Shanling UA4 USB DAC/Amp Review
A USB DAC/amp from Shanling built on an ESS Sabre ES9069Q DAC with dual RT6863 amplifier chips, 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced outputs and a built-in display. The page lists up to 211mW at 32 ohm and PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz; the price is $99.

Our verdict
A USB DAC/amp for someone who wants a named ESS Sabre chip, dual amplifier chips and a built-in display with both 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs at $99. Look elsewhere if you need a power figure for each output or a confirmed color name. The main caveat is that the 211mW figure is not tied to a named output and the page text lists Silver and Grey while the options are Silver and Titanium.
- Best for
- Someone who wants a USB DAC/amp with a named ESS DAC, a built-in display and a listed 211mW at 32 ohm.
- Skip if
- You need a power figure for each output or a confirmed second color name.
Shanling's UA4 uses an ESS Sabre ES9069Q DAC and two RT6863 amplifier chips, which the page says provide up to 211mW at 32 ohm. Per the page it supports PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz and Native DSD512, has a 3.5mm single-ended and a 4.4mm balanced output, and shows bitrate and volume on a built-in display. The price is $99 for either of two color options.
Options and pricing
There are two orderable options, Silver and Titanium, and both cost $99. The page text, though, mentions Silver and Grey options, so the color names are inconsistent on the page. No crossed-out price is shown. The page lists UAC2.0 and UAC1.0 modes, with the UAC1.0 mode described as the one that works with the Nintendo Switch and other gaming systems.
How it compares
The HiBy FC5 is the same $99 and its listing text mentions CS43198 and SGM8261, against the ES9069Q named here. The DDHIFI TC44Pro E3 costs $105.99 with SGM8262 and CS43198 mentions, and the DDHiFi TC44PRO M3 costs $89.99 with a CS43198 mention.
Shipping
- Methods and costs. The store's shipping page offers Standard Shipping (4PX, Yanwen or Yun Express), free for most countries, and Express Shipping (DHL Express, FedEx or SF Express) at 15-50 USD depending on the country, free for orders over 270 USD in most countries (checked 2026-11-11).
- Delivery times. It says an in-stock order ships within 3 working days, Standard takes about 2 weeks after shipping out (up to 1-3 months for some countries, and the store makes no refund for that transit time) and Express takes about 3-7 days. Festive seasons and other circumstances can change the timing.
- Taxes and fees. The buyer pays any customs, import or processing fees. The page says Standard via YunExpress is tax-inclusive for some countries, that remote areas can carry extra Express charges, and that a parcel refused or left uncollected over taxes is deducted two-way freight and may be destroyed with no refund.
- Where it ships. The page says the store can generally ship to most countries by Express and many by Standard, and to confirm Standard with the team for your country. It cannot ship to PO boxes or APO/FPO addresses and can only use Express to Hawaii. It does not name the US, Canada, the UK, Australia or New Zealand, so confirm before you pay.
- Lost parcels. If a parcel has been in transit for at least 3 months, the page offers a one-time reshipment or a full refund for orders under $50 and a 50% refund for orders above $50.
Returns and warranty
- Returns. The return page allows returning any non-customized product that is still factory sealed within 30 days of receiving it, with the buyer paying the shipping. Email [email protected] within that period; the store asks for the return to be shipped within 5 working days of the RMA instructions and in most cases processes a refund within 5 business days of inspecting it (checked 2026-11-11).
- Opened items. A product opened within the first 7 days after delivery can be returned for the price minus a restocking fee of 35% of its retail value, including when it still works properly.
- Refund or credit. The buyer can choose a refund to the original payment method (PayPal or card) or store credit; with no answer within 48 hours of confirmation the default is store credit, which can also be prioritized during promotions, final-sale events and for items 40% or more off retail.
- Not returnable. Customized products, including faceplate designs, are non-refundable, and the page says the same applies to carry cases, cables, ear tips and other accessories, "due to hygiene purposes". If one item in a package is defective, incorrect or missing, the refund or replacement covers only that item.
- Warranty. The page gives a 1-year warranty on products, excluding carry cases, ear tips and other accessories, and 3 months on cables and adapters, from the date of purchase. It covers factory defects that affect proper function, not damage from human error, negligence, accidents, dismantling, water, abuse or modification (checked 2026-11-11).
- Not covered or limited. It does not apply to items bought elsewhere (AliExpress, Amazon, local dealers and the like), prize or giveaway items, normal wear or colour change, commercial use, or items that were stolen or went missing. Coverage is limited for products 40% or more off retail, for review units and for items repaired or modified by anyone Linsoul has not authorized.
- Claims. Email [email protected] with the order number, the issue and photos and videos of the fault. The store may ask for the unit back for a replacement. It covers shipping for some defects reported within 7 days of delivery if the fault can be shown on video or photo; after 7 days the buyer ships it back. For wrong or missing items an unboxing video of the whole sealed parcel is required.
Before you buy
Linsoul says it was founded in 2016 by the Crazy HiFi team to bring Chinese HiFi makers closer to listeners worldwide, and that it now sells other makers' products alongside four brands of its own, THIEAUDIO, Kiwi Ears, ZiiGaat and Tripowin (checked 2026-11-11).
We have not read any independent review of this product or of the store. Ratings and owner reviews shown on the store's own pages are the store's and were not verified.
What we liked
- The page names an ESS Sabre ES9069Q DAC and dual RT6863 amplifier chips
- A power figure comes with its load: up to 211mW at 32 ohm
- PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz and Native DSD512 are listed
- Both 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced outputs, a built-in display and physical keys for volume and playback are described
- UAC2.0 and UAC1.0 modes are listed, with the Nintendo Switch named for UAC1.0
Worth noting
- The page does not say which output the 211mW at 32 ohm figure belongs to
- The color names disagree: the options are Silver and Titanium while the text mentions Silver and Grey
- The listing text gives no weight, dimensions or package contents
- Some figures in the page text run into neighbouring words, so they are easy to misread
Questions before you buy
Which DAC chip and amplifiers does the UA4 list?
The page lists an ES9069Q DAC from ESS Sabre Technologies and dual RT6863 amplifier chips.
What power and sample rates does it list?
The page lists up to 211mW at 32 ohm, PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz and Native DSD512. It does not say which output the power figure belongs to.
Which colors can I order?
The orderable options are Silver and Titanium at $99 each, although the page text mentions Silver and Grey.
Can I return it if I change my mind?
The return page allows returning a non-customized product that is still factory sealed within 30 days of receiving it, with the buyer paying shipping. An opened product returned within 7 days carries a 35% restocking fee. Refunds go to the original payment method or to store credit, which is the default if you do not choose.
How long does shipping take?
The shipping page says in-stock orders ship within 3 working days. Standard Shipping takes about 2 weeks after shipping out, up to 1-3 months for some countries, and Express takes about 3-7 days. Standard is free for most countries; Express costs 15-50 USD and is free over 270 USD (over $499.99 for large items such as headphones and desktop DAC/AMPs).
Does Linsoul ship to the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand?
The page says Linsoul can generally ship to most countries by Express and many by Standard, and to ask the team about Standard for your country. It names no restriction for the US, Canada, the UK, Australia or New Zealand, but it does not list them either, and it can only use Express to Hawaii.
What warranty does it have?
The page gives a 1-year warranty on products from the purchase date for factory defects, not for human error, accidents or modification. Coverage is limited for items 40% or more off retail and for review units, and it does not apply to items bought from other sellers.
Sources & verification
What this review is based on and the day we last read it. Specs and claims from the maker are the maker’s own; the verdict and the rating are ours.
From the store
- ShanLing UA4 product page: specs, options and price (the buy buttons go there)Specs, options and the listed priceRead November 11, 2026
- Linsoul shipping pageStandard and Express shipping, costs and times, import taxes, lost parcels, couriers, trackingRead November 11, 2026
- Linsoul return policy and warranty page30-day returns of sealed items, 35% restocking fee on opened ones, 1-year and 3-month warranties, exclusions, how to claimRead November 11, 2026
- Linsoul support FAQThe same shipping, return and warranty rules in question form, plus order changes and cancellationsRead November 11, 2026
- About LinsoulFounded in 2016 by the Crazy HiFi team; names its own brands; the awards listed there are the store's own accountRead November 11, 2026
What we couldn’t verify
- The page says up to 211mW at 32 ohm without naming an output, and the listing text gives no weight, dimensions or package contents.
- The page text mentions Silver and Grey while the orderable options are Silver and Titanium, and the listing text does not explain the difference.
- The page's wording on distortion, SNR and clear audio performance is the maker's claims and was not checked here.
- We have not read an independent review of this product or the store, and the store's own ratings were not verified. We read the store's catalog description only: a specification table or image shown just on the live page was not read.
- The shipping page names no US, Canada, UK, Australia or New Zealand times or fees: its figures are general and we could not confirm them for these countries.
Spotted an error or something out of date? Tell us and we’ll fix it and update the date.


