Shanling H5 Advanced Portable DAC/AMP - DAC, Headphone Amplifier and DAP

It was a big step for Shanling Audio, the company described the market launch of the Shanling H7 High-end Portable DAC/AMP. This was supposed to be a particularly powerful, versatile D/A converter with integrated headphone amplifier that even had the makings of a portable hi-res audio player. Now the company presents the new Shanling H5 Advanced Portable DAC/AMP, which is supposed to be the little brother of the Shanling H7.

Once again, the range of personal audio devices is being expanded to include a particularly versatile solution, which is to be available with high quality and, in this case, at a particularly attractive price.

Shanling H5 Advanced Portable DAC/AMP – A broad offering

Shanling is further expanding its new line of portable D/A converters with integrated headphone amplifiers with the new Shanling H5 Advanced Portable DAC/AMP, targeting an even broader range of customers.

The new Shanling H5 Advanced Portable DAC/AMP is slightly more compact and lighter than the Shanling H7 High-end Portable DAC/AMP, making it easier to transport, but has the same features, the manufacturer promises.

Extra warm, smooth sound

The new Shanling H5 Advanced Portable DAC/AMP is inspired by the concept of the Shanling M6 Ultra HiFi Android Player, which the company believes is still a particularly outstanding solution when it comes to warm, smooth sound. This is exactly the kind of warm and mellow sound that the new Shanling H5 Advanced Portable DAC/AMP aims for.

Modern features

The new Shanling H5 Advanced Portable DAC/AMP is based on an Ingenic X1000 platform and relies on a 0.87-inch display and two rotary encoders for particularly simple control. This should be enough not only to function as a pure D/A converter and headphone amplifier, but also to take on the functionality of a portable hi-res audio player, so the new Shanling H5 Advanced Portable DAC/AMP is also a DAP.

This is primarily ensured by a microSD card slot, via which storage media with audio data can be used, whereby control is even possible via a remote control app, the so-called Eddict Player App.

The signal processing relies first and foremost on a pair of AKM AK4493S DACs from the specialist Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation, with six digital filters available to the user, as well as an amplifier design based on Texas Instruments TPA6120 and LTA8092.

For the connection to various source devices, USB is available first and foremost in the form of USB-C, whereby XMOS XU316 USB chipset is used for particularly high performance.

Of course, Bluetooth is also present, with Bluetooth 5.0 supporting the Bluetooth codecs SBC, AAC and LDAC.

In addition, sources can be integrated via an optical as well as coaxial S/PDIF interface, as the data sheet of the new Shanling H5 Advanced Portable DAC/AMP reveals.

Foto © Shanling | Shanling H5 Advanced Portable DAC/AMP

32 Bit 768 kHz and DSD512

The Shanling H5 Advanced Portable DAC/AMP is capable of processing signals in Linear PCM with up to 32 bits and 768 kHz as well as DSD up to DSD512, via USB. For playback directly from a microSD card, Linear PCM with 32 bits and 384 kHz as well as DSD256 are used.

As outputs, the new Shanling H5 Advanced Portable DAC/AMP offers an unbalanced 3.5 mm stereo mini-jack and a balanced 4.4 mm pentaconn for connecting headphones, but also a pair of RCA sockets as line outs.

The new Shanling H5 Advanced Portable DAC/AMP offers three gain levels for optimal adjustment to different headphones.

The output power is a little lower than that of its big brother, the Shanling H7, as the company admits, and gives a comparative value of 840 mW at 32 ohms for the new Shanling H5 instead of 1.2 W at 32 ohms for the Shanling H7.

The integrated lithium-ion battery of the Shanling H5 Advanced Portable DAC/AMP is said to offer a playing time of up to 12.5 hours, with a capacity of 3.8 V and 3,500 mAh. Charging is, how could it be otherwise, via the already mentioned USB-C interface.

It’s worth noting that the new Shanling H5 Advanced Portable DAC/AMP weighs in at 270g with dimensions of 102 x 85 x 25mm.

Prices and availability

According to the manufacturer, the new Shanling H5 Advanced Portable DAC/AMP should be available in specialist shops soon. The recommended retail price is USD 369,-.

Getting to the point

Shanling Audio calls the new Shanling H5 Advanced Portable DAC/AMP the little brother of the Shanling H7 High-end Portable DAC/AMP, offering all the relevant features of the big one at a more attractive price. This is a solution that not only functions as a portable D/A converter and headphone amplifier, but can even take on the task of a DAP.