soundblooms
Deals

USB-C DONGLE · AKM AK4493SEQ

Shanling UA3

A USB-C dongle with an AKM AK4493SEQ DAC chip, a 3.5 mm and a 4.4 mm balanced output.

Manual (PDF) · Manufacturer page · Price history

POWER AT 32 Ω210mW4.4 mm balanced, per channel not stated
OUTPUT IMPEDANCE<0.4Ω3.5 mm; 4.4 mm <0.8 Ω
SNRNot statedNo data from the manufacturer
PRICE$109Shanling store
OUTPUTS3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced
DAC CHIPAKM AK4493SEQ
PARAMETRIC EQNot statedShanling lists none
CONTOURNot supported

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

Outputs and power

4.4 mm balanced
210mWat 32 Ω
Spec image: 210 mW at 32 Ω, THD+N 0.0003% @ 32Ω, A-Weighting @ 1V, per channel or both channels not stated
Output impedance <0.8 Ω
3.5 mm
125mWat 32 Ω
Spec image: 125 mW at 32 Ω, THD+N 0.0004% @ 32Ω, A-Weighting @ 1V, per channel or both channels not stated
Output impedance <0.4 Ω

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

The product-page specification image gives 2.6 V @ 32 Ω (210 mW @ 32 Ω) for the 4.4 mm balanced output, while the Quick Start Guide gives 2.6 V @ 32 (211 mW @ 32). The panel keeps the product-page figure; no cause for the difference is documented.

Is it enough for your headphones?

Shanling rates the UA3 at 210 mW into 32 Ω from the 4.4 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. 105 mW at 16 Ω+22 dB
Most IEMsTypical in-ears, 16 to 50 Ω
needs 3.2 mW210 mW at 32 Ω+18 dB
Easy-to-drive headphonesClosed and portable, 32 Ω
needs 16 mW210 mW at 32 Ω+11 dB
Hard-to-drive headphones300 Ω, HD 600 class, hungry for voltage
needs 20 mWest. 22 mW at 300 Ω+0.5 dB
Most planarsPlanar magnetic, low impedance, need current
needs 50 mW210 mW at 32 Ω+6 dB
Demanding planarsThe hardest loads, desktop territory
needs 251 mWest. 112 mW at 60 Ω4 dB short

Where to buy

Some shop links are affiliate links: if you buy through one, I may earn a commission. Your price and the order stay the same.

Shanling store · manufacturer MSRP, checked 16 Oct 2026$109HiFiGo · sold out, read 11 Nov 2026$109

Price historyCompare prices on Soundblooms Deals

The device

From Shanling's introducing Shanling UA3 unless marked
InputUSB-C
FormatsPCM up to 32-bit / 768 kHz, DSD512
DAC chipAKM AK4493SEQ
VolumeHardware buttons
AppEddict Player, Android onlymanual
Parametric EQNo data from the manufacturer. Not supported in Contour.
Size60 × 25 × 13 mmmanual

How it stacks up against the competition

Power at 32 Ω · price in US dollars
100 mW200 mW500 mW10 mW$70$100$200scale breaks hereMost IEMs need 3.2 mW+18 dB to spareFiiO KA13: 550 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99FiiO KA17: 650 mW at 32 Ω, $144.99FiiO KA5: 265 mW at 32 Ω, $119.99KA5FiiO KA15: 560 mW at 32 Ω, $99.99iBasso DC04PRO: 280 mW at 32 Ω, $119iBasso DC07PRO: 430 mW at 32 Ω, $199Questyle M15i: 2.41 mW at 32 Ω, $169MOONDROP 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, $119DC06iBasso DC06PRO: 320 mW at 32 Ω, $119Hidizs 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 UA2: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $85UA2Shanling 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, $79.99NiceHCK 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 UA3100 mW200 mW500 mW50 mW$70$100$200scale breaks hereMost IEMs need 3.2 mW+18 dB to spareFiiO KA13: 550 mW at 32 Ω, $65.99FiiO KA17: 650 mW at 32 Ω, $144.99FiiO KA5: 265 mW at 32 Ω, $119.99KA5FiiO KA15: 560 mW at 32 Ω, $99.99iBasso DC04PRO: 280 mW at 32 Ω, $119DC04PROiBasso DC07PRO: 430 mW at 32 Ω, $199Questyle M15i: 2.41 mW at 32 Ω, $169MOONDROP 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, $119DC06iBasso DC06PRO: 320 mW at 32 Ω, $119DC06PROHidizs 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 UA2: 195 mW at 32 Ω, $85UA2Shanling 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)JCALLY AP20: 330 mW at 32 Ω, ~$91.88AP20JCALLY Galaxy SONATA: 560 mW at 32 Ω, $79.99NiceHCK 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 UA3
  • Nearby
  • Same DAC chip
  • Most IEMs, 3.2 mW

Devices with the same DAC chip

AK4493SEQ · 2 devices use it
JCALLYAP90

All 2 in the finder

Compared with

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

Shanling UA3 vs Shanling UA4

At 32 Ω Shanling UA3 is listed at 210 mW and Shanling UA4 at 227 mW; the lowest prices are $109 and $99, $10 apart.

Shanling UA3 vs Shanling UA4: the manufacturers' stated figures and today's lowest price, side by side
Shanling UA3Shanling UA4
Power at 32 Ω210 mW4.4 mm balanced, THD+N 0.0003% @ 32Ω, A-Weighting @ 1V227 mW4.4 mm balanced, THD+N 0.0008 @ 32Ω, A-Weight @ 2V
Price today$109Shanling store, 16 Oct$99Linsoul, 16 Oct
DAC chipAKM AK4493SEQESS ES9069Q
InputsUSB-CUSB-C
Outputs3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced3.5 mm · 4.4 mm balanced
Size60 × 25 × 13 mmNot stated

Shanling UA3 price history · Shanling UA4 price history

More like this

More portable DAC amps

Sources

Checked 14 Oct 2026
Introducing Shanling UA3
shanling.com
Used for formats, the DAC chip, input, outputs, controls, the app and usb audio class
UA3 Quick Start Guide
shanling.com · the manual, PDF
Used for power, output impedance, the app, size, weight and power source
AKM customer story: Shanling UA3
akm.com
Used for the DAC chip
AKM AK4493S launch announcement
akm.com