Mytek->Violectric->headphone versus Yulong->Violectric->headphone? Correct?
Finally I got time to carefully observe the 2 DACS:
Mytek STEREO192-DSD
Yulong DA8
The setup:
Desktop PC > USB > DAC (Mytek & Yulong) > Balanced Cables > Headphone Amplifier (Violectric HPA V200) > Headphone (Sennheiser HD800 and Philips Fidelio X1)
Desktop PC with Foobar 1.2.9, with WASAPI driver.
USB Cable: Pangea Audio USB cable - PCOCC & 4% silver - 2 Meter x2
DACs: Mytek STEREO192-DSD and Yulong DA8
Balanced Cable: Wireworld Equinox 6 XLR
Headphone Amp: Violectric HPA V200
Headphones: Sennheiser HD800 & Philips Fidelio X1
Both DACs are connected to the Desktop USB ports (side by side USB ports, same USB controller), so I used 2x same model, same length, of Pangea USB cable. This is to simplify switching the DACs, what I need to do was only to switch the balanced cable and playback device in foobar.
I use WASAPI (event) for both DACS, so this time only PCM is observed. DSD is a bit troublesome as I have to modify the foo_dsd_asio everytime I change DAC.
PCM Filter on both DACs were set to slow.
Both DACs were set to bypass the volume control, operating in pure DAC mode.
Recordings:
2L Free High Resoltion Samplers (24/192)
Blue Chamber Quartett - First Impressions
Chesky The World Greatest Audiophile Vocal Recording
Summary:
I would say the Line Out quality of both DACs are in the same high-end grade. Far better than other DACs I have at home (DACport, Dragonfly, Dr. DAC2 DX, and some other cheaper DACs).
The differences between the two are small, not night and day kind of differences. Both sound clean and detailed, and have very natural tonal balance with 'analog like' quality. Both have excellent stereo imaging with pin point accuracy, excellent instrument separation, and spacious imaging.
So it is not about which DAC is better, but which one suits better with the recording and the overall setup.
Note: Mytek output voltage is higher than Yulong. With Fidelio X1 for example, at listening volume, volume position at 9 am for Mytek and 10:30 am for Yulong.
Mytek is a bit leaner on bass to mid bass. Bass quality is excellent, detailed, tight, and punchy, much better body compared with Mytek headphone output, but still a bit leaner compared with Yulong.
Mytek sounds slightly clearer, slightly more transparent, thus increase perceived detail.
Yulong is a tad warmer, bass to mid bass body slightly fuller compared to Mytek, with about the same quality. Yulong also a tad smoother, less grain. Vocal is smoother, warmer, and more intimate on Yulong. Yet, details and spaciousness are also excellent, a very unique combination.
From Pro Audio perspective (as I do a little bit of recording and in charge for my church audio setup), I think Mytek Line Out sound signature is slightly more natural than Yulong, and less forgiving. Yulong maybe more appealing for home audio, and is 'slightly' more forgiving on recordings compared with Mytek.
For Sennheiser HD800, as you might guess, Yulong suits HD800 better, more bass and midrange body, smoother, and more musical overall.
For Philips Fidelio X1, which has darker, warmer, and smoother sound signature than HD800, with more bass, I like Mytek better, the bass is slightly tighter and more detailed on X1.
On recording, vocal is a tad clearer on Mytek, but I prefer Yulong for vocal. Yulong has all the good characters for vocal, detailed yet smooth and a tad warm, with good body and depth. Vocal simply beautiful and engaging on Yulong.
For classical orchestra & instrumental, Mytek might be better, but also depending on the recording quality. some modern classical recording add too much spot mics in the mix, that make the recording sounds unnatural and aggressive. For that type of recording, Yulong is more forgiving.
So, with a good headphone amplifier, I can live with any of them.
For Pro Audio, I think Mytek is a better option considering the wealth features it has that might be very useful for Pro Audio application.
But for home one box DAC + Headphone Amp solution, Yulong DA8 is the best.