In this article, I review the Shanling UA6 HiFi portable USB DAC & headphone amplifier. The UA6 features a quad DAC array, with 4 CS43131 chips under the hood, a hybrid battery power system and impressive output power. It’s priced at 159 USD.
Disclaimer: This sample was provided by Shanling for an honest review. All observations and opinions here are my own, based on my experience with the product.
Shanling UA6
Table of Contents
Design & Functionality
The Shanling UA6 has a modern design with clean, straight lines and a glass front panel. The top section of the panel hosts a 1.3-inch colour display that shows relevant information such as volume and the current sample rate etc.
At the bottom of the front panel is an LED status indicator that changes colour based on the current sampling rate or DSD level. In addition, the display lets you navigate the system menu, which is very extensive. The settings include: DAC Mode (double or quad), PCM filter, Key/button mode (DAC volume, Track up/down or System volume), Set font, Balance, Brightness, Screensaver, Orientation, Switch mode and SPDIF output (on/off).
Furthermore, the UI has 4 colour themes and 8 font styles for visual customisation, allowing you to tailor the display to your personal taste or improve readability in different lighting conditions.
There are three buttons on the right side of the unit, used for playback control, Start/Stop, volume adjustment, and accessing the settings. The volume control is built into the device itself—my preferred approach—as it adjusts the output directly on the unit without affecting the system volume of your phone or PC.
Internally, the UA6 boasts a quad DAC array, with 4 CS43131 DAC chips. The UA6 supports up to PCM 32-bit/768kHz and DSD512 native.
The UA6 uses Shanling’s Hybrid Power System 2.0, which includes a built-in battery to help with power delivery. When you plug it into a phone with a weaker USB output—like some iPhones or Samsung models—the battery steps in during the initial connection to make sure everything works smoothly.
Beyond that, the battery also supports the main power supply, helping to deliver a cleaner and more stable current to the audio circuit. That means better performance overall, with the amp capable of pushing harder and handling sudden changes in volume or dynamics more effortlessly.
The UA6 offers impressive output power, delivering up to 110 mW @ 32Ω from the 3.5mm output and 360 mW @ 32Ω from the balanced 4.4mm output. It also supports digital SPDIF coaxial output via the 3.5mm jack, allowing the UA6 to function as a USB transport when paired with external Hi-Fi DACs.
UA6 has 2 optional working modes – dual and quad DAC modes. The dual mode is ideal for use with the 3.5mm output, as it reduces power consumption and generates less heat. The quad DAC mode increases output power, improves signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), reduces total harmonic distortion (THD) and yields better dynamic range and detail retrieval.
Using the Shanling UA6
Using the UA6 has been a breeze. It’s simply plug-and-play with both my Android smartphone and Windows PC. It also supports UAC 1.0 mode, so it works seamlessly with gaming consoles as well. Having playback controls on the device is always a bonus—a feature I welcome and now expect from higher-end dongle DACs. Thanks to its convenience and usability, the UA6 has become my daily driver in the office, paired with my laptop for over a month now.
The UA6 stays cool even under heavy use, which is especially welcome when it’s paired with a smartphone in your pocket. That said, the sharp corners can be a bit uncomfortable, and I wish Shanling had included a protective case. Unfortunately, if you want one, you’ll need to buy it separately—and the official case costs a fairly steep $15.
Sound
Over the years, I’ve become familiar with Shanling’s house sound – a subtly lush and smooth sonic character that tends to carry over across their devices. The UA6 deviates from that slightly, leaning more towards the current trend of transparency and neutrality. As a result, it delivers a high-fidelity presentation that feels more pristine and airy.
Fear not — the neutral tuning doesn’t mean the UA6 sacrifices musicality. In fact, it offers some of the best bass extension I’ve heard from a dongle DAC. Paired with a good set of IEMs or headphones, the bass reaches deep with authority, yet remains tighter and more refined than what you get from the Shanling UA3 or UA5.
The midrange on the UA6 is effortlessly clean and natural, with a lifelike tonality that brings vocals and acoustic instruments to the forefront. There’s a sense of openness and refinement here, with solid resolution and just the right amount of body to keep things engaging.
The highs carry that familiar CS43131 airiness, laced with a subtle glow and sparkle, yet remain smooth and non-fatiguing. They complement the UA6’s neutral bass and midrange beautifully, revealing fine details and micro-nuances against a pitch-black background.
Staging & Dynamics
The UA6’s inky backdrop also enhances the soundstage, lending it a clean, spacious feel with well-defined imaging, clear separation and each instrument firmly planted in its own space. Imaging is precise and effortless, allowing you to track instruments and vocals with pinpoint accuracy across the stage. Whether it’s subtle background elements or fast panning effects, the UA6 keeps everything organised and sharply rendered.
Comparison
FiiO KA17 ($149)
The KA17 is built around dual ES9069Q DAC chips. It’s slightly smaller than the UA6, but it lacks an internal battery, and its display is a monochromatic dot-matrix compared to the UA6’s colour screen.
As for sonic character, the FiiO KA17 is more coloured and musical than the UA6, with more pronounced lows and slightly subdued treble. This tuning makes the KA17 a great match for leaner or brighter IEMs and headphones, while the UA6 pairs better with warmer transducers.
To my ears, the dual-DAC chip KA17 isn’t quite as resolving as the quad-DAC chip UA6 but it has some extra punchiness and body. Either way, they are both great products and the best choice will depend on your personal tuning preferences and existing gear.
Verdict
The Shanling UA6 is a feature-rich DAC that gets a lot of things right. With its clean and engaging sound, solid output power, and colour display, it’s a highly capable device that feels well-executed from top to bottom. The tuning is versatile, the build is excellent, and it has ample output power.
Sonically, the UA6 delivers a refined and dynamic performance that works well with a wide range of gear. My only real gripe is that it doesn’t come with a case in the box—something that would’ve made sense for a premium-feeling device like this. Still, that aside, this is a cracking little DAC and well worth a look.