Yulong DAC - Page 4

my dah1 has arrived

and guess what, its the mark version! the ebay listing said nothing about it being a newer version or anything like that... the email replies seem to suggest that the person replying to me was in Singapore, but they had to delay the shipment of my amp due to the earthquake in China

well, the amp itself, what can i say, im a noob when it comes to audio and it sounds perfect one way or another... i thought using my k701 on my soundcard's onboard amps was amazing, using this is just the perfection that akg mentioned about on their box ... everything sounds even clearer, i didnt know that mp3's had so much detail in them, i can now tell with great confidence what source it was recorded from, even if it is a subtle difference like if it was a CD rip or a web download, not just something obvious like if it was recorded from vinyl... my EQ settings arent changed much from what it was with the soundcard's amps, but even when im using a bad EQ setting , the amp beautifully reproduces the bad sound, its just that good

I received my DAH1 a couple of days ago. I'm using AKG K-701, too. My former amp was a cheap Millenium HP1 from Thomann.

All I can say is... wow. Just wow. Everything is simply amazing with this combo. I'm not using any equalizer.

I haven't had a chance to test out some of the popular hi-fi amps, but I'm a long-time musician and know quite well which way instruments should sound. I also think I can notice areas that need improvements, as with my former amp. But with Yulong, I can't think of anything that could be improved, though I haven't had the time to listen to it yet for more then ten ours or something.

But anyway, apart from a couple of things lacking user-friendliness (the reseting of volume and source every time you power on the device), it is a fine device. I would highly recommend it at least for all AKG owners

I got mine in July, and am lovin it. Listen to it every day. It makes me smile as I buy $16 CD's.

I've posted elsewhere on this forum about it.

even im a chinese myself
i won't recommend it to anyone

an example of the products of this brand is HEF188, which copied from LEHMANN, using some "Professional components" to make it looks great, and then tell everyone the design is exactly the same with LEHMANN
when you hear it you would find how ridiculous it is

the cheap amps from china which i feel it really worth how much it cost is O1

You may not like it, but it is certainly worth more than a penny.

The quality of the Yulong DAH1 Mark was a bit suspect - or so I thought when I first tried it from my laptop via USB. I am listening with the Stax SRS-3050a system, a bit higher end than the Yulong, but while in usb mode I found it a little sibilant, some harshness (just a little though), lacking bass extension and weight (the STAX are often blamed - but...)

The soundstage in USB mode wasnt bad really, but instruments do seem to have a slight colouration - they don't sound quite right.

However, I have just returnéd from Akihabara, Tokyo where I bought a SPDIF optical cable to run from my Toshiba Qosmio laptop (Audiotrak Glass Black - Y6980 (Yodobashi).

Amazing difference the optical cables makes really, all the problems that I described are no longer apparent, except the bass extension - which my Senn HD650 of course excels in. The track I usually test extension with is "Passover" - by Joy Division from the Closer album. There is a very low freq. guitar sound, I would expect this to be below 20Hz.

I will test this on my HD650 when I get back home - I am leaving Japan day after tomorrow >

Also, I am using cheap cables - the free ones that come with midprice electronics. I have some Van Den Hul The First Ultimate, which I'll try when I'm back.

Also, I have the MF X10-D buffer stage which I'll plug and give my opinion later.

Right now, Nine Horses (a David Sylvian offshoot band) is playing - this is superb, bass weight, top freq extension - very very good.

The only qualm I have is a slight harshness in his voice - I honestly suspect the interconnects are to blame. I have had this problem before which was solved by my VDH Firsts - I realy adore those cables - all carbon no metal.

I am listening also to Jacques Brel recently - sounds not as you might expect a 1950s recording to sound like - excellent remastering.

I just received a Yulong DAH-1 Mark and a Darkvoice 337 amp last week. I'm waiting for both to burn-in a little before I post any opinions. Both look like very solid pieces of equipment.
I'm planning on listening to these in the following two configurations:
1. computer --USB--> DAH1
2. computer --USB--> DAH1 --RCA DAC out--> DV337

@ Abubizarre,

Thanks for the review. You're really the first person to write a review that's heard some higher end stuff to compare it to. I'd be curious what you think with the better cables and more tests? But it sounds like you like it quite a bit with optical out... I'd assume Coax SPDIF would be similar? Thanks for the info.

@ Spizm,

Is there any way you could try the Yulong with SPDIF coax or optical as well?

You opion of how the Yulong headamp compares with the DV337 headamp will be good to hear. I could probably only afford the Yulong at the moment unfortunately.

Have fun.

That's funny, we both purchased the same gear around the same time. I've run my Yulong via USB from my laptop into my HD650's and was very pleased with the results, even straight out of the box. For a one box solution, this is a great little product.

I have only tried the DAC out into my 337 for about 20 minutes but so far it seems promising. I am waiting for my new Squeezebox Duet to arrive so that I can run the Yulong from the digi Coax output of the squeezebox instead of the USB on my laptop. I'll post my impressions soon.

I really like the Yulong... just wish it had some balanced outputs for when the upgrade bug strikes again!

Is there any way you could try the Yulong with SPDIF coax or optical as well?

You opion of how the Yulong headamp compares with the DV337 headamp will be good to hear. I could probably only afford the Yulong at the moment unfortunately.

Have fun.[/QUOTE]

I find the DV337 to be a better sounding headamp (with my 650's) than the Yulong but it did cost twice as much (actually more than that when you figure in NOS tubes, two power cables, etc).

I mentioned in another thread that for someone just starting out that uses a laptop as a source and wants a simple, cheap, easy one box solution I think the Yulong is a great option. This setup is MILES ahead of the soundcard on my laptop and the sound coming from the Yulong vs. the sound coming from the headphone out on my laptop is orders of magnitude better.

With one of the earlier comments about the difference achieved when using an optical out vs. the USB, I am really excited to try this route and see how much better this little box would sound hooked up like that.

No surprise. Any decent DAC will eat your soundcard.
It would be interesting when compared to another DAC in the same price range.

some guys has compared it with apogees and benchmarks. the results he got is that mini-dac and dac1 outperforms it in some way, whereas it's been doing quite well for that price. remember you don't need to pay much to the labor in CHina. 250$ not too much.

With one of the earlier comments about the difference achieved when using an optical out vs. the USB, I am really excited to try this route and see how much better this little box would sound hooked up like that.

This is interesting actually. First, I tried the USB, it sounded as I described, slightly harsh.

Next Optical - much improved

Now Coaxial - via Van Den Hul First Ultimate Digital cable (don't use vDH the first original for this as it is not shielded and prone to pops and clicks from switching lights on)

The coax is really quite exceptional. More weight to the performance, clear detailed soundstage, a precision far superior to the optical cable.

I am now running HD-650 from the DAH1 direct, and have SRS-3050 Stax from the DAC out - again via vDH firsts. Whoever says that cables have no effect is a bit deaf I reckon.

The only qualm that I have is with a slight harshness in vocals on some recordings. Switching between the Senns and Stax, the harshness is still there. However this could be a deficiency of the recording process/CD etc as I have a few 192khz/96khz mastered recordings which a completely free of the problem. Also male vocals seem to be effected - (i.e. David Sylvian) - where female vocals (i.e. Stina Nordenstam) are smooth and seem to be accurately reproduced.

The HD650s and SRS3050s; as expected sound completely different, sometimes it almosts sounds like a different song when switching between them. The separation on the stax' is excellent, whereas the HD650s excel at sheer kick while giving a warmer tone. Interestingly, my preference is for the Stax' whereas my wife prefers the Senns. So it seems individual perception is possibly most important, given the numerous arguments about which 'phones are best.

I spent a fair time in Japan listening to headphones also, in Yodobashi though, so not ideal. I liked the Denon D2000s & w5000s and of course the Stax 3050, but disliked the Victor (JVC) DX1000 - very dull and lifeless - and couldn't really get into the higher end Stax models - esp. the valve based energizers. Also, the Audio Techica Wooden range are pretty good with excellent transpancy - a little shy of deep bass; but perhaps as I'm getting a bit old, my 36 year old ears don't appreciate bass as much as they used to. This is quite a common change in the listening prefences of old folks like me.

I still have a soft spot for the Grado range, except for their build quality, every pair I have owned has fallen apart, but for now I think that the Stax are the ones for me - only $400 in Japan (used) - 700 pounds in the UK so I am really quite happy. I'm breaking open all those boxes of old CDs and listening to something I have never heard before - same songs but detail in the mix I never heard.

Just a note - tried the Musical fidelity X10-D between the Yulong DAH1 and the Stax amp - sounded veiled and separation between intruments was smeared. Furthermore, the difference between the Yulong headamp and my original master amp is very marginal.

There is another thread where Vicca Tito says the Yulong DAH1 is switching inputs randomly when used with multiple inputs.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/yul...ne-amp-365217/

Can someone who has the Yulong test it using multiple sources? I was going to buy it soon, but if it randomly switches sources that would be a deal breaker.

I'm also curious of the order of the switching?? Is it something like this:
(just guessing here and this would be ideal)
-------------------------
Turn the unit on: Optical selected automatically.
Mode Switch: Coax
Mode Switch: Analog
Mode Switch: USB
Mode Switch: Back to Optical - rinse. repeat.
-------------------------
I can't find that info anywhere on the net.

Thanks for the info and maybe help in the other thread too.

I'm still waiting on my squeezebox to arrive but when it does I'll hook it up and my laptop at the same time and let you know what happens.

As for the order: Coax -> USB -> Optical -> PCM and back again.

With only one source attached (using USB) I've never had a switch.

The only "problem" I've ever had with this little guy is the aforementioned resetting of the input and volume when you do a hard power off. I need one of those stupid round watch batteries for the remote before I can test if it still does that when you shut down with the remote.