IEM Used: LZ-A6 Mini with Magaosi TY-01 cable

Files played: FLAC(32bit/96 KHz), MP3(320 kbps)

Phone vs DAP:
This is my first DAP. Before this I was using UAPP/Poweramp on an Android phone(Redmi K20 Pro). Compared to the phone, audio from a DAP sounds much fuller and fleshed out. It may not be apparent at once, especially if one uses UAPP on Android. But over the duration of my listening session, I noticed various sounds which were not audible to me on a phone. Audio coming from a DAP sounds accurate while that from a phone sounds artificial.

Build Quality:
Q1 is built to last. Full zinc alloy body with metallic finish looks awesome, and feels sturdy in hand. It’s a really heavy device for its size. The only cons is that the physical buttons are very soft and can be pressed easily by accident.

Software:
Q1 uses a custom OS(MTouch 3.0) based on Linux. It can be updated from the Shanling website. One can access My Files, Settings, Equalizer, My Music, etc from the main menu. Navigation is intuitive and very comfortable. There is also an Equalizer with 10 bands and 8 presets(+3 custom presets). The only cons is lack of search option in My Music, but I guess it’s the same with most DAPS in the market.

Audio Quality(without Equalizer):
I paired it with LZ-A6 Mini. The audio signature is neutral and flat. Background is black. There is no noise/hiss. Whatever sound signature one gets will be based entirely on the signature of the IEM one uses.

The bass is very good and controlled. There is no bleeding. Mid bass is good and tight.
The midrange is also great. Vocals sound full and rich. Instruments sound precise.
Treble is extended and sounds transparent. Decay is fast. Treble performance depends much on the IEMS used.

Sound stage is awesome. Its wide and also has a lot of depth. Instrument positioning is accurate. Paired with a good IEM its sure to give one a 3D effect, placing the listener right in the center of recording room.

One can get really awesome sound quality when playing MP3 files, but FLAC is where Q1 really shines. One can hear the intricate details in a music not heard while playing the same FLAC file on a phone/PC.

External DAC:
Q1 can also be used as a DAC. Previously I had never used a DAC before, so when I connected the Q1 to my PC in DAC mode and listened to the audio, my mind was blown! Audio sounds MUCH better from a PC when using a DAC. Even if one doesn’t buy a DAP, but uses a PC for audio purposes, one must at least get a DAC.

Wireless:
Q1 supports 2-way audio through Bluetooth and can play files with aptX or LDAC which is awesome. Even though wireless audio is no match for wired, still, when required Q1 gives the best available in wireless audio.

Pros:
Build quality, Audio quality, external DAC, 2way BT with aptX & LDAC, 2TB sd card support

Cons:
Buttons easy to press accidently, No search in My Music

Should you but it?
If you call yourself an audiophile, but still listen to music on a phone/PC, hell yeah! Just go ahead and order it!
But if you are not an audiophile and haven’t heard about FLACs, stay away.

I have just been using it for a day now... but all I can say is that it has surpassed all my expectations. I would recommend it to anyone. Absolutely superb.

IEM Used: LZ-A6 Mini with Magaosi TY-01 cable
Files played: FLAC(32bit/96 KHz), MP3(320 kbps)

Phone vs DAP:

This is my first DAP. Before this I was using UAPP/Poweramp on an Android phone(Redmi K20 Pro). Compared to the phone, audio from a DAP sounds much fuller and fleshed out. It may not be apparent at once, especially if one uses UAPP on Android. But over the duration of my listening session, I noticed various sounds which were not audible to me on a phone. Audio coming from a DAP sounds accurate while that from a phone sounds artificial.

Build Quality:

Q1 is built to last. Full zinc alloy body with metallic finish looks awesome, and feels sturdy in hand. It’s a really heavy device for its size. The only cons is that the physical buttons are very soft and can be pressed easily by accident.

Software:

Q1 uses a custom OS(MTouch 3.0) based on Linux. It can be updated from the Shanling website. One can access My Files, Settings, Equalizer, My Music, etc from the main menu. Navigation is intuitive and very comfortable. There is also an Equalizer with 10 bands and 8 presets(+3 custom presets). The only cons is lack of search option in My Music, but I guess it’s the same with most DAPS in the market.

Audio Quality(without Equalizer):

I paired it with LZ-A6 Mini. The audio signature is neutral and flat. Background is black. There is no noise/hiss. Whatever sound signature one gets will be based entirely on the signature of the IEM one uses.

The bass is very good and controlled. There is no bleeding. Mid bass is good and tight.
The midrange is also great. Vocals sound full and rich. Instruments sound precise.
Treble is extended and sounds transparent. Decay is fast. Treble performance depends much on the IEMS used.

Sound stage is awesome. Its wide and also has a lot of depth. Instrument positioning is accurate. Paired with a good IEM its sure to give one a 3D effect, placing the listener right in the center of recording room.

One can get really awesome sound quality when playing MP3 files, but FLAC is where Q1 really shines. One can hear the intricate details in a music not heard while playing the same FLAC file on a phone/PC.

External DAC:

Q1 can also be used as a DAC. Previously I had never used a DAC before, so when I connected the Q1 to my PC in DAC mode and listened to the audio, my mind was blown! Audio sounds MUCH better from a PC when using a DAC. Even if one doesn’t buy a DAP, but uses a PC for audio purposes, one must at least get a DAC.

Wireless:
Q1 supports 2-way audio through Bluetooth and can play files with aptX or LDAC which is awesome. Even though wireless audio is no match for wired, still, when required Q1 gives the best available in wireless audio.

Pros:

Build quality, Audio quality, external DAC, 2way BT with aptX & LDAC, 2TB sd card support

Cons:

Buttons easy to press accidently, No search in My Music

Should you but it?

If you call yourself an audiophile, but still listen to music on a phone/PC, hell yeah! Just go ahead and order it!
But if you are not an audiophile and haven’t heard about FLACs, stay away.

Thnx for reading till the end! :)

Update : There is a problem in playing ALAC files , this system hangs and I have to restart it....hope they Shanling can sort out this issue soon in future software upgrade
:( , Time being am Cutting 1 star

First thanks to Abhishek, he cleared my doubt that this is not an update to shanling UA2 , it's for convenience, no review said this :)
Then why I buy this?! :) Wait

1.Support upto 2 TB , my music library is really big and so am not able maintain free space in my OnePlus 7 , 128gb
(bought 256 gb samsung sd card, Q1 don't have internal memory)

2. Type C charging and also I can connect my shanling UA2 (have to enable DAC option)

3. SyncLink - this is the important feature I bought this, you can control this Q1 from your phone by installing SHANLING MUSIC APP in your phone , for this you have to enable bluetooth & SyncLink options in wireless setting
In this mode it's working in LDAC codec, what else you want :)
Intially I planned to buy a BT DAC for my presonus Eris 3.5, but cuz of SyncLink Q1 feature I shifted my focus from TOPPING TC3 DAC (6K) , now am using Q1 as BT DAC as well as my DAP, charge last for 15+ hrs fro my usage

4. Can pair your bluetooth headphones , but there is a slight disadvantage in this option it supports aptx only not aptx HD , so if have a LDAC supported BT earphone it's well and good , according to me this is the only con, am having OnePlus bullets 2 which won't support LDAC

Apart from all these utilities the sound quality also good infact very good it's clean and detailed, it's sounds better than my 10 yr old ipod classic , you can also use DIGITAL FILTERS, but to be honest am not able find the difference between the presets filters :)
It's sound signature is NEUTRAL AND BALANCED, DETAILED

Iems checked - fiio fd1 , tripowin tc 01, moondrop ssr , Blon 03

moondrop drop ssr - I activated HIGH GAIN option, seriously it requires more power and the volume level is 75 to 80 - but the sound is just great

Fiio FD1 - it's sounds very balanced , even though I tried to increase the Bass :) same for blon 03 and tripowin

Only con is the UI handling, but you may used to that in 2,3 days :)

My thoughts : if u have large HI-RES library and you don't have enough money to buy DAC enabled flagship mobile :) and you can use this also as BT DAC as well as pair your BT earphones
jus go 4 this blindly

Pros: Super portable, feels high quality. Love the always-on album art display on a square screen and sleep function. Comes with a matching case and screen guard. The supplied USB cable is good quality braided cable. Sound quality with good earbuds is nice. EQ works well and is recommended to enhance the sound.

Cons: Software is not that great, but that's the case with most of the DAPs out there. No bookmark function for audiobooks/podcasts and managing playlists is pain and buttons are too sensitive.

Overall a good value for money

Great service by Headphone zone, got it in 2 days despite the lockdowns.

Going with 4 stars due to poor software

Please end your internal dialogue and buy this gem. I am so glad it exists. Pair a VE Monk Plus with this and concentrate on music listening and not drooling and pining for the next big breakthrough in the aUdiOpHiLe world.
Friendly advice : Folx with a firm hand grip, the buttons on the left will get pressed with the slightest pressure. Don’t fret, you’ll get used to holding it like a ninja.

Having owned a M0 earlier, I can say that the Q1 is much improved M0 with almost everything including the SQ is a big upgrade. The screen is easier to use now that its a lot bigger, the wheel is much better in build as well but it a tad smaller than I would have liked. The SQ is improved as well especially in stage width and in BT. The bigger dimensions have enabled Shanling to put in 3 hard ware buttons but they are an ergonomic disaster especially in their placement being on the left of the screen and I cant even remember how many times I had unwanted presses while shutting it down or using the scroll wheel on the right of the screen. USB DAC functionality works great with my Thinkpad Laptop and my Android phone. BT sound quality is better than the Shanling UP2 that I also own. Battery life is absolutely smashing and it lasts days without recharging. So in all one of the best DAPs that one can buy below 12k.

After using it for almost a couple of weeks now i can say this player punches its quality above its weight. First of all its not heavy nor too light, beautiful ergonomics, well crafted and has a splendid look and feel about it. I like the retro feel. Now the most important part is the sound quality. I played heavy metal, hard rock, rock, pop, sound tracks, hindi and telugu film and private classical songs with a usual bit rate of 192 to 320 kbps Mp3. I was totally blown over by the clarity, even at high levels of volume (warning: please don't play music at high levels even for short periods- can be damaging to the ear) , didn't notice any lag or distortion. Later I played the the same songs in lossless formats and whoa, what an amazing difference. Shanling - Q1 is pure delight. If you really want to buy and use a player like shanling you must have access to dsd formats, otherwise i don't see much point in buying a dsd player to use it like a mobile. I used headphones and earphones both wired and wireless which support Ldac, Aptx and AAC and they were impressive and my fav is Ldac. Used noise cancelling and ordinary headphones and once again it was an amazing experience. I would say i found the wired headphones and earphones to produce sound slightly better than the wireless ones. I played Game of thrones soundtrack, The last temptation of christ, Gladiator, The Godfather and many soundtracks by Ennio Moricone , metal and hard rock by black sababth, metallica and many more and they were on par with players that cost twice the amount of Q1.
Now somethings a bit disappointing, Bluetooth version could have been the latest, the latest firmware has glitches, especially while using the touch screen, also some earphones sometimes stop playing though the music keeps playing. Also the playlist creation is not user friendly. But overall these are software issues which shanling should rectify in their upcoming updates. Leaving these minor quibbles there is nothing much to complain. IF you are looking for a quality player in the budget of 10k to 15k look no further. This is a gem. Go buy it but take my word if you can only use it with lossless formats, otherwise your mobile would be enough.