Sound performance
For the purpose of this review, I used the Beyerdynamic DT900 Pro X, the FiiO FF5, and the lovely Letshuoer S12Pro. All files were streamed from Spotify and Apple Music, in Hi-Res when available, and my own catalog when I’m home via Plex or Roon.
Overall signature
So, how does Shanling’s latest USB-DAC fare compared to its older brother? Quite well, actually.
First of all, the new UA1 Plus is many times more powerful than the previous one. If the first model had trouble powering the Beyer with my iPhone, this was never the case with the new model. It’s not deafening by any means, but for anyone with an IEM or a portable headset like the Meze 99 Classics, the DAC will be more than enough to cover any unwanted noise.
Head-to-head with the FiiO KA2, another dongle that carries the same internal conception, the Shanling UA1 Plus couldn’t reach the same output level due to its single-ended port. But, compared to the KA1, the UA1 Plus took the upper hand with a lot more finesse and a wider soundstage, at the same volume level. I didn’t have the chance to test the Eddict app with my phone, but during my test, I found the volume gap cleverly chosen and, unless you really need micro-level adjustments, you should easily get the right output level with the stock configuration.
Paired with the Shanling Sono (review incoming), the combo gives you the perfect balance between accuracy and linearity, a mix that should accommodate 99% of listeners. It’s not H5/7 good, but this DAC clearly shares the same sound signature – a mix of slightly pumped-up highs and flat low-mids – and, although it’s definitely not as powerful as prior devices, with the right headphone/IEM you might be surprised by the level of bass that small UA1 Plus will be able to push.
For my usual electro playlist, the new Shanling was simply marvelous. The soundstage is excellent, there are no real caveats, and if the bass seems a little dry at first, after a few minutes they completely grew on me. Compared to the first UA1, this is a surprisingly good improvement and, compared to Apple’s dongle, this is simply night and day. Even more, if you feed this DAC with high-rate files like Tidal, Qobuz, or Amazon Music, where the difference will be even clearer.
In fact, if you haven’t listened to any of the modern Shanling’s, you’d be surprised to find out that the previous high-focused signature is now gone, traded up for a more versatile one. Of course, the UA1 Plus displays a slight high-mids emphasis, like most Cirrus-Logic DACs up to this date, but the brand kept the wide soundstage and enhanced the layering, even with just a single-end output.
Paired with the DT 700 Pro X and DT 900 Pro X, it might appear a tad too dry, but personally, this sounds just right for my ears. Again, with the right headphone/earphone, you can spot each instrument and each singer with ease, and there is no channel imbalance to ruin the experience. It’s precise, dynamic, and never harsh, even with bad recordings – but good recordings are just amazing. I tried a few ambient tracks, like ‘Give it Up’ from 16BL or ‘Utah’ from RNX and, to my ears, this was one of the best renders I got in the sub-$50 threshold.
Bravo!
Tonality
Highs: Gorgeous, once again. Shanling is just flexing here, and the UA1 Plus outputs one of the best upper ranges in its category. It does wonders once paired with a good headset like the FiiO FF5: always on point, accurate, and, even at low volume, the DAC was able to output a lot of information with the same finesse we know Shanling for.
Mids: fast transients, good soundstage. Voices have always been good on Shanling devices, and the UA1 Plus doesn’t falter. This is especially true with dynamic headphones like the Beyer or the Meze 109 Pro, or IEMs like the Letshuoer, which love its finesse. Lovely.
Lows: surprise, surprise. If I didn’t expect much from Shanling in this regard, I have to say that the UA1 Plus did a really good job here, even more considering the size and price. Head-to-head with my Cowon Plenue D2, I was even surprised to prefer the UA1 on many tracks, where the Plenue seemed to be a bit too soft with my usual techno tracklist.
Tracks : Way down we go – Kaleo
Noise and power
Noise: nothing to say, it’s dead silent, and with all of the IEMs I tried, I could not spot any trace of hiss. EMI shielding did a great job too and I never encountered any parasites or any real buzz during my listening.
Power: Shanling seems to offers different levels of gain for its DAC/Amp, but on my setup I couldn’t access them (iOS unfortunately). But, even powered with my iPhone, the UA1 Plus was powerful enough to drive my DT900 Pro-X or even my 99 Classics. Even the Audeze LCD-X reached comfortable listening level but, obviously, if you want to drive cans like Sennheiser flagship, you should get a desktop DAC like the FiiO K7 of the Shanling H5.
Conclusion
At a mere $49, the Shanling UA1 Plus isn’t just a purchase, it’s an investment in stellar audio: powerful, compact, and impeccably constructed, this DAC/AMP stands out as a perfect addition to the brand’s lineup and emerges as a go-to for anyone in pursuit of an affordable dongle without compromising on premium sound.
When paired with a robust set of headphones, such as those from Meze or Beyer, or some high-quality IEMs like the FF5 or the S12 Pro, the Shanling UA1 Plus not only holds its own but invites you to step into the enchanting world of audiophiles with ease and precision. It’s not merely a device, it’s an entry ticket to an elevated auditory experience, making it an undeniable no-brainer at this price point!
Summary
Pro
- Great sound thanks to its Dual-DAC setup
- Excellent versatility with full iOS/PC/MAC/Android compatibility
- good power reserve even with a phone
- no residual noise even at low volume
- low price
Con
- no balanced output
- no lightning cable for previous iPhone users
