Shanling
Shenzhen, Guangdong, China · founded 1988
One of the longest-established Chinese hi-fi makers (roots to 1988), spanning heritage desktop CD/SACD players and modern portable audio. Note the Onix relationship: Onix is a UK-heritage brand that Shanling does NOT own — Shanling used the name without rights in the 2000s, lost a UK trademark dispute (~2014-15), and since 2020 licenses the Onix name for certain portable products it designs/builds under that agreement. Onix is therefore a licensed/manufactured-for brand, not a Shanling subsidiary.
Shanling is a long-established Chinese personal-audio manufacturer best known today for its portable digital audio players (M-series DAPs), USB dongle DAC/amps (UA-series) and Bluetooth amps (UP-series), alongside in-ear monitors, true-wireless earphones, and a heritage line of desktop CD/SACD players and amplifiers. The company traces its roots to 1988 (first Hi-Fi stereo amplifier), moved to Shenzhen in 1996, and formed the joint-venture Shenzhen Shanling Digital Technology Development Co., Ltd. in 2002. It is widely regarded as one of the more polished and mature Chi-Fi brands, particularly in the mid-to-premium DAP segment.
At a glance
- Type
- Manufacturer
- Founded
- 1988
- Headquarters
- Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Price range
- Budget → flagship
- Makes / sells
- digital audio players, portable DAC/amps, USB dongle DAC/amps, Bluetooth DAC/amps, in-ear monitors, true wireless earphones, headphones, CD/SACD players, amplifiers, digital transports
- Known for
- digital audio players (DAPs), portable/dongle DAC-amps, AKM/ESS DAC implementations, Android-based hi-res players, desktop CD/SACD sources
- Website
- shanling.com
Notable products
- Shanling M9 / M9 Plus — Flagship Android DAPs; M9 (dual AK4499EQ, ~$2,799, limited to 500 units) and M9 Plus (quad AK4499EX, ~$2,959)
- Shanling M6 Ultra — Popular mid-tier Android DAP, quad AK4493SEQ, ~$919; frequently cited as a strong sub-$1k player
- Shanling M6 (2021) — Mid-range Android DAP, ~$499
- Shanling UA-series dongles (UA1 Plus, UA4, UA5, UA6, UA7) — USB dongle DAC/amps spanning ~$49 to ~$298; UA7 features a tube-emulation stage
- Shanling UP-series — Portable Bluetooth DAC/amp receivers (e.g., UP4, UP5, UP6)
- Shanling ME-series IEMs (ME100, ME200, ME500) — In-ear monitor lineup
- Shanling MTW100 / MTW300 — True wireless earphones; MTW100 was Shanling's first TWS
Sources: Shanling official company profile (store.shanling.com) · Treoo brand page — Shenzhen Shanling Digital Technology (company history/timeline) · Justia Trademarks — Shenzhen Shanling Digital Technology Development Co., Ltd. · Forte Distribution — What Is Shanski? Brand overview (founded 1988) · Head-Fi — Onix Audio confusion: does Shanling own the brand? · Headfonics — Shanling M6 Ultra review (specs/price) · Headfonia — Shanling M9 Plus review