Your reviews are so solid. IMHO, you're now one of the top reviewers on YT. Thoughtful, articulate, not just gushing with flowery words. Seriously, really well done
I would like to say that no matter what kind of product you introduce, I can learn something new every time, and your explanation is clear and easy to understand, which often makes me have the urge to buy. you are the dangerous one. 😍
You make your reviews so easy to listen to, and describe the audio image so very well. This review is no exception. The comparison with the Moonriver 2 was very well done and, by checking out your Moonriver 2 review, you have made comparison with the other USB DAC/Amplifiers much simpler for your viewers. The best, larger amplifiers pay significant attention to generation of the DC power supply, and this comes at high cost for both development and first class parts integration. In portable amplifiers, reliable battery DC voltage makes the electronics less expensive, but battery capacity and size/weight considerations are introduced into the formula. Shanling seem to have overcome the complications of this design matrix by introducing a battery, of optimum capacity, to provide an ultra-clean and good current capacity DC supply, built into the dongle. Making the built in battery power available to only the DAC/Amplifier circuit important to sound quality, and drawing on the phone battery supply for extra power via the USB connection, permits the use of a smaller battery. I like the forethought of the manually switchable and low battery auto-switchable options. So the disadvantage of relying on just built in battery power is removed, albeit with slightly less fidelity after a fairly long play time. That your finely trained ears can just detect 🤔 a difference is good news, as many users will not hear a significant difference 😀. It’s high praise indeed that your comparison of this and the Moonriver 2 reveals that the Shanling is slightly ahead in battery supplemented mode. The Shanling UA5 will be high on my Christmas list! Thank you, Srboljub, for your excellent review and video 👍🏼🙂.
I have Shanling UP4. It also has a dual DAC mode which is excellent! This model here is a promising one, too. Thanks for the excellent review and that superb comparison with Moonriver 2! 🙌
I find this one very good for iPhone and the low power provided by the Lightning port. The battery dan help here. Would like to see you review the iFi Audio Go Bar!
Hi iiWi 😊. That battery enable option is basicaly what u would achieve with every other dongle dac by using a better designed USB cable. From my experience on PC the difference between a good and a bad cable is huge, but also with the mobile phone the difference is lesser, but still substantional. I use the audioqest carbon as my goodsounding usb cable. It is a shame that no company makes some shorter good sounding cables to use with a mobile phone.
Hi Matus. While I agree about the good USB cable bringing improvement, that and cleaner power supply each have a different role to play in ensuring the cleanest signal possible. Neither of these is substitute for the other.
@@iiWiReviews yea u are right, but good designed cables are MAINLY (besides some other things, timings, proper 1s and 0s representations by voltage swings, ...) to cut noise interference from the powersupply, and therefore from the USB ports respectively. So U can cut it of with a proper cable or reduce it with a cleaner ,,battery,, powersupply (phone battery + amp/DAC battery). So I can imagine that even with some generic cable the UA5 with 2 batteries in the chain can be close to the desktop with a proper USB cable (It can almost match that good USB cable properties I am trying to say). It is also more stabile current supply, our output in general (with that small battery inside the UA5). But thats just my idea about this, I am not an engineer I can be wrong or inaccurate...
The variety of DAC Dongles is surprisingly huge. That is pleasing for all the hifi customers. The chinese manufacturers do a good job, as it seems. I am struggeling either i should purchase a DAC Dongle in a good quality oder better save the money and buy a inexpensive DAP. I am not sure if a realy good DAC/Amp Dongle comes close to a inexpensive DAP in terms of sound quality.Again a nice and helpful review ;).
I am an old fashioned guy.I have a vintage amp and get my music through loudspeakers. These dongle dacs or this dac is a fine choice when I want to listen to music via 3.5 mm aux cable from my computer (without headphones/just by loudspeakers)?
I have one with the opp amps swapped out, excellent sound and power for planars or dynamics, 1W constant not peak. Not in mojo 2 territory sound wise but there again it has LDAC Bluetooth
Hi :) does that shanling UA5 charging itself a little bit when plugged via usb to the phone? I remember that some time ago it was problem of all battery powered dac/amps (xduoo xd05 plus, ifi hip dac, ...) like the battery was creating power output but charging itself at the same time a little bit from the usb (android or usb cable design problems if I remember correctly).
Yess! Most phones install inferior dac for cost saving and power efficient but if you use an external dac it will improve everything including lossy files also. So don't fear to take step in dac
tnx for video , i want to buy a portable DAC, which one of these six models do you think i should buy? which one is the best and worth buying? 1. Questyle M15 2. moonriver 2 3. shanling UA5 4. ifi Go Bar 5. Luxury & precision W2 6. xDuoo link2 bal I've been researching for a week and I'm really confused because everyone says something, i want it for earphones, if you were to buy one for yourself, which one would you choose?
If you have Samsung phone, don't go with Shanling UA5 but my personal picks are UA5 and M15 for slightly warmer presentation. Don't like analytical Moonriver 2
Shanling UA5 VS Khades Tea vs Earmen Colibri vs any other small battery operated DAC/AMP ? Cost between these or similar price is not a concern, just looking for best power and sound. To be used for fairly easy to drive headphones and iem with phone. Thank You
could you compare the Shanling UA5 to a desktop setup? not a super expensive one but a desktop setup costing about $200-$250? I have the HO100 with no dedicated Dac (i use the KA3 as DAC). I am thinking about returning it to amazon and buying the UA5 or Moon River 2 instead for the HIFIMAN Edition XS.
Any desktop setup which power measures in watts will offer more kick and slam in the bass, more rhythmic drive. For any sort of electronics music I would go with that. UA5 on the other hand will sound very smooth and tonally good as any desktop combo at that price (maybe even more) but just without that much dynamics and drive. For low key music it might be perfect, for fast paced and bass heavy, probably best to stick with a high power desktop combo.
@@iiWiReviews thank you! i appreciate the advice I will hold onto my HO100 and get a dedicated dac when i can afford. or i may grab the Moon river 2 and use that as a dac for the HO100
I haven't tried Eagle but all EarMens I've tried so far were great products so I believe Eagle is too. At that price point you should also take a look at Hidizs S9 pro.
Your reviews are so solid. IMHO, you're now one of the top reviewers on YT. Thoughtful, articulate, not just gushing with flowery words. Seriously, really well done
I would like to say that no matter what kind of product you introduce, I can learn something new every time, and your explanation is clear and easy to understand, which often makes me have the urge to buy. you are the dangerous one. 😍
You make your reviews so easy to listen to, and describe the audio image so very well. This review is no exception. The comparison with the Moonriver 2 was very well done and, by checking out your Moonriver 2 review, you have made comparison with the other USB DAC/Amplifiers much simpler for your viewers. The best, larger amplifiers pay significant attention to generation of the DC power supply, and this comes at high cost for both development and first class parts integration. In portable amplifiers, reliable battery DC voltage makes the electronics less expensive, but battery capacity and size/weight considerations are introduced into the formula. Shanling seem to have overcome the complications of this design matrix by introducing a battery, of optimum capacity, to provide an ultra-clean and good current capacity DC supply, built into the dongle. Making the built in battery power available to only the DAC/Amplifier circuit important to sound quality, and drawing on the phone battery supply for extra power via the USB connection, permits the use of a smaller battery. I like the forethought of the manually switchable and low battery auto-switchable options. So the disadvantage of relying on just built in battery power is removed, albeit with slightly less fidelity after a fairly long play time. That your finely trained ears can just detect 🤔 a difference is good news, as many users will not hear a significant difference 😀. It’s high praise indeed that your comparison of this and the Moonriver 2 reveals that the Shanling is slightly ahead in battery supplemented mode. The Shanling UA5 will be high on my Christmas list! Thank you, Srboljub, for your excellent review and video 👍🏼🙂.
I have Shanling UP4. It also has a dual DAC mode which is excellent! This model here is a promising one, too. Thanks for the excellent review and that superb comparison with Moonriver 2! 🙌
Your enjoyment is infectious 😊. Thanks for this happy moment for me.
You are nailing it, entertaining to watch you. I really should get one of these.
Great review Srboljub. Shanling rock, great design, great sound.
Great review, thanks, i am going to buy the Shanling UA5 with your review locking in my choice
This is a great video and great explainations of important points. Couldn´t wish for more
u are the best i\ve come across and u help me find good mid range dac
I find this one very good for iPhone and the low power provided by the Lightning port. The battery dan help here. Would like to see you review the iFi Audio Go Bar!
Thanks a lot for this detailed review mate. That comparison really cleared every doubt of mine. Please consider reviewing the iFi GO bar.
Hi iiWi 😊. That battery enable option is basicaly what u would achieve with every other dongle dac by using a better designed USB cable. From my experience on PC the difference between a good and a bad cable is huge, but also with the mobile phone the difference is lesser, but still substantional. I use the audioqest carbon as my goodsounding usb cable. It is a shame that no company makes some shorter good sounding cables to use with a mobile phone.
Hi Matus. While I agree about the good USB cable bringing improvement, that and cleaner power supply each have a different role to play in ensuring the cleanest signal possible. Neither of these is substitute for the other.
@@iiWiReviews yea u are right, but good designed cables are MAINLY (besides some other things, timings, proper 1s and 0s representations by voltage swings, ...) to cut noise interference from the powersupply, and therefore from the USB ports respectively. So U can cut it of with a proper cable or reduce it with a cleaner ,,battery,, powersupply (phone battery + amp/DAC battery). So I can imagine that even with some generic cable the UA5 with 2 batteries in the chain can be close to the desktop with a proper USB cable (It can almost match that good USB cable properties I am trying to say). It is also more stabile current supply, our output in general (with that small battery inside the UA5). But thats just my idea about this, I am not an engineer I can be wrong or inaccurate...
The variety of DAC Dongles is surprisingly huge. That is pleasing for all the hifi customers. The chinese manufacturers do a good job, as it seems. I am struggeling either i should purchase a DAC Dongle in a good quality oder better save the money and buy a inexpensive DAP. I am not sure if a realy good DAC/Amp Dongle comes close to a inexpensive DAP in terms of sound quality.Again a nice and helpful review ;).
Nice review, even though I'm not in the market presently for a dongle dac.
🤗👍LIKEWISE WITH ME 😁😎😍😍😍
Waiting fiio btr7 review!
would love to see your opinion on the Questyle M15!
I am an old fashioned guy.I have a vintage amp and get my music through loudspeakers. These dongle dacs or this dac is a fine choice when I want to listen to music via 3.5 mm aux cable from my computer (without headphones/just by loudspeakers)?
How about compare to Questyle M15?
Bro try xduoo link 2 bal. It is a really good contender to moon river 2
I have one with the opp amps swapped out, excellent sound and power for planars or dynamics, 1W constant not peak. Not in mojo 2 territory sound wise but there again it has LDAC Bluetooth
Have you tried the Shanling UA3? How is it compared to UA5 and other devices mentioned in the video? Thanks!
Good review. How do you charge the internal battery of the UA5?
Thanks
Over the USB, just hook it up to a phone charger and it will be charged in about 30 min.
Hi :) does that shanling UA5 charging itself a little bit when plugged via usb to the phone? I remember that some time ago it was problem of all battery powered dac/amps (xduoo xd05 plus, ifi hip dac, ...) like the battery was creating power output but charging itself at the same time a little bit from the usb (android or usb cable design problems if I remember correctly).
With UA5 you can choose charging options in the menu. I remember once disabling it and battery went empty after several hours of music.
@@iiWiReviews thanks :) can playing and battery charging at the same time affect sound quality?
I want to know if a dongle can improvemed music from Spotify? Sorry for my ignorance🤷🏾♂️
Yess! Most phones install inferior dac for cost saving and power efficient but if you use an external dac it will improve everything including lossy files also. So don't fear to take step in dac
@@iftekharahamad4840 Thanks
How would you say the sound quality of moonriver 2 and ua5 is compared to topping nx7?
tnx for video , i want to buy a portable DAC, which one of these six models do you think i should buy? which one is the best and worth buying?
1. Questyle M15
2. moonriver 2
3. shanling UA5
4. ifi Go Bar
5. Luxury & precision W2
6. xDuoo link2 bal
I've been researching for a week and I'm really confused because everyone says something, i want it for earphones, if you were to buy one for yourself, which one would you choose?
If you have Samsung phone, don't go with Shanling UA5 but my personal picks are UA5 and M15 for slightly warmer presentation. Don't like analytical Moonriver 2
Shanling UA5 VS Khades Tea vs Earmen Colibri vs any other small battery operated DAC/AMP ? Cost between these or similar price is not a concern, just looking for best power and sound.
To be used for fairly easy to drive headphones and iem with phone.
Thank You
UA5 sounds the best when it's in a hybrid mode.
could you compare the Shanling UA5 to a desktop setup? not a super expensive one but a desktop setup costing about $200-$250?
I have the HO100 with no dedicated Dac (i use the KA3 as DAC). I am thinking about returning it to amazon and buying the UA5 or Moon River 2 instead for the HIFIMAN Edition XS.
Any desktop setup which power measures in watts will offer more kick and slam in the bass, more rhythmic drive. For any sort of electronics music I would go with that. UA5 on the other hand will sound very smooth and tonally good as any desktop combo at that price (maybe even more) but just without that much dynamics and drive. For low key music it might be perfect, for fast paced and bass heavy, probably best to stick with a high power desktop combo.
@@iiWiReviews thank you! i appreciate the advice I will hold onto my HO100 and get a dedicated dac when i can afford. or i may grab the Moon river 2 and use that as a dac for the HO100
is this a decent budget dac to use on a laptop and ocasionally on a smartphone? does it pair nicely with a tube amp?
how long does the battery last on heavy use?
Hi, does it worth the 100USD difference between this and the Colibri?
In its hybrid power mode, UA5 actually has an edge in sound quality. So unless "made in Europe" means something to you the answer would be - no.
@@iiWiReviews Ok, I'll keep in mind, thanks! Saludos desde México
This is costly for my beginning please review Earman Eagle I want your thoughts
I haven't tried Eagle but all EarMens I've tried so far were great products so I believe Eagle is too. At that price point you should also take a look at Hidizs S9 pro.
Are those two dongle dacs better than audioquest RED?
Well I haven't compared them to RED but I do find them both better than Cobalt.
The second dac is for balanced output only.
I don't think so. I have Shanling UP4, dual DAC mode is just for single ended (has 3.5 and 2.5mm) and when eneble it sound become much better.
Батарейка очень практичная штука. Думаю, ю5 нужно было сравнить с cayin ru 6
Why? Because it would render the device useless after 1000 charge cycles or so.
Did you say it has high gay mode or high game mode? I would totally buy it if every song suddenly gets covered by Elton John in high gay mode.
😆 🤣 😂
Sounds like an easy choice to me…