Shanling UA4 USB DAC: BIG SOUND in a Small Shell!

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

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[@JamesMincey]

I love the fact that the USB-C cable isn't permanently attached to the unit, unlike a lot of other dongle DACs! I was wondering, although there isn't a mic input for inline mic/remotes, does it register button presses from said inline remotes? If not, I suppose it's not a deal breaker since the unit itself has playback buttons...

[@XieRH1988]

ive noticed that some USB DACs have some kind of feature which may be for power saving or safety or some other reason, but basically what happens is when no sound has been playing for a while and you suddenly play audio, the first 0.5 to 1 second of playback is lost, almost like there's some kind of delay in the DAC "waking" up. I've personally experienced this on brands like Fiio and hear some Shanling models have the same issue too

[@BrandonAdams1010]

yes this is really annoying.

[@paultomaszewski1964]

I have the Shanling M3X DAP and I really like it. Shanling seems to run on the warm side with it's in house sound signature which may be why the harshness was less. Since my phone isn't used for music, I have no experience with any dongle DAC/AMP combo, my DAP doesvthe heavy lifting.

[@FAT8893]

1:40 I wonder if the ESS chip on this portable DAC sounds any better than the built-in ESS DAC in LG flagship phones. This one uses ES9069Q, whereas LG uses ES9218P for V50/G8/G8X and ES9219 for V60.

[@TonyA-ex1sj]

I hear the the LG V series does a fantastic job when it comes to sound

[@FAT8893]

@@TonyA-ex1sj It always does. As a current V50 owner, the sound from the built-in DAC is so impressive that it made me stopped embracing wireless audio and go all wired. I still cannot find any wireless audio gear that can even match the V50's sound when playing high quality FLAC/WAV audio files.

[@nemesis91101]

​@FAT8893 unless you're rooted with a custom build, android itself down samples everything to 44khz out of USB

[@TonyA-ex1sj]

@@nemesis91101 you're wrong. I can proved this with my Dongle DAC using Apple Music and android sample everything correctly

[@Mythosbieren]

I just ordered a Shanling UA4 with a 4.4mm Balanced Cable - Mini-XLR 3-pins. For my Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X & I am really excited about The DAC & AMP for how they will work together with The Balanced 4.4mm Cable instead of The Unbalanced 3.5mm Jack Cable.

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

I think you'll be in for a treat.

[@Mythosbieren]

Do you think I should buy 99% pure silver quality cable with a 4.4mm balanced adapter to the 3.5 jack cable to Mini-XLR 3-pins. I could not find more than only 1 cable that had 4.4mm to Mini-XLR 3-pins ATAUDIO with a 8 strand braided - silver plated wire core OCC silver plated in it & single crystal copper wire. Supposed to be Hi-Res Quality Audio choice? How pure silver is there in The ATAUDIO you think?

[@BrandonAdams1010]

@@Mythosbieren how did it turn out? i dont think you need crazy cables as long as they are good cables. I am hesitant to spend tons of money on a cables as I would rather spend it on dacs / amps / drivers / headphones / etc.

[@DmytroFranchuk]

So how it’s been going? And did you try 3,5 mm cable?

[@simphoniaubec]

i actually use this one to drive my moondrop variations since i already switched from my LG V60 to mate 50 pro

[@Wheelly1]

what are your imressions?

[@davidburns8113]

Dongle dabbling, delicious I'll see myself out

[@chootunmeng92]

I experienced hissing (noise) when using the 4.4mm output. I think majority of the UA4 users are experiencing this as well. My IEM is low impedance and high sensitivity.

[@jov1645]

Nope

[@nemesis91101]

​@jov1645 not you?

[@jov1645]

@@nemesis91101 i think i was high when i make that reply. what i try to say was i dont find any hissing on my ua4😅

[@nemesis91101]

@jov1645 nice thanks! Yes mj & music like pb&j

[@bryantallen703]

I've been enjoying the Status "Peerless" Between Pro's with Apt-X here and in the LG V-series. No complaints here whatsoever. 2 10mm drivers with 4 Status armature's that most hearing aids use. These things last 9-12hrs plus 36hrs in the can. These are by far smashing most BT 5.3 earbuds. For $100 to $170 for the ANC3's. Not to shabby.

[@user-np6tu1dm6z]

5.3 bt version nowadays is not that good compare to 5.0

[@bassandtrebleclef]

I'd love to hear how this compares to some of the legacy DAC/AMPs like the black/red/blue Dragonflys.

[@newtonchutney]

Long time! 😅 Could you compare vs Fiio's KA13 and KA17 too? ❤

[@miggysor]

Very informative video as usual, Juan! Your feedback seems quite in line with what my local audiophile groups have said about the UA4. I'm curious if you'd recommend the UA4 sound-wise over something like the FiiO BTR15 which sounds rather natural for something with an older ess chip. Would love to hear your feedback on that since you seemed to like the BTR7 in a previous upload. On another note I'm also curious if you'll be testing the Fiio KA17 as well which I know is just released but uses 2 of the same chip that's in the Shanling while also boasting significantly more power output.

[@dawidrosinski5107]

Somebody compared it with akliam pd6?

[@shridhan6688]

Great review. Can you tell whether the LED screen is blue or cyan? Want to upgrade from my LG G8x which also has a good ESS dac

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

Tough competition at $100ish for portable dac. I am partial to Qudelik 5k since this $109 and gets Bluetooth (ldsc, apt- etc .) And a parametric EQ. .

[@BrianGlaze]

I wonder how my Fat Freq Mini Maestros would sound with this 😮

[@RexGanymede]

you're tempting me! so.. ..could this dac work with my skullcrusher evo cans?

[@TheCarGuru]

I prefer my THX DAC with QMA. Compact and not very expensive.

[@methodinsane]

Hey Juan. How do you think this fares with IEMs that are sensitive to noise floor? I have a pair of IEMs Hidizs MS3 (my older Moondrop Arias broke - terrible QA with that company) and while they sound really good, the sensitively to device noise floor is annoying - the background hiss is really annoying. This is my fault as I didn't educate myself - it seems the low 18ohm impedance causes noise to be picked up. On my laptop input the noise is bad, on my home audio interface (Audient) it's better. I have a cheap dongle on my phone and it's not great either. I need to go test on my old LG v20. Thanks

[@deathoniza]

Hope u can check how this compares fiio ka13 with a much stronger amp but the same form factor

[@nemesis91101]

Lower output impedance on this. Under 1 ohm. Fiio on the ka13 is like 2-4ohm output impedance you get roll off if you use too low impedance on with that

[@FriscoFlame]

Does DAC size matter or is it how you use it?

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

It's ALL in how you use it! 😁

[@AJBrito-de8en]

Who is the best ? That or the FiiO BTR15?

[@SomeGadgetGuy]

Well those would be different kinds of DACs. Especially with one being a BT solution, and the other is only cabled.

[@wilsondeng2116]

Is there any good 3.5 mm headphones or earbuds that drives an dac?

[@WarisAmirMohammad]

?

[@impulsesystems]

This goes between your USB audio source [computer, phone etc] and headphones. So the DAC drives the headphones; not the reverse.

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

These will drive most headphones (headphones don't drive dacs, it's the reverse). Maybe not dt 770 pro 600 ohm version would need more power

[@SeptienPatterson]

Shanling?? 👁️👄👁️