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Shanling UA4 USB DAC Unboxing and Written Review - ASMR

0:00 - Unboxing 0:45 - L3 Lightning Cable 1:05 - UI Shanling UA4: https://amzn.to/49Wswd5 (Affiliate link) Disclaimer: The Shanling UA4 was purchased with my own money and all thoughts are my own. Below is the written review of the UA4. Pros - Detailed, natural tonality - Built-in screen, configurable without using an app - Lots of built-in settings, easy-to-use UI Cons - Gets relatively warm when in use Overview The Shanling US4 uses the new ES9069Q DAC chip from ESS Technology. The DAC chip is ESS’s relatively new chip which was announced in 2023 as a successor of the ES9068Q chip. Accessories The UA4 comes with one USB C to C cable in bronze color. I personally purchased the Shanling L3 cable to use with my iPhone 14 Pro. It also comes with a USB C to A adapter and 2 Hi-Res stickers. Power In terms of power, the UA4 offers enough power for all IEMs and headphones I tested it with. The UA4 was even able to comfortably power my T60RP on the 4.4mm output. The T60RP is an inefficient headphone that requires lots of juice to power and often requires desktop amps to get it to play at adequate volume levels. 3.5mm vs 4.4mm outputs The UA4 offers both 3.5mm and 4.4mm dual outputs, but there isn't much difference in sound between the two. The 4.4mm output provides higher power. A major pro of the UA4 is that it allows you to use its internal independent 100 step volume control and has high/low gain available using its internal menu. This makes using sensitive IEMs possible on the UA4 even when using the 4.4mm output. This was an issue for me when I was testing the HC4 as it does not have an independent volume control and high/low gain settings. Digital Filters The UA4 has 8 digital filter settings that you can set within its own menu. I personally prefer using the UA4 with the slow roll-off filters. However, from my own experience, the filters have pretty minimal differences in terms of sound between them, and I do not think I would be able to tell between them in a listening test. However, it’s a nice option to have. Initial Impressions I was expecting the UA4 to sound extremely detailed with slightly sharp treble and highs due to my previous experience with ESS chips. Pairing it with the Campfire Audio Vega 2020, the UA4 indeed sounded very detailed but it did not have the problem of shrill/piercing treble. The Vega 2020s were able to reveal more details from the source, but the highs did not sound sharp/forward at all. I even used the UA4 with the Grado Hemp to confirm my findings as it's relatively treble forward in my headphone/IEM collection. Sound Impressions The UA4 sounds neutral and energetic. It is revealing and musical. The highs are tamed but reveal plenty of detail. To me, the frequency response of the UA4 sounds very close to neutral. The decay of the UA4 is quick, the soundstage does not feel exceptionally wide, but the positioning is accurate. It sounds slightly dry, extremely detailed, and neutral, with good positioning and great separation. Bass Response The bass of the UA4 is what stood out to me. The bass slams deep and yet is very quick. Thanks to the quick bass response, the bass feels impactful but not overpowering. Pairing and Synergy Thanks to the detail-revealing nature and fast response of the UA4. I think it will pair great with dynamic driver IEMs and warmer headphones. It tightens up the sound and makes them sound great in almost every genre. However, I think the UA4 is extremely neutral sounding. So if you intend to change the sound signature of IEM/headphones that aren’t exactly what you prefer by pairing it with the UA4, it’s pretty unlikely that you’ll be able to change the characteristics of it. In contrast, your favorite headphones and IEMs may even sound better to you paired with the UA4 as it preserves the original sound signature with a dynamic neutral sound. Comparisons Topping DX3 Pro+ When compared to the Topping DX3 Pro+ with the ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip, the treble of the UA4 sounds much more tamed and controlled. Yet, it does not feel lacking in detail. The bass of the UA4 sounds tighter and has more impact. Overall I enjoy the HC4 more in terms of sound signature. Astell&Kern HC4 Compared to the HC4 has a very different sound signature. It’s almost the exact opposite. The HC4 sounds airy, has a slightly slow roll-off, and a huge soundstage. Yet the UA4 is extremely quick, it sounds slightly confined compared to the HC4 but is extremely detailed. I would personally pair the HC4 with super detailed IEMs and the UA4 with warmer IEMs that are less revealing in terms of details. Summary The Shanling UA4 is a great-sounding dongle DAC that offers extremely good value at US$99. It offers plenty of built-in settings and has the power to power most headphones. More importantly, it has a great neutral sound signature that would work great on almost everything. I think the UA4 would satisfy many audiophiles even if it is the only DAC/headphone amp they own.