual DAC and Dual Amplifier get clean power from the built-in battery. When Hybrid Battery Power mode is enabled, certain sections of UA5 will still be running on USB power, like USB Controller and FPGA. But the crucial parts of the DAC and amplifier will instead use cleaner power from the battery.
BALANCED AND SINGLE-ENDED CONNECTIONS FOR DRIVING YOUR FAVOURITE HEADPHONES
The Shanling UA5 offers both single-ended and balanced headphone output jacks. You can connect your choice of headphones or in-ear monitors to the UA5 with a 3.5mm single-ended or 4.4mm balanced jack cable. In addition, SPDIF digital output is also possible from the 3.5mm terminal. UA5 has a rated output power rating of up to 137mW @ 32 Ohm SE // 211mW @ 32 Ohm Balanced, more than enough to power your headphones with ease. Doesn’t matter whether you need a balanced 4.4mm connection or a single-ended 3.5mm headphone output port, Shanling has equipped the UA5 with them. Pair your headphones or earphones with your choice of termination option.
THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED WITH SUPPORT FOR MULTIPLE DEVICES AND OPERATING SYSTEMS
The design of the Shanling UA5 is compact, allowing it to slip easily into a pocket. It is equipped with a monochrome organic EL 1.44" OLED screen displaying various settings of the device and USB-C for connecting devices. A wheel placed on the edge of the UA5 allows it to adjust the volume level, also serving as menu navigation. This is a welcome feature for a portable device like the UA5. Shanling UA5 is built with a rich anodised finish. UA5 can be selected in two types of colour variations, red and black. The Shanling UA5 offers both UAC 2.0 and UAC 1.0 modes to offer compatibility with multiple devices such as Windows, MAC, iOS and Android devices. It can also be connected to Nintendo Switch game consoles. A lightning cable is needed for use with iOS. UAC2.0 and UAC1.0 mode compatible, for use with a Nintendo Switch and other gaming systems or older devices.
DAC | Two ESS ES9038Q2M |
AMPLIFICATION CHIP | Two Ricore RE6863 |
DIGITAL FILTERS | User selectable from 7 options |
BATTERY | 220mAh |
BATTERY LIFE | 6 hours 3.5mm output,
3 hours 4.4mm output |
MICROPHONE PASS-THROUGH | Not supported |
DIMENSIONS | 68 x 27 x 13.5mm |
WEIGHT | 29g |
SUPPORTS UPTO | 24bit / 192kHz |
TRRS | 3.5mm TRRS standard |
OUTPUT POWER | 2.1V @32Ω (137mW) |
FREQUENCY RESPONSE | 20Hz - 50kHz (-0.5dB) |
THD+N | 0.0005%@32Ω (A-Weighted@ 1V) |
DYNAMIC RANGE | 122dB@32Ω (A-Weighted) |
CHANNEL SEPARATION | 77dB@32Ω |
SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO | 121dB@32Ω (A-Weighted) |
OUTPUT IMPEDANCE | 0.8Ω |
OUTPUT POWER | 2.6V @32Ω (211mW) |
FREQUENCY RESPONSE | 20Hz - 50kHz (-0.5dB) |
THD+N | 0.0005%@32Ω (A-Weighted@ 1V) |
DYNAMIC RANGE | 120dB@32Ω (A-Weighted) |
CHANNEL SEPARATION | 110dB@32Ω |
SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO | 116dB@32Ω (A-Weighted) |
OUTPUT IMPEDANCE | 1.6Ω |
BOX CONTENTS | 1. Shanling UA5 |
2. USB-C to USB-C Cable |
Don't sweat it, this
Shanling - UA5 comes with a 1 Year 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.
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