Shanling EH1 Review

We’re taking a look at the $229 USD Shanling EH1 compact desktop DAC/AMP in this two-page article.

 

Disclaimer: Shanling provided the EH1 in exchange for our honest review. We thank them for the opportunity.

Shanling

Shanling has been in the high-fidelity audio business since 1988, so they are veterans with over thirty years of experience. Their portfolio spans everything from classic home hi-fi systems to modern portable devices like DAPs, DAC/AMPs, headphones, and earphones.

I’ve reviewed many Shanling products on Headfonia, and you can check out those articles through this link to explore more. Today, we are looking at the first member of their new desktop line-up, the EH series.

Shanling EH1 – Compact Desktop DAC/AMP

The EH series represents Shanling’s new line of desktop DAC/AMPs. The EH1 is positioned as the budget-friendly option in this line-up, especially when compared to its R2R-designed sibling, the EH2, which costs nearly twice as much. In this model, Shanling has included a single Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC and two SGM8262 headphone amplifier modules. Shanling has used an assortment of capacitors from Sanyou, Panasonic, and Silmic, which were carefully selected to achieve Shanling’s beloved house tuning. Each one is rated at 47 microfarads; the EH1 uses seventeen capacitors in total. The unit can be powered directly from a USB port or via a dedicated DC power supply, with output power varying slightly depending on the power source chosen. Another highlight of the unit is the convenient bass and treble tone controls on the front panel.

The EH1 retails for 229 USD on Shanling’s webshop and official Aliexpress store. Here are the specifications and highlights below.

  • Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC + Dual SGM8262 with x17 HQ Caps
  • Bass & Treble Hardware Tone Controls
  • 6.35mm: 250mW~399mW@32Ω | 4.4mm: 980mW~1015mW@32Ω
  • Output Impedance: 6.35mm – 0.4Ω | 4.4mm – 0.8Ω
  • UAC 1.0 / 2.0 Modes + DC 5V
  • 32-bit 768kHz & DSD512
  • PRE+LO RCA & Coaxial Output
  • USB-C Input
  • Machined Aluminum Curved Chassis with Anodized Finish
  • Available in Silver and Black

Packaging & Accessories

The EH1 arrives in a plain cardboard box with its outline featured on the front. There is no outer sleeve or anything like that, just simple essential packaging. The unit is securely held inside the box by four thick foam walls to protect it from transport damage.

Inside the box, Shanling provides a 1.5m USB-A to USB-C cable, a 1.5m USB-A to 5V DC cable for use with 5V/2A USB-A chargers, and a gold-plated 6.35mm to 3.5mm adapter. A user manual and a Shanling product booklet are also included. The USB cables are not braided and look rather basic, but the addition of a USB-to-5V adapter is useful.

Sound Impressions – Shanling EH1

In this section, I’m reviewing the EH1 on its default settings with the tone controls deactivated. I used my 64 Audio Volür along with several other daily drivers to assess its performance, and I’ll cover the effects of the tone controls in a separate chapter.

The EH1 can be labeled as a neutral-warm DAC with tone controls that let you tweak the signature quickly. With everything set to default, the sound is relatively balanced, with a slightly elevated mid-bass region and a conservatively tuned treble. Despite being a supersized, beefed-up dongle based on the 43198 chip, it does not offer the typical flat/dry Cirrus Logic presentation. In fact, I noticed that while the Alpha also had an organic tonality with good depth using the same chipset, the EH1 offers better separation and detail retrieval. On the downside, its staging can feel a bit hollow and linear, which means the overall depth isn’t as impressive as I’d desired.

The tonal balance of the EH1 is quite good. The delicate and smooth treble response pairs nicely with the meatier mid-bass, and the richer than neutral mid-bass can be a boon for genres like EDM, R&B, and hip-hop, though it might work against more congestion-prone genres such as metal or alternative rock. I did observe that the depth perception improved when I supplied power through the 12V adapter. However, I couldn’t achieve as clean a background on DC power as I did on USB, which makes me think that using the EH1 with just any adapter isn’t the best idea despite the manual. While a dedicated power supply like iFi’s iPower might further enhance its performance, it would push the total budget to around 350 USD and open the door to other, more capable devices, so there is no point going that route as well.

 

The article continues with the part on sound on the next page. Click here or use the buttons below.

Page 1: Shanling, EH1, Packaging & Accessories, Sound Quality & Impressions

Page 2: Design & Build Quality, Controls, vs. Hiby FD5, Last Words, Summary

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Long time Tech Enthusiast, an ambitious petrol-head, Yagiz likes his gadgets and always finds new ways into the tinkerer's world. He tries to improve anything and everything he gets his hands onto.

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