[Kepller]

Correct, the Balanced output is the one using both amps and is superior to 3.5mm port.
This is standard for Balanced outputs.

If you have cable with 2.5mm and don't want to use adapter to 4.4 or get new cable, we can recommend to look for the older UA2, which had 2.5mm output.

Thanks. I'm concerned that adaptors will degrade the audio quality. Do you have adaptors to recommend? Unfortunately I've already purchased the Shanling UA2 plus. So it is either terminating the wire and risk oxidation of the wire or use adaptors... Or stick with 3.5mm.. Do you guys not make a usb c dac with equal quality for the unbalanced 3.5mm output?

 

[katamimi]

@Shanling can we know the difference between the unbalanced and balance circuitry in the Shaling UA2 Plus? From the website it seems to be wording it in a direction where only the Balanced 4.4mm port uses the dual Ricore AMPs. Does that mean that the 3.5mm port is inferior and is using a complete different circuitry? E.g using only 1 of the amp.

Such circuits also mean the balanced output draws more power than single-ended (which can be a drawback sometimes).

And often output impedance is doubled. Not an issue for most IEMs, but it seems to cause impedance matching issues on low impedance IEMs, e.g. on my 9-ohm Audiosense T800 I prefer how it sounds on the single-ended output of my devices.

I think single-ended output is fine for many IEMs. But some do sound significantly better when given more power (and for those, I try to fit them into the more powerful balanced outputs).

Maybe try out how balanced vs single-ended sound at shops or audio meets before committing to buying? It might vary a lot, or not at all, depending on the IEM and device, after all.

 

[Kepller]

Such circuits also mean the balanced output draws more power than single-ended (which can be a drawback sometimes).

And often output impedance is doubled. Not an issue for most IEMs, but it seems to cause impedance matching issues on low impedance IEMs, e.g. on my 9-ohm Audiosense T800 I prefer how it sounds on the single-ended output of my devices.

I think single-ended output is fine for many IEMs. But some do sound significantly better when given more power (and for those, I try to fit them into the more powerful balanced outputs).

Maybe try out how balanced vs single-ended sound at shops or audio meets before committing to buying? It might vary a lot, or not at all, depending on the IEM and device, after all.

Interestingly I did find that my UM 30 PRO had expanded soundstage and separation with the same cable on balance, compared to unbalanced. But i preferred how the bass and drums sounded via the unbalanced port as there was more impact, the overall sound was thicker in the unbalanced port. The Westone UM 30 PRO's are 56 ohms. Not sure if the um 30 pros are better or worse for balanced. But thinking out of my head I'm leaning/in favor towards how they sound unbalanced surprisingly.

But then again if I go for the unbalanced cable instead... then in future if i ever change my iems to ones that would favor balanced output.. then I'll be stuck with that cable. So I might still have to get a balanced cable, just that unfortunately the cable i want is 2.5mm instead of 4.4mm..

Does anyone have any idea if I would end up damaging / causing oxidation to the cable if I reterminate the cable from 3.5mm to 4.4mm in future? https://www.aloaudio.com/shop/reference-8-iem/ This is the cable, but I'm wondering how to go about re terminating the cable from 3.5mm to 4.4mm without exposing it to oxygen.

 

[katamimi]

Interestingly I did find that my UM 30 PRO had expanded soundstage and separation with the same cable on balance, compared to unbalanced. But i preferred how the bass and drums sounded via the unbalanced port as there was more impact, the overall sound was thicker in the unbalanced port. The Westone UM 30 PRO's are 56 ohms. Not sure if the um 30 pros are better or worse for balanced. But thinking out of my head I'm leaning/in favor towards how they sound unbalanced surprisingly.

But then again if I go for the unbalanced cable instead... then in future if i ever change my iems to ones that would favor balanced output.. then I'll be stuck with that cable. So I might still have to get a balanced cable, just that unfortunately the cable i want is 2.5mm instead of 4.4mm..

Does anyone have any idea if I would end up damaging / causing oxidation to the cable if I reterminate the cable from 3.5mm to 4.4mm in future? https://www.aloaudio.com/shop/reference-8-iem/ This is the cable, but I'm wondering how to go about re terminating the cable from 3.5mm to 4.4mm without exposing it to oxygen.

iirc, the theoretical guideline was that the driver impedance (IEM impedance) should be at least eight times the output impedance, and 56 ohms is high enough that impedance matching won't be an issue on virtually all devices I should think.

Re-termination is above my pay grade, but I suppose it would depend on the materials and workmanship. For how much retermination services cost here (unless you know how to DIY properly), I prefer to just buy new cables instead (I'm not using expensive cables after all).

All the best with your decision - in hindsight I often wondered why I researched and agonised so much over a trivial (or even non-?!) difference in sound - I guess I also just wanted to satisfy my curiosity!

 

[Shanling]

Thanks. I'm concerned that adaptors will degrade the audio quality. Do you have adaptors to recommend? Unfortunately I've already purchased the Shanling UA2 plus. So it is either terminating the wire and risk oxidation of the wire or use adaptors... Or stick with 3.5mm.. Do you guys not make a usb c dac with equal quality for the unbalanced 3.5mm output?

For all our devices I would say balanced output is better than single-ended.

You can just get the cable reterminated at some decent Hi-Fi service shop.

 

[Kepller]

@Shanling the windows support is pretty buggy. Before and After downloading the Shanling Windows driver from the official shanling website... sometimes I've to restart apps just to get audio output from the app... E.g while listening to spotify or playing games on my speakers, I connect the Shanling UA2 Plus via usb c to my PC, switch the sound output from my speakers to the Shanling UA2 Plus in windows sound settings, NO sound comes out of my in ear monitors/earphones until i close spotify and re-open it.. Same goes for my PC games on steam, I'll have to take the trouble to exit the game and re-launch before audio comes out of my earphones. Please fix this asap as it is a pain to use the DAC in this state. I've never had to do this when I plug my earphones directly into the PC via 3.5mm audio port.

(Pretty confident its not limited by my hardware)
My desktop setup is:
ASUS ROG Z390F
Intel i7 8700k
RTX 3060
32GB 3600mhz RAM
Windows 11 Pro

Additionally, i hear a clicking sound once in awhile, while connected to both my PC and my S23 Ultra. Hope these issues can be resolved.

 

[Shanling]

@Shanling the windows support is pretty buggy. Before and After downloading the Shanling Windows driver from the official shanling website... sometimes I've to restart apps just to get audio output from the app... E.g while listening to spotify or playing games on my speakers, I connect the Shanling UA2 Plus via usb c to my PC, switch the sound output from my speakers to the Shanling UA2 Plus in windows sound settings, NO sound comes out of my in ear monitors/earphones until i close spotify and re-open it.. Same goes for my PC games on steam, I'll have to take the trouble to exit the game and re-launch before audio comes out of my earphones. Please fix this asap as it is a pain to use the DAC in this state. I've never had to do this when I plug my earphones directly into the PC via 3.5mm audio port.

(Pretty confident its not limited by my hardware)
My desktop setup is:
ASUS ROG Z390F
Intel i7 8700k
RTX 3060
32GB 3600mhz RAM
Windows 11 Pro

Additionally, i hear a clicking sound once in awhile, while connected to both my PC and my S23 Ultra. Hope these issues can be resolved.

Which version of drivers are you using? Please try our latest V2.31: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M17QhA5qLGyUVfRGJfjJte4EtPbVqt29/view?usp=drive_link

 

[Kepller]

Which version of drivers are you using? Please try our latest V2.31: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M17QhA5qLGyUVfRGJfjJte4EtPbVqt29/view?usp=drive_link

I've been using this driver for 2 days. The issue is still there. Will there be a fix for this as it feels as if the shanling ua2 plus windows driver is half-baked. It is too easy to reproduce, just connect a shanling ua2 plus into the computer while spotify is already running, switch between apps and switch between the motherboard's audio and shanling ua2 plus. Eventually one of the apps, e.g Spotify or Edge (Youtube) will no longer output any sound. You would have to go into windows audio settings and switch between the audio output from shanling ua2 plus to realtek, and then back to shanling ua2 plus for the audio in the particular app to output sound.

 

[Shanling]

I've been using this driver for 2 days. The issue is still there. Will there be a fix for this as it feels as if the shanling ua2 plus windows driver is half-baked. It is too easy to reproduce, just connect a shanling ua2 plus into the computer while spotify is already running, switch between apps and switch between the motherboard's audio and shanling ua2 plus. Eventually one of the apps, e.g Spotify or Edge (Youtube) will no longer output any sound. You would have to go into windows audio settings and switch between the audio output from shanling ua2 plus to realtek, and then back to shanling ua2 plus for the audio in the particular app to output sound.

OK, reported to software team.