Hi guys, recently had the opportunity to borrow this shiny box from my local reseller and figured a review would be in good order as Yulong don't appear to get the coverage they would deserve: http://www.yulongaudio.com/pd.jsp?id=39#_pp=106_674
-latest AK4497 DAC chip
-Native DSD64/128/256 + PCM 16-32bit, 32-384 KHz via XMOS-based USB
-DOP64 + DOP128 through S/PDIF, Optical and AES
-PCM 24bit 384KHz through S/PDIF, Optical and AES
-Fully balanced decoder topology + fully balanced high current preamplifier
-Fully balanced headphone amplifier
-OPA1611 with ultralow distortion for LPF + high current OPA1688 for output buffer
-99 steps volume control to the headamp or preamp
-Universal mains power with a switch for 110V or 220V operation
I'd rather save you from a TLDR review so here are my thoughts after playing with it for a week in no particular order:
-Specs are very similar to DA9 minus the discrete headamp as it's now TPA6120 based, but still balanced
-OPA1688 is a high current opamp that I really enjoy in other equipment
-AK4497 is the newest & highest grade DAC chip from AKM: https://www.akm.com/akm/en/aboutus/news/20160107AK4497_001/
Real pics:
And these are the "unique claw-style suspension feet":
USB drivers are not provided in the box and must be downloaded from http://www.yulongaudio.com/col.jsp?id=111
I knew about Project86's review of DA9 but preferred reading it afterwards and I would very much echo his impressions that "filter type"(Sharp, Slow or Super-Slow roll-off) and "sound mode"(1-2-3) make hardly any audible difference at all. I got them set to Sharp & 1 after quite a lot of A/B but I wouldn't bet being able to DBT them:
Project86 didn't appear overly impressed by DA9's discrete headamp and Aquila doesn't have it in order to drop the price of the unit as it's been replaced by a dual TPA6120 with 4.7Ω output impedance. I solely own low-impedance headphones so it appeared quite colored to my ears, but then again I have personally lost faith in built-in headphone outputs of DAC units and it makes more sense to me to use a separate headamp that can be finetuned to your taste, so as you can see on that picture I got it set to "Pure DAC" mode with headamp/preamp disabled.
Another non-TLDR review of Aquila was posted a few months ago: http://www.soundbsessive.com/yulong-daart-aquila/ and here a few quotes:
So there we have it, it sounds very clear without the usual Sabre shrillness that kinda got me off the D/S DAC train and because it runs a whole lot of excellent chips such as AK4497 + OPA1611 + OPA1688 + XMOS together with Yulong's expertise it really makes for a great DAC in order to feed an amplifier via RCA or XLR.
As I see it, the whole point of Aquila is to essentially provide a DA9 without the discrete headamp for cheaper and I see it selling for less than $800 so if you can combo with a sale it really makes for a worthwhile AK4497-based source + digital preamp to my ears