Shanling UA Mini USB-C DAC/AMP – As an alternative to Bluetooth
Just because it's a tiny D/A converter and headphone amplifier doesn't mean it's not a very versatile, high-quality solution, says Shanling Audio about the new Shanling UA Mini USB-C DAC/AMP.
- You can always go a little smaller, as Shanling Audio now proves with the new Shanling UA Mini USB-C DAC/AMP.
Shanling can already boast a range of portable D/A converters including headphone amplifiers in the form of the Shanling UA Line, but now the company is presenting a solution that is the smallest in this product segment in this product range to date, namely the new Shanling UA Mini USB-C DAC/AMP. According to the manufacturer, this is a solution that can be used anywhere and at any time, especially as it is not only very small but also very light.
Nevertheless, every effort has been made to guarantee an appealing sound quality for the Shanling UA Mini USB-C DAC/AMP, making it a real upgrade if you want to consume music on the go with smartphones, tablets or even notebooks.
An alternative to Bluetooth
Yes, of course many users rely on Bluetooth when it comes to headphones for use on the move. Nothing is more convenient than being able to do without cables altogether. However, many users still swear by headphones that are connected to the source device via a cable, and this is no longer possible with hardly any current smartphones, only a few tablets and many notebooks.
Apart from the fact that the quality of the integrated D/A converters and output stages in such products has always been rather poor anyway…
As the name suggests, the Shanling UA Mini USB-C DAC/AMP uses USB-C as the connection to the source device and offers a 3,5 mm stereo mini jack for connecting headphones. High-quality silver-plated copper cables are used, the manufacturer refers to this as a high-purity silver-plated copper cable, and the plugs are also solidly constructed for durability.
Converter and headphone amplifier in miniature format
The Shanling UA Mini USB-C DAC/AMP has dimensions of 42 x 10 mm for the aluminium housing and cable and is 128 mm long in total, weighing just 8,4 g.
Nevertheless, as already mentioned, it should be characterised by high quality, whereby an SA9312 USB chip from Savitech Corp. and a CS43131 D/A converter from Cirrus Logic Inc. are responsible for this.
This allows signals to be processed in Linear PCM with up to 32 bits and 384 kHz, as well as DSD up to DSD256, as the data sheet reveals. A status LED, which lights up in a variety of colours, indicates which signal is present.
The output stage of the new Shanling UA Mini USB-C DAC/AMP is capable of supplying headphones with an impedance of 16 ohms with two times 260 mW, with an impedance of 32 ohms there are still two times 205 mW available.
Power is always supplied via the source device, with the Shanling UA Mini USB-C DAC/AMP automatically switching to standby mode as soon as there is no playback. This solution can be used with Apple macOS, Microsoft Windows and Google Android without drivers.
Prices and availability
The new Shanling UA Mini USB-C DAC/AMP should be available from specialist retailers in the next few days, and you only have to pay a small price for this solution. The recommended retail price is just € 35,-.
Getting to the point
The new Shanling UA Mini USB-C DAC/AMP is a solution for all those who still want to use headphones with cables rather than Bluetooth for mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets or notebooks. According to Shanling Audio, this is a high-quality alternative at a very attractive price.
| Product | Shanling UA Mini USB-C DAC/AMP |
|---|---|
| Price | € 35,- |
| Brand | Shenzhen Shanling Digital Techno |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Shanling Audio |
| Distribution | NT Global Distribution GmbH |
| More about this manufacturer at HiFi BLOG |
