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USB-C DONGLE · ESS ES9038Q2M

Shanling UA2

A USB-C dongle with an ESS ES9038Q2M DAC chip, a 3.5 mm and a 2.5 mm balanced output. Weight 12.6 g.

Manufacturer page

POWER AT 32 Ω195mW2.5 mm balanced, per channel not stated
OUTPUT IMPEDANCE0.8Ω3.5 mm; 2.5 mm 1.6 Ω
SNRNot statedNo data from the manufacturer
PRICE$85Shanling store
OUTPUTS3.5 mm · 2.5 mm balanced
DAC CHIPESS ES9038Q2M
PARAMETRIC EQNot statedShanling lists none
CONTOURNot supported

Numbers are the manufacturer's stated figures unless marked as measured; sources linked below.

Outputs and power

2.5 mm balanced
195mWat 32 Ω
Spec image: 195 mW at 32 Ω, THD+N 0.0008%@32Ω, A-weighting @0.5V, per channel or both channels not stated
Output impedance 1.6 Ω
3.5 mm
125mWat 32 Ω
Spec image: 125 mW at 32 Ω, THD+N 0.0008%@32Ω, A-weighting @0.5V, per channel or both channels not stated
Output impedance 0.8 Ω

Not stated: gain, supply voltage, SNR, distortion, crosstalk.

Is it enough for your headphones?

Shanling rates the UA2 at 195 mW into 32 Ω from the 2.5 mm balanced output. Below is how much of that is left to spare for each kind of headphones when you listen loud, with peaks at 110 dB. A figure marked est. is worked out from that rating.

Sensitive IEMsMulti-driver sets that hiss on strong sources
needs 0.6 mWest. 98 mW at 16 Ω+22 dB
Most IEMsTypical in-ears, 16 to 50 Ω
needs 3.2 mW195 mW at 32 Ω+18 dB
Easy-to-drive headphonesClosed and portable, 32 Ω
needs 16 mW195 mW at 32 Ω+11 dB
Hard-to-drive headphones300 Ω, HD 600 class, hungry for voltage
needs 20 mWest. 21 mW at 300 Ω+0.2 dB
Most planarsPlanar magnetic, low impedance, need current
needs 50 mW195 mW at 32 Ω+6 dB
Demanding planarsThe hardest loads, desktop territory
needs 251 mWest. 104 mW at 60 Ω4 dB short

Where to buy

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Shanling store · manufacturer MSRP, checked 16 Oct 2026$85

Compare prices on Soundblooms Deals

The device

From Shanling's introducing Shanling UA2 unless marked
InputUSB-C
FormatsPCM up to 32-bit / 768 kHz, DSD512
DAC chipESS ES9038Q2M
AppEddict Player, Not iOSShanling Eddict Player page
Parametric EQNo data from the manufacturer. Not supported in Contour.
Size54 × 18 × 9 mm
Weight12.6 g

How it stacks up against the competition

Power at 32 Ω · price in US dollars
100 mW200 mW500 mW$50$70$100scale breaks hereMost IEMs need 3.2 mW+18 dB to spareFiiO KA13: 550 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99FiiO KA5: 265 mW at 32 Ω, $119.99FiiO KA15: 560 mW at 32 Ω, $99.99iBasso DC04PRO: 280 mW at 32 Ω, $119MOONDROP DAWN 4.4: 230 mW at 32 Ω, $69.99FiiO KA1: 45 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99FiiO KA3: 235 mW at 32 Ω, $95.94iBasso DC03PRO: 98 mW at 32 Ω, $69iBasso DC05: 93 mW at 32 Ω, $69iBasso DC06: 320 mW at 32 Ω, $119iBasso DC06PRO: 320 mW at 32 Ω, $119Hidizs S9: 125 mW at 32 Ω, $49.99Hidizs S9 PRO: 200 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99Hidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha: 180 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99Hidizs S8 Pro Robin: 160 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99MOONDROP DAWN PRO 2: 62 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99TempoTec Sonata BHD Pro: 280 mW at 32 Ω, $59.90Shanling UA3: 210 mW at 32 Ω, $109UA3Shanling UA4: 227 mW at 32 Ω, $99UA4iFi GO link: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $59iFi GO link Max: 241 mW at 32 Ω, $79CrinEar Protocol Max: 300 mW at 32 Ω, $76.49 (lowest offer on /deals today)JCALLY AP20: 330 mW at 32 Ω, ~$91.88JCALLY Galaxy SONATA: 560 mW at 32 Ω, $79.99JCALLY SP30: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$54.61NiceHCK Octave: 550 mW at 32 Ω, $89NiceHCK PureAural: 210 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99Muse HiFi M3 Ultra: 480 mW at 32 Ω, $109.99Shanling UA2100 mW200 mW500 mW50 mW$50$70$100scale breaks hereMost IEMs need 3.2 mW+18 dB to spareFiiO KA13: 550 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99FiiO KA5: 265 mW at 32 Ω, $119.99FiiO KA15: 560 mW at 32 Ω, $99.99iBasso DC04PRO: 280 mW at 32 Ω, $119MOONDROP DAWN 4.4: 230 mW at 32 Ω, $69.99DAWN 4.4FiiO KA1: 45 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99FiiO KA3: 235 mW at 32 Ω, $95.94KA3iBasso DC03PRO: 98 mW at 32 Ω, $69iBasso DC05: 93 mW at 32 Ω, $69iBasso DC06: 320 mW at 32 Ω, $119iBasso DC06PRO: 320 mW at 32 Ω, $119Hidizs S9: 125 mW at 32 Ω, $49.99Hidizs S9 PRO: 200 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99S9 PROHidizs S9 Pro Plus Martha: 180 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99S9 Pro Plus MarthaHidizs S8 Pro Robin: 160 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99S8 Pro RobinMOONDROP DAWN PRO 2: 62 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99TempoTec Sonata BHD Pro: 280 mW at 32 Ω, $59.90Shanling UA3: 210 mW at 32 Ω, $109UA3Shanling UA4: 227 mW at 32 Ω, $99UA4iFi GO link: 70 mW at 32 Ω, $59iFi GO link Max: 241 mW at 32 Ω, $79GO link MaxCrinEar Protocol Max: 300 mW at 32 Ω, $76.49 (lowest offer on /deals today)Protocol MaxJCALLY AP20: 330 mW at 32 Ω, ~$91.88JCALLY Galaxy SONATA: 560 mW at 32 Ω, $79.99JCALLY SP30: 31.3 mW at 32 Ω, ~$54.61NiceHCK Octave: 550 mW at 32 Ω, $89NiceHCK PureAural: 210 mW at 32 Ω, $59.99PureAuralMuse HiFi M3 Ultra: 480 mW at 32 Ω, $109.99Shanling UA2
  • Nearby
  • Same DAC chip
  • Most IEMs, 3.2 mW

Devices with the same DAC chip

ES9038Q2M · 6 devices use it
HidizsS9 Pro Plus Martha180 mW$65.99180 mW · $65.99
FiiOKA3≥235 mW<0.5 ΩNomodel: RT6863D; count: 2$95.94≥235 mW · <0.5 Ω · $95.94PEQ No · Amp model: RT6863D; count: 2
AudioQuestDragonFly Cobalt$199.95$199.95
JCALLYJM60ESS ES9603QAmp ESS ES9603Q
JCALLYJM60LESS ES9603QAmp ESS ES9603Q

All 6 in the finder

Compared with

Manufacturers' stated figures; the price is today's lowest

Shanling UA2 vs JCALLY AP10

JCALLY AP10 is among the dongles in the catalog closest to Shanling UA2 in price: the lowest prices are $85 and ~$82.61.

Shanling UA2 vs JCALLY AP10: the manufacturers' stated figures and today's lowest price, side by side
Shanling UA2JCALLY AP10
Power at 32 Ω195 mW2.5 mm balanced, THD+N 0.0008%@32Ω, A-weighting @0.5VNot stated
Price today$85Shanling store, 16 Oct~$82.61AliExpress, 7 Nov
DAC chipESS ES9038Q2MCirrus Logic CS43131 × 2
InputsUSB-CUSB-C
Outputs3.5 mm · 2.5 mm balanced3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced
Size54 × 18 × 9 mm56.7 × 24.4 × 11.7 mm
Weight12.6 gAbout 26.5 g

Shanling UA2 vs NiceHCK Octave

NiceHCK Octave is among the dongles in the catalog closest to Shanling UA2 in price: at 32 Ω Shanling UA2 is listed at 195 mW and NiceHCK Octave at 550 mW; the lowest prices are $85 and $89, $4 apart.

Shanling UA2 vs NiceHCK Octave: the manufacturers' stated figures and today's lowest price, side by side
Shanling UA2NiceHCK Octave
Power at 32 Ω195 mW2.5 mm balanced, THD+N 0.0008%@32Ω, A-weighting @0.5V550 mW4.4 mm balanced, high gain, Q&A, Q2: high-gain mode, balanced output
Price today$85Shanling store, 16 Oct$89NiceHCK store, 9 Nov
DAC chipESS ES9038Q2MES9039Q2M
InputsUSB-CUSB-C
Outputs3.5 mm · 2.5 mm balanced3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced
Size54 × 18 × 9 mmNot stated
Weight12.6 gAbout 25 g

Shanling UA2 vs TANCHJIM SPACE

TANCHJIM SPACE is among the dongles in the catalog closest to Shanling UA2 in price: the lowest prices are $85 and $80.99, $4.01 apart.

Shanling UA2 vs TANCHJIM SPACE: the manufacturers' stated figures and today's lowest price, side by side
Shanling UA2TANCHJIM SPACE
Power at 32 Ω195 mW2.5 mm balanced, THD+N 0.0008%@32Ω, A-weighting @0.5VNot stated
Price today$85Shanling store, 16 Oct$80.99The HiFi Cat, 11 Nov
DAC chipESS ES9038Q2MCS43131 × 2
InputsUSB-CUSB-C
Outputs3.5 mm · 2.5 mm balanced3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced
Size54 × 18 × 9 mm41 × 21 × 12 mm
Weight12.6 g14.8 g

TANCHJIM SPACE price history

More like this

More portable DAC amps

Sources

Checked 14 Oct 2026
Introducing Shanling UA2
shanling.com
Used for power, output impedance, formats, the DAC chip, input, outputs, size and weight
Shanling Eddict Player page
shanling.com
Used for the app