Shanling H2 Portable DAC/AMP & Player

The Shanling H2 is the most compact of Shanling’s H-series portable DAC/amps, with a built-in music player. Use it as a USB DAC for a phone, tablet, computer or games console, as a Bluetooth DAC with LDAC and AAC, or on its own with a microSD card. A Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC and two SG Micro amplifiers drive 3.5mm and 4.4mm outputs with up to 680mW into 32Ω, and a 2,100mAh battery gives up to 12.5 hours of listening.

Smaller and lighter

At 71.5 × 100 × 21.5mm and 185g, the H2 is Shanling’s most compact H model, with a new design whose control wheels are integrated into the body so they don’t snag in a pocket. It shares its system platform with the larger H5 and H7, and a 0.99-inch colour screen gives easy access to playback information and settings.

A portable DAC/amp that plays on its own

Slot in a microSD card of up to 2TB and the H2 plays music independently, at up to PCM 192kHz and DSD128 (DoP), or DSD64 natively, across formats from MP3 and FLAC to DSD, DXD and Opus. Shanling’s Eddict Player app lets you browse the whole card library from your phone.

Cirrus Logic CS43198, tuned for a mellow sound

The highly acclaimed CS43198 is rated for up to 130dB of dynamic range, and in the H2 it reaches a 125dB signal-to-noise ratio and 0.0007% distortion, with hi-res up to 32-bit/384kHz. Shanling’s audio engineers, with more than 35 years of hi-fi experience, tuned it for Shanling’s favourite full, mellow sound, with carefully matched parts and true hi-fi performance.

XMOS USB and SG Micro amplifiers

An XMOS XU208 USB chip gives an asynchronous, low-latency connection to any phone or computer, with PCM up to 384kHz and native DSD256. Two SG Micro SGM8262-2 op-amps drive the balanced output, with Japanese ELNA Silmic II capacitors for the traditional Shanling house sound: rich, warm and pleasing. Four digital filters let you adjust the presentation.

From earphones to full-size headphones

The 3.5mm output gives 180mW into 32Ω on high gain (90mW on low) and the 4.4mm balanced output 680mW (340mW on low). Low noise and low output impedance (0.4Ω and 0.8Ω) suit sensitive earphones, and there is enough power for many full-size headphones.

Battery and independent charging

The 2,100mAh battery, a dedicated power-management chip and Shanling’s power-efficient audio design give up to 12.5 hours from the 3.5mm output and 10.5 hours from the 4.4mm output. Two USB-C ports on the back separate charging from the USB DAC input, for less interference and full control over how the H2 is charged.

Bluetooth with LDAC and AAC

Pair it with your phone and the H2 becomes a hi-fi Bluetooth DAC/amp, with LDAC for Android and AAC for Apple devices. The H2 is a Bluetooth receiver only; it cannot transmit to wireless headphones.

Fits into many set-ups

Use it as an external sound card for a smartphone, a computer or a tablet for films and games, and switch to UAC 1.0 mode for the PS5 and Nintendo Switch.

Easy controls and colourful lights

Hold the power button for 3 seconds to switch on or off. During playback, the right wheel sets the volume, a short press of the power button plays and pauses, and a double press locks the keys. Hold the multi-function button for 2 seconds to open the settings, then use it and the left wheel to move through and change them. A light shows red while charging and changes colour with the sample rate: blue for 44.1/48kHz, yellow for 88.2–192kHz, purple for 352/384kHz and green for DSD. The H2 is certified Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Audio Wireless.

Good to know

• Bluetooth is receive-only: the H2 cannot send to wireless headphones.
• In the box: H2, short USB-C to USB-C cable for phones, long USB-A to USB-C cable for charging or computers, and quick guide. Black or silver.