This was my first step in trying to get decent sound out of a PC (playing MP3 files via WMP).
With xFire GPU's there wasn't much room for an internal sound card, and I wanted a volume control I could use easily regardless of the application I was in.
These came up on massdrop, and after reading a few reviews I figured there was nothing much to loose.
It arrived the same day as my Philips Fidelio L1 Audiophile Headphones.
I was bitterly disappointed with the headphones (sold them soon after) - but the little DAC / amp took my AT-700's to a whole new level, and 18 months later I still use it daily and still enjoy the sound.
This is a pretty simple bit of gear. Line in, USB in and L / R RCA out, along with a power socket populate the rear.
On the front a simple on / off push button with red LED power indicator, a 1/4" socket, and that lovely stepped volume knob.
The front plate attaches to the chassis with 4 x alan bolts.
My only gripe (and it's nit-picking, esp. at this price point) is the Yulong branding is on a (gold) sticker, instead of etched in black like the other printing on the front of the unit.
While I'm being picky about cosmetics, the top and bottom of the case meet in the middle along the sides, leaving a seam. To be honest though I never really noticed this until today as the unit sits on a shelf on my desk, under the desktop so only the front is really visible.
Mine is connected via USB, and was pretty much "plug and play" with W7 and W10. I only had to go into the PC settings and tell it to use the Yulong audio device for output.
Some people gripe about the stepped volume being hard to get fine adjustments.
That may be so with some headphones, but with low impedence (32ohm) headphones it is WAY louder than can be used, so I have windows volume set to 25, which effectively reduces each stepping to 1/4 of what it is at %100 volume. This still drives my headphones to over 90bD.
When I first heard the sound from this little amp I was blown away at how good it was (listening with AT-700's). It was warmer and fuller and more detailed than the PC onboard I was used to.
I replaced the 700's with a set of 900x's, and they were even better (although nowhere near the improvement I'd found by adding the Yulong). Along the way I learned about FLAC files, so I re-ripped all my CD's (and bought a bunch of new ones).
Now I'm using some Fostex TH-X00's, and they also pair well with this cheap little amp. I'm hearing even more detail, and the mellow yet emphasised bass is audio ecstasy to my ears.
After almost years I'm now looking at upgrading my DAC/amp, something like a Schiit 2 Uber stack or the MD Grace m9XX, and keeping the Yulong for work, or passing it on to someone else in the family. I'm hoping the upgrade will be worth it, as the cheaper option will be almost 4 x the cost of this unit, and the Grace 5 x the purchase price.
In summary - if you are considering an inexpensive DAC / amp to try and you can find one of these for a similar price, grab it. You won't be disapppointed.
With xFire GPU's there wasn't much room for an internal sound card, and I wanted a volume control I could use easily regardless of the application I was in.
These came up on massdrop, and after reading a few reviews I figured there was nothing much to loose.
It arrived the same day as my Philips Fidelio L1 Audiophile Headphones.
I was bitterly disappointed with the headphones (sold them soon after) - but the little DAC / amp took my AT-700's to a whole new level, and 18 months later I still use it daily and still enjoy the sound.
This is a pretty simple bit of gear. Line in, USB in and L / R RCA out, along with a power socket populate the rear.
On the front a simple on / off push button with red LED power indicator, a 1/4" socket, and that lovely stepped volume knob.
The front plate attaches to the chassis with 4 x alan bolts.
My only gripe (and it's nit-picking, esp. at this price point) is the Yulong branding is on a (gold) sticker, instead of etched in black like the other printing on the front of the unit.
While I'm being picky about cosmetics, the top and bottom of the case meet in the middle along the sides, leaving a seam. To be honest though I never really noticed this until today as the unit sits on a shelf on my desk, under the desktop so only the front is really visible.
Mine is connected via USB, and was pretty much "plug and play" with W7 and W10. I only had to go into the PC settings and tell it to use the Yulong audio device for output.
Some people gripe about the stepped volume being hard to get fine adjustments.
That may be so with some headphones, but with low impedence (32ohm) headphones it is WAY louder than can be used, so I have windows volume set to 25, which effectively reduces each stepping to 1/4 of what it is at %100 volume. This still drives my headphones to over 90bD.
When I first heard the sound from this little amp I was blown away at how good it was (listening with AT-700's). It was warmer and fuller and more detailed than the PC onboard I was used to.
I replaced the 700's with a set of 900x's, and they were even better (although nowhere near the improvement I'd found by adding the Yulong). Along the way I learned about FLAC files, so I re-ripped all my CD's (and bought a bunch of new ones).
Now I'm using some Fostex TH-X00's, and they also pair well with this cheap little amp. I'm hearing even more detail, and the mellow yet emphasised bass is audio ecstasy to my ears.
After almost years I'm now looking at upgrading my DAC/amp, something like a Schiit 2 Uber stack or the MD Grace m9XX, and keeping the Yulong for work, or passing it on to someone else in the family. I'm hoping the upgrade will be worth it, as the cheaper option will be almost 4 x the cost of this unit, and the Grace 5 x the purchase price.
In summary - if you are considering an inexpensive DAC / amp to try and you can find one of these for a similar price, grab it. You won't be disapppointed.
