Sound performance
For the purpose of this review, I used the Beyerdynamic DT900 Pro X, the Meze 109 Pro, and the all-new Dekoni x Hifiman Cobalt.
For the source, I used my phone and computer, and all files were streamed from Spotify and Apple Music, in Hi-Res when available, or my own catalog.
Overall signature
So, does the Shanling H2 sound as good as it looks? Long story short, yes! There’s no surprise here and the brand apply the exact same formule they did on the H5: shrink the previous model, keep the same sound signature and put everything on the balanced output.
In terms of power, while the 4.4mm output remains the best option for extracting the utmost performance from the H2, the classic TRS output surprises with its robust and powerful lows, even at low gain and volume settings. When paired with the Beyerdynamic DT900 Pro X, the DAC delivered clean lows, almost to the same extent as its predecessor, allowing the headphones to exhibit a full-bodied sound that brings out the best in both the lows and mids.
And if not as potent as the H5 could be, the H2 really feels like a shoehorned version – even more if you take account of the price. It doesn’t sound half as bad, far from it, and if you were to compare it with the Hip-DAC – the logical alternative – I’d lean toward the Shanling 90% of the time thanks to its linear signature. In addition to that, the three levels of gain (low/mid/high) ensured a versatility that the iFi couldn’t match, especially with power-hungry headset
For those, the high settings, paired with the 4.4mm Pentaconn output, proved to be exceptionally useful, offering a balanced and rich sound, but without sacrificing dynamic range. And, as I delve deeper into its sound profile over weeks of listening, the Shanling H2 stands tall, outperforming the iFi by a good margin, and even competing with the H5 on some tracks.
When paired with top-tier headphones such as the Meze 109 Pro, the results were also superb, offering a listening experience that is both immersive and deeply satisfying, delivering a sound profile that is both rich and detailed. And, whether the source is Bluetooth, USB, or direct storage, the H2 delivers a good/cohesive performance and never give any harmful coloration to the final rendering.
On the long run, despite its smaller soundstage and reduced power, it still managed to deliver a sound quality that stands toe-to-toe with more prestigious offering, like FiiO did with its ever-evolving range of dongle DAC. There is still a room of improvements here and there – better dynamics overall, better mid-low control – but for that you have… the Shanling H5! And even paired with high-end headphones like my Audeze the result were surprisingly potent, and that more than once.
One last note: yes you could drive big planars like Audeze, or power-hungry IEMs’ like the Svanar with the Shanling H2, but bear in mind that like the FiiO KA17, it’s still a portable DAC/Amp that can’t output more than 680mW – a number that sound light today, but was peak not too long ago.
But, all in all, if you balance the sheet, there’s no real flaw with the Shanling H2 and for just $169, this is one, if not the best portable DAC/Amp available on the market right this moment!
Tonality
Highs: gorgeous, once again. Shanling is just flexing here, and the H2 outputs a superb upper range, doing wonders once paired with a good headset like the Beyer. It’s always on point, accurate, and, even at low volume, the DAC was able to output a lot of information, pretty much like its predecessor. Amazing!
Mids: fast transients, surprisingly wide soundstage. Voices have always been good on Shanling devices, and the the H2 follows the same path. This is especially true with dynamic headphones like the DT900 Pro-X or the Meze 109 Pro, who love its finesse and precision. Add to that a great soundstage, and it’s a banger.
Lows: deep and punchy. The SGM amps are lovely but, truth be told, I still prefer the THX-AAA which go even deeper in this sonic range. While I was listening at Brunt from Dense&Pika, the H2 achieved an impeccable performance, but didn’t reach the level of awesomeness I heard on the the H7 in that regard. Still, for the price and, objectively, this is an awesome amp.
Tracks : Way down we go – Kaleo
Noise and power
Noise: nothing to say, it’s dead silent, and my hypersensitive Onkyo could not spot anything, even with Bluetooth turned on. Of course, the higher the gain, the higher the noise, but I couldn’t discern more than a faint, faint, breeze when put in turbo mode. EMI shielding did a great job and I never encountered any parasites or any real buzz during my listening.
Power: Shanling offers three different levels of gain for its DAC/Amp. If low wasn’t powerful enough to really drive my DT900 Pro-X, the mid-level was the one I used for 90% of my headphones, even with the Audeze LCD-X. Obviously, if you want to drive cans like Sennheiser flagship, you can raise to high, or go balanced.
Conclusion
For $169, the Shanling H2 is – surprise surprise – a no-brainer: powerful, versatile, perfectly built, this DAC/AMP is a perfect addition to the brand’s line-up. A shoehorned version of the H5, lighter, shorter and, quite honestly, one that push the design to its upper limit, becoming my favorite DAC/Amp, visually speaking.
Pair it with a good set of headphones (Meze or Beyer) or some nice IEMs (like the FiiO FF5 or the lovely S12 Pro) and you’ll be set up for years! A no-brainer, outperforming almost every DAC/Amp available in the sub-$200 at the time of writing, giving you the perfect setup on a go!
So yes, this DAC/AMP goes directly in our recommendation list, and if you’re out for a high-end amp, for mid-end prices, you should definitely try this one first, or at least add it to your list.
Summary
Pros
- Great sound thanks to the Cirrus-Logic + SGM combo
- Excellent versatility on the go or on site
- the micro-SD feature is awesome, if you want to carry a backup catalog “offline”
- excellent quality/price ratio
- surprisingly good Bluetooth performances
Cons
- moderate battery life and no USB-PD
- no RCA line-out or Optical input
