The Shanling UA5 is a high performance portable DAC and headphone amplifier. Its digital/analog conversion stage is based on a pair of ESS ES9038Q2M DACs, allowing it to efficiently decode the audio stream, ensuring highly accurate sound reproduction. This architecture also allows it to read high resolution audio streams, in PCM up to 32bit 768kHz or in DSD up to DSD512. Its amplification stage is entrusted to a Ricore RE6863 chip.

As for the design, the UA5 is extremely compact, allowing it to slip easily into a pocket. It is also equipped with a 1.44" OLED screen displaying the settings of the device. A wheel placed on the edge of the UA5 allows it to easily and accurately adjust the volume level.

As for the power supply, the UA5 offers two operating modes. It can either be powered directly via the USB port, or operate in hybrid mode, in which case the conversion and amplification stages are powered by the internal 200mAh battery.

Finally, for its connectivity, we find in input a USB-C port and in output, both an unbalanced output on Jack 3.5mm and a balanced output on Jack 4.4mm