SHANLING UA1 II Ultra-Compact Portable USB DAC & Headphone Amplifier with Dual CS43131

An Ultra-Compact USB DAC/AMP, Second Generation

The Shanling UA1 II is the second revision of the UA1 — a pocket-sized USB DAC and headphone amplifier that upgrades the sound of a smartphone or laptop. Shanling has kept the footprint tiny but treated the design as a mature product rather than a basic adapter: the housing is all-metal, measures just 52 × 22 × 13mm and weighs 17.9g, yet it houses a screen, hardware controls and both single-ended and balanced headphone outputs. Two windows are set into the chassis — the front one conceals a 0.96-inch LCD display, while the rear window provides a view into the internal structure.

Dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 DACs

Conversion is handled by two Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chips rather than a single converter. These are well-regarded portable DACs chosen for their clean, dynamic and musical character with good efficiency, and Shanling pairs them with an analogue stage that is tuned through extensive measurement and listening. The result is described as an energetic and musical presentation — clean and fast, with tight bass and quick transients rather than any artificial edge.

3.5mm and 4.4mm Outputs — Up to 240mW

The UA1 II is the most capable model in the UA1 series to date because it offers both output types. The 3.5mm single-ended output delivers 94mW @ 32Ω, while the 4.4mm balanced output raises this to 240mW @ 32Ω — enough headroom for demanding in-ear monitors as well as a wide range of full-size headphones. Frequency response is specified as 20Hz–40kHz (+0.5dB) on both outputs, and distortion stays very low at 0.0005% THD+N single-ended and 0.0004% balanced.

Hi-Res Playback Support

Native support covers PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512, so high-resolution files and streams can be passed to the dual CS43131 converters without being scaled down. Dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratio are quoted at 126dB and 125dB for the 3.5mm output and 128dB and 128dB for the balanced output, with output impedance below 0.5Ω on both.

Standalone Control and Broad Compatibility

A notable difference from most dongles is that the UA1 II does not depend on a phone app or on-screen controls. Hidden tactile buttons are integrated into the side sections of the two windows, giving direct access to volume adjustment, track navigation and the on-device menu. Shanling’s Eddict Player app is supported, but every basic function works without it. The UA1 II connects over USB-C and works with Android devices and Windows systems (drivers required), with iOS supported through a separate Shanling Lightning cable. A UAC 1.0 mode is also available for hardware that does not work with modern USB DACs — including gaming consoles such as the Nintendo Switch.

Compact Hi-Fi for Everyday Listening

Taken together — a 0.96-inch display, physical controls, dual DACs, balanced output and 240mW of power in a 17.9g metal body — the UA1 II is positioned as far more than a replacement headphone jack. It is designed as a compact Hi-Fi source that can be carried with a phone or laptop and used for everyday listening as well as gaming, and it is available in Black, Silver and Purple.

Specifications

• Model: SHANLING UA1 II
• Product Type: Portable USB DAC/AMP (dongle)
• DAC Chips: Dual Cirrus Logic CS43131
• Hi-Res Support: PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz, DSD512
• Outputs: 3.5mm single-ended & 4.4mm balanced
• USB: USB-C; UAC 1.0 mode supported
• Display: 0.96-inch LCD
• Controls: Integrated physical buttons (volume / playback / menu)
• App Support: Eddict Player app
• 3.5mm Output Power: 94mW @ 32Ω
• 3.5mm Frequency Response: 20Hz–40kHz (+0.5dB)
• 3.5mm THD+N: 0.0005% @ 32Ω
• 3.5mm Dynamic Range: 126dB @ 32Ω
• 3.5mm SNR: 125dB @ 32Ω
• 3.5mm Output Impedance: < 0.5Ω
• 4.4mm Output Power: 240mW @ 32Ω
• 4.4mm Frequency Response: 20Hz–40kHz (+0.5dB)
• 4.4mm THD+N: 0.0004% @ 32Ω
• 4.4mm Dynamic Range: 128dB @ 32Ω
• 4.4mm SNR: 128dB @ 32Ω
• 4.4mm Output Impedance: < 0.5Ω
• Dimensions: 52 × 22 × 13 mm
• Weight: 17.9 g
• Colours: Black, Silver, Purple

What's Included

• 1 x Shanling UA1 II
• User manual