- Joined
- Mar 8, 2013
- Posts
- 1,144
- Likes
- 29
That balanced passive preamp is 400.00 without shipping. Taking a closer look, I cant help but wonder if itll be much cheaper if I had bought all the parts myself.
REVIEW: Yulong Sabre A18 Reference headphone amp
- Thread starter project86
- Start date
-
- Tags
- yulong-a18
brunk
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- May 21, 2012
- Posts
- 3,648
- Likes
- 97
That's actually not too bad since the pot alone is $289. If you do it yourself, you could save alot more $$$ by soldering the resistors yourself on a quad pot.
EDIT: Actually, no sense in getting a quad pot because the A18 only uses a stereo pot, unless you're just looking to have a stronger signal for cable runs and such.
minimix
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2011
- Posts
- 101
- Likes
- 11
I wonder if there is any difference in sound quality if I replace the yulong A100 by the A18 using as source D100 MKII (running flac and mp3 files from my desktop)
Should I keep the A100 or take a step forward and purchase the A18?
Should I keep the A100 or take a step forward and purchase the A18?
project86
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2007
- Posts
- 7,795
- Likes
- 4,355
A18 is smoother but ore accurate on top, warmer, more expansive and "holographic" sounding. A100 is a great amp, but A18 simply outclasses it all around.
I have a question, Yulong states for the A28 that you shouldn't use the same source for both the XLR and RCA imputs at the same time:
Please be noted, if you use a same source to feed A28, do not connect the RCA and XLR interconnects altogether. This will cause common ground interference and degrades the performance of the RCA input signals. (This applies not only to A28 but other similar products in our tests).
Does this apply to the A18 as well? Was thinking of doing just that from the DA8..
Please be noted, if you use a same source to feed A28, do not connect the RCA and XLR interconnects altogether. This will cause common ground interference and degrades the performance of the RCA input signals. (This applies not only to A28 but other similar products in our tests).
Does this apply to the A18 as well? Was thinking of doing just that from the DA8..
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2013
- Posts
- 1,144
- Likes
- 29
i019791
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- May 25, 2012
- Posts
- 548
- Likes
- 52
Right, e.g.the xlr inputs of Violectric amps are blocked by design when rca is connected
Darn, I thought that switch on the rear of the A18 cuts off the other input and allowed for input switching...
Now I see why it is on the back and not the front.
Now I see why it is on the back and not the front.
FLguy
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2013
- Posts
- 103
- Likes
- 20
Regarding the DA8/A18/LCD-2:
Quote:
First let me say that I have really appreciated the many experienced and dedicated folks sharing their impressions - it has been a big help!
I have this combination - DA8/A18/LCD-2 v2s (as well as another pair of headphones for comparison). (Like AManAnd88Keys, I chose the Yulong gear instead of the Violectric / Lake People since soundstage is a particular priority to me)
For what it's worth, in my system, while the LCD-2 it does quite a few things *very* well, to the point that I think I see why some people love them, (pulls the pin and ducks) overall I am disappointed - with the high frequencies in particular, at least when driven from the single ended output of either the A18 or the DA8.
And I'm not comparing to some super exotic, mega buck reference headphones... The highs on my (mid-fi) comparison phones (the Denon AH-D2000 for what it's worth) sound much better (to me) - more extended, more detailed, and while in no way perfect, more natural sounding. Similarly an assortment of again mid-fi earbuds also seem to handle this aspect of music better to my ears.
For example, at the beginning of Byzantium Underground by Jesse Cook, there is a series of soft chimes - sort of like wind chimes. On the D2000s, they sound not perfect of course, but more or less as they should - like wind chimes. With my LCD-2s, they sound more like xylophone tines. More of a 'clink', with very little ring, or natural decay.
Similarly, on Haydn's String Quartet in D, Op. 76, No. 5 - Finale, I find that the violins, while they have lots of body, and sound good in many ways, also sound like larger, lower pitched instruments on the LCD-2s than the other headphones I tried.
(All of the equipment has >50 hours of break-in time in case anyone is wondering)
So I'm not saying that the LCD-2s are not really good headphones, or that some may not find this combination very enjoyable. On the other hand, I at least am finding less detail in the treble than I had hoped for. (And I am by NO means a fan of exaggerated, or aggressive treble!) Your mileage may vary of course.
I do find this surprising given what I've read about the capabilities of the LCD-2 (and the A18 to drive them). To the point that I went back and checked both the output power level, and output impedance of the A18. But of course, nope - both should be more than sufficient. So if anyone has any ideas for what I might be doing might be wrong, I'm 'all ears.'
Since other headphones don't have this same behavior on the same system, I don't _think_ it's my source, or the front end of the system. Is it possible that the LCD-2s really need a re-cable, or at least a balanced cable, to sound their best with the A18?
From what I've been able to gather, these effects are likely to be pretty subtle, and I'm looking for a good bit more treble detail and resolution than I am hearing so far. So I'm reluctantly leaning toward returning the LCD-2s as they don't seem to pair really well (enough) with this system for me so far (imho). I'm disappointed, as the LCD-2s do many things well, and I really wanted to love them.
So I guess my suggestion for anyone considering this combination would be - as so many others have suggested
, try to audition the combination you're considering if at all possible. Yeah, I know, easier said than done sometimes!
Quote:
First let me say that I have really appreciated the many experienced and dedicated folks sharing their impressions - it has been a big help!
I have this combination - DA8/A18/LCD-2 v2s (as well as another pair of headphones for comparison). (Like AManAnd88Keys, I chose the Yulong gear instead of the Violectric / Lake People since soundstage is a particular priority to me)
For what it's worth, in my system, while the LCD-2 it does quite a few things *very* well, to the point that I think I see why some people love them, (pulls the pin and ducks) overall I am disappointed - with the high frequencies in particular, at least when driven from the single ended output of either the A18 or the DA8.
And I'm not comparing to some super exotic, mega buck reference headphones... The highs on my (mid-fi) comparison phones (the Denon AH-D2000 for what it's worth) sound much better (to me) - more extended, more detailed, and while in no way perfect, more natural sounding. Similarly an assortment of again mid-fi earbuds also seem to handle this aspect of music better to my ears.
For example, at the beginning of Byzantium Underground by Jesse Cook, there is a series of soft chimes - sort of like wind chimes. On the D2000s, they sound not perfect of course, but more or less as they should - like wind chimes. With my LCD-2s, they sound more like xylophone tines. More of a 'clink', with very little ring, or natural decay.
Similarly, on Haydn's String Quartet in D, Op. 76, No. 5 - Finale, I find that the violins, while they have lots of body, and sound good in many ways, also sound like larger, lower pitched instruments on the LCD-2s than the other headphones I tried.
(All of the equipment has >50 hours of break-in time in case anyone is wondering)
So I'm not saying that the LCD-2s are not really good headphones, or that some may not find this combination very enjoyable. On the other hand, I at least am finding less detail in the treble than I had hoped for. (And I am by NO means a fan of exaggerated, or aggressive treble!) Your mileage may vary of course.
I do find this surprising given what I've read about the capabilities of the LCD-2 (and the A18 to drive them). To the point that I went back and checked both the output power level, and output impedance of the A18. But of course, nope - both should be more than sufficient. So if anyone has any ideas for what I might be doing might be wrong, I'm 'all ears.'
Since other headphones don't have this same behavior on the same system, I don't _think_ it's my source, or the front end of the system. Is it possible that the LCD-2s really need a re-cable, or at least a balanced cable, to sound their best with the A18?
From what I've been able to gather, these effects are likely to be pretty subtle, and I'm looking for a good bit more treble detail and resolution than I am hearing so far. So I'm reluctantly leaning toward returning the LCD-2s as they don't seem to pair really well (enough) with this system for me so far (imho). I'm disappointed, as the LCD-2s do many things well, and I really wanted to love them.
So I guess my suggestion for anyone considering this combination would be - as so many others have suggested
, try to audition the combination you're considering if at all possible. Yeah, I know, easier said than done sometimes!I will say that the DA8 + A18 is absolutely amazing with my HD800s, and its quite decent with the LCD2 as well!
On another note, since I shouldn't connect both XLR and RCA from the DA8 to the A18 at the same time, I may have to invest in a second A18.. as I would like to have both SE and XLR available..
On another note, since I shouldn't connect both XLR and RCA from the DA8 to the A18 at the same time, I may have to invest in a second A18.. as I would like to have both SE and XLR available..
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2013
- Posts
- 1,144
- Likes
- 29
That's one hell of a rig, I had the exact same setup, only a different power supply.I will say that the DA8 + A18 is absolutely amazing with my HD800s, and its quite decent with the LCD2 as well!
@FLguy-you'll have better luck in striking gold with higher impedance phones. As a previous LCD2 owner, the mjolnir is the best amp for those headphones. There's simply nothing better imo.
FLguy
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2013
- Posts
- 103
- Likes
- 20
Ah, thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, the mjolnir is rather too wide for this particular desktop system.
I'm a bit surprised given the low rated output impedance of the A18 (2.2 Ohms), and the issue isn't noise floor, it's something else - current or voltage required / supplied I'm guessing. But it seems that you're right - for my ears/taste at least.
The A18 is a very warm amp. I suppose that is why it mates so well with the HD800, but perhaps it is too warm for the LCD2s. I do notice more details when I use the v200 with LCD2 than with the A18. But I do so love the bass from the A18
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2013
- Posts
- 1,144
- Likes
- 29
The sound is so good that I wouldn't care about the dimensional factor.
Given you already got the da8, adding the mjolnir to that will give you jaw-dropping performance. I have absolutely no-doubt and almost guarantee the sound you'd get from the mjolnir is far beyond what you might be imagining at the moment. It's that good.
Obviously the mjolnir isn't ideal for other headphones, especially phones like the HD800. But with the LCD2, it's quite "end-game". I'd say that's the weakness of the Mjolnir, it's not a Swiss-army knife.
FLguy
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2013
- Posts
- 103
- Likes
- 20
Thanks for the (enthusiastic
recommendation.So there's an interesting choice - Keep the LCD-2s and get a different amp; or keep the amp, and get some other 'phones - maybe HD800s, or maybe something else, perhaps closer to the $1K price point.
This will be interesting...
Users who are viewing this thread
