Shanling UA1 Pro Portable USB-C Adapter

It has been almost exactly one year since Shanling presented the Shanling UA1 Portable USB-C Adapter. Now the new generation follows in the form of the Shanling UA1 Pro Portable USB-C Adapter, whereby the manufacturer itself speaks of a merely subtle update.

The new Shanling UA1 Pro Portable USB-C Adapter follows the solutions that Shanling introduced last year as the Shanling UA Line, first and foremost the Shanling UA1 Portable USB-C Adapter. The Shanling UA1 Pro Portable USB-C Adapter is supposed to replace its predecessor in September 2021.

In the proven manner, the new Shanling UA1 Pro Portable USB-C Adapter is the combination of a D/A converter with a headphone amplifier, and in a particularly compact form.

Shanling UA1 Pro Portable USB-C Adapter – The smallest DAC/Amp adapter from Shanling.

One of the most striking features of the Shanling UA1 Pro Portable USB-C Adapter, just like its predecessor, is its particularly compact design. According to the manufacturer, it is the smallest DAC/amp adapter they can boast.

The Shanling UA1 Pro Portable USB-C Adapter combines, as already mentioned, a D/A converter and a headphone amplifier, whereby this solution is presented in the form of a USB dongle, and was designed for smartphones and tablets with Google Android as well as notebooks with Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS.

Discreet update

According to Shanling, however, the new Shanling UA1 Pro Portable USB-C Adapter is not an option that has been expanded in many areas; rather, it simply uses a new converter.

The predecessor had an ESS ES9218P D/A converter, but the new Shanling UA1 Pro Portable USB-C Adapter now uses an ESS ES9219C DAC.

The manufacturer explicitly points out that the new Shanling UA1 Pro Portable USB-C adapter thus has the same performance as well as the same sound signature, allowing audio data in Linear PCM format with up to 32 bits and 384 kHz as well as DSD including DSD256 to be processed. However, Shanling emphasizes that the new D/A converter provides for even lower noise and thus slightly optimized signal processing.

Audio signals are output in analog form via a 3.5 mm stereo mini-jack. 80 mW is said to be available at 1.6 V on headphones with an impedance of 32 ohms.

Shanling also offers a matching app for the Shanling UA1 Pro Portable USB-C Adapter, namely the Shanling Music App for Google Android.

Available in chrome or matte black

What is new is that the Shanling UA1 Pro Portable USB-C Adapter is now offered in two versions. The customer thus has the choice between a version in a glossy chrome finish and matte black.

The new Shanling UA1 Pro Portable USB-C Adapter should be available in September 2021, with a recommended retail price of €49.

Getting to the point

It is actually only a subtle update compared to the direct predecessor, which is now available shortly with the Shanling UA1 Pro Portable USB-C Adapter. The centerpiece here is a new DAC from ESS Technology Inc., and the customer can also choose between two design variants of this very compact D/A converter and headphone amplifier.