SHANLING UA7 Portable USB DAC & Headphone Amplifier with Dual JAN6418 Tubes

High-End Sound with Tube Flavoring

The Shanling UA7 is a portable USB DAC and headphone amplifier that brings vacuum tubes to a device small enough to carry with a phone. It uses dual JAN6418 tubes — the same compact tube family Shanling introduced in its portable players and CD players — to add the rich, smooth character associated with tube audio. The tubes are mounted in a custom shock-absorption structure developed to protect them and reduce unwanted shocks and vibrations, so the design stays practical for on-the-go use.

One Device, Two Sound Profiles

The UA7 lets you switch between a purely transistor output and a tube-enhanced output. The tube setting gives a warmer, more mellow presentation, while transistor mode is cleaner and more precise — so a single dongle can be matched to different genres or simply to your mood. Switching modes is done on the device, and the measured specifications are published for both modes.

ESS ES9069 DAC with Full Hi-Res Support

At the centre of the UA7 is the ESS ES9069, a high-performance DAC that Shanling tunes for accurate, highly detailed delivery. It supports PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz and native DSD512, so high-resolution files and streams are handled without being limited at the input. Shanling notes that the source software must itself be capable of Hi-Res output to take full advantage.

OP + BUF Amplifier with 577mW Balanced Output

The amplifier follows an OP + BUF architecture, the first time Shanling has used this design in a UA model. A pair of OPA1612 handles the I/V conversion stage, followed by two OPA1662 and four BUF634 in the amplifier section, which Shanling says gives headphones and earphones faster response and increased dynamics. Output is available from a 3.5mm single-ended jack at 2.5V @ 32Ω (195mW @ 32Ω) and a 4.4mm balanced jack at 4.3V @ 32Ω (577mW @ 32Ω), with two gain settings and accurate volume control.

Compact Body, OLED Screen and Wheel Control

The UA7 keeps the slim profile of the UA line but adjusts the look to show off its tubes. The body combines aluminium alloy with tempered glass and measures 70 × 36 × 15mm at approximately 48.5g. A 0.87-inch OLED screen shows the current settings and file details, a wheel-backlit LED indicator shows sampling-rate and DSD level at a glance, and the improved multifunctional wheel handles volume and press-press functions. It is available in Titanium Grey, Deep Black and Radiant Orange.

Compatibility, App and Accessories

The UA7 connects over USB-C and supports both UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0 modes; UAC 1.0 is there for gaming consoles such as the Nintendo Switch as well as older or power-limited devices. A high-purity oxygen-free copper USB-C cable is included, and the standard USB-C connector means the cable can be swapped or upgraded. Shanling’s Eddict Player companion app adds further control — gain, tube mode, digital filter, channel balance, button functions and screen settings — on Android and Windows 10/11; the iOS version of the app does not offer these features because of Apple’s restrictions, and iOS devices require the separately sold Shanling L3 Lightning cable. Windows machines need the appropriate drivers installed.

Specifications

• Model: SHANLING UA7
• Product Type: Portable USB DAC & headphone amplifier (dongle)
• DAC: ESS ES9069
• Vacuum Tubes: Dual JAN6418
• Output Modes: Switchable Tube / Transistor (two sound profiles)
• Amplifier Architecture: OP + BUF — OPA1612 I/V stage, 2× OPA1662, 4× BUF634
• Hi-Res Support: PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz and native DSD512
• USB Modes: UAC 1.0 / UAC 2.0
• USB Connector: USB-C
• Outputs: 3.5mm single-ended & 4.4mm balanced
• Frequency Response: 20Hz–40kHz (±0.5dB)
• Display: 0.87-inch OLED
• Controls: Multifunctional wheel + wheel-backlit LED indicator
• Body: Aluminium alloy and tempered glass
• Colours: Titanium Grey, Deep Black, Radiant Orange
• 3.5mm Output Power: 2.5V @ 32Ω (195mW @ 32Ω)
• 3.5mm THD+N (Transistor Mode): 0.0006% @ 32Ω
• 3.5mm THD+N (Tube Mode): 0.15% @ 32Ω
• 3.5mm Dynamic Range: 119dB
• 3.5mm Channel Separation: 73dB (A-weighted, high gain)
• 3.5mm SNR: 119dB (A-weighted, high gain)
• 3.5mm Noise: 110dB (A-weighted, high gain)
• 3.5mm Output Impedance: 0.5Ω
• 4.4mm Output Power: 4.3V @ 32Ω (577mW @ 32Ω)
• 4.4mm THD+N (Transistor Mode): 0.00095% @ 32Ω
• 4.4mm THD+N (Tube Mode): 0.15% @ 32Ω
• 4.4mm Dynamic Range: 120dB
• 4.4mm Channel Separation: 109dB transistor / 106dB tube (A-weighted, high gain)
• 4.4mm SNR: 119dB (A-weighted, high gain)
• 4.4mm Noise: 105dB (A-weighted, high gain)
• 4.4mm Output Impedance: 1Ω
• App Support: Eddict Player (Android / Windows 10-11)
• Dimensions: 70 × 36 × 15 mm
• Weight: Approx. 48.5 g

What's Included

• USB-C to USB-C cable x 1
• USB-C to USB-A adapter x 1
• Manuals
• PU leather case sold separately