For many years now, the Yulong DA8 DAC with headphone amplifier function has faithfully served me as a reference device with which I compare everything else. This, of course, is not the “top of all tops,” but it is clearly a device that is in the major league of audio technology. After its release, Yulong decided to strengthen their position and release a more affordable D200 model, which will be discussed.
What do you need from a budget model? First of all, maintain a precise balance: on the one hand, you need to remove enough functions so as not to compete with the top solution, on the other hand, leave the budget model quite attractive. In the case of the D200, Yulong succeeded brilliantly; on the one hand, the D200 is clearly simpler than the flagship: it uses a low-end Saber 9016 chip, cheaper operational amplifiers, a simpler body (no color screen, and thinner metal). The modified USB interface from Amanero was replaced by the usual XMOS, and other components were simplified: generators, capacitors, etc.
On the other hand, it has almost all the strengths of the DA8 - asynchronous USB with support for the highest possible sampling frequency up to 384 KHz / 32 bit and DSD format, the DA200 is also a fully balanced DAC, and the D200 also has a very good headphone amplifier. The D200 also shares a similar main board topology, a proprietary anti-jitter module, and much more.
In addition to the ESS9016, the device uses an OP275 as a low-pass filter and two OPA1632 as a buffer and preamplifier. The headphone amplifier, operating in class A, is built on MJD243/253 transistors.
In general, what we ordered was a device that was clearly inferior to the top model, but very interesting, especially considering the price. You can purchase the Yulong D200 from the official representative of the company in Russia for 37,500 rubles (the price at the time the article was published), which is almost 2 times cheaper than the DA8 with its price of 63,000 rubles.
Towards the end of the review, I will describe my point of view on which of the two DACs should be preferred, but for now let’s take a closer look at the D200.
Specifications
- USB support: asynchronous, up to 384 kHz/32 bit
- DSD support: up to DSD128, native and DoP
- Other digital inputs: up to 192 kHz/24 bit
- Total harmonic distortion + noise: 0.0005% (below test bench limit)
- Idle noise: 2 uV
- Signal to noise ratio: 125 dB
- Dynamic range: >122 dB
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 30 KHz (-0.2 dB)
- Channel Separation: 130 dB
- Balanced Output Level: 4.2V
- Headphone amplifier power: 70 mW @ 600Ω, 150 mW @ 300Ω, 280 mW @ 150Ω, 1 W @ 32Ω
- Power consumption: <30W
- Dimensions: 50 mm × 180 mm × 45 mm
- Net weight: 1.6 kg
Desktop DAC with Yulong DAART Aquila amplifier
Hello everyone, this time I’m reviewing the Yulong DAART Aquila desktop DAC from the Yulong company (or, to be precise, from the subsidiary brand “Daart”). I've had the DAC for quite a long time, but I kept putting off the review, I wanted to figure it out completely, so to speak, listen to it on appropriate headphones and understand what's what. What can I say, yes, this is a full-fledged desktop DAC, and it needs matching headphones. I recently reviewed the younger version of DAART Canary, these are two completely different sources, they have nothing in common in terms of sound. In terms of prices, let’s figure out what’s what:
-Yulong Daart Canary: from 250 to 280 $. The DAC was conceived as “affordable”, among expensive solutions from the Yulong company, for this purpose a subsidiary brand “Daart” was created. Canary is the youngest model in the line, very good sound, slightly accentuated low frequencies and highs. The sound quality is at the highest level, the case when you listen to music and enjoy listening. It outplays many popular players (like xDuoo X20, Colorfly C200), and outplays it significantly, just heaven and earth. On the Internet they write that the DAC is not for everyone, there are a lot of low frequencies... clogging up the rest of the range... But this is far from true, or rather not at all true. Yes, the low frequencies are slightly accentuated, but they are well controlled and do not interfere. In general, they scare me with horror stories, but in fact, I take some kind of player, even the C200, compare it and understand that a player is a player, incomparable things. The canary also contains all the necessary inputs and outputs, so it can be connected to speakers, external amplifiers can be connected, and much more.
-Yulong Daart Aquila: $750-800. The hero of the review has nothing in common with the younger model. Aquila is rather a simplified version of the older model DA9. DA9 is already deprived of the “Daart” prefix, and is considered a flagship. The Chinese thought and decided, let’s take the DA9 (costs something like $1,300) and make a simplified combine harvester based on it. We didn’t touch the DAC (they left the AK4497), we changed the amplifier (instead of a discrete class A amplifier we installed a TPA6120A2), and the power also decreased slightly. The rest are cosmetic changes, they changed the screen, controls, and some other little things, but that’s not the point.
Characteristics:
DAC: AK4497 (same as the older DA9 model) USB: XMOS U8 Digital interfaces: SA8804 Volume control: PGA2311 Gain: OPA1611 + OPA1688 Headphone amplifier: TPA6120A2 Signal-to-noise ratio: -130 dB Dynamic range: 125 dB Total harmonic distortion+ noise: 0.0003% Frequency range: 20 Hz - 30 kHz (-0.15 dB) Channel separation: 120 dB Balanced output level: 4.2V Headphone amplifier power: normal output - 100 mW @ 600Ω, 1000 mW @ 32Ω; balanced output - 200 mW @ 600Ω, 1500 mW @ 32Ω Maximum resolution: via USB - up to 32 bit/384 kHz, DoP up to DoP128, NativeDSD up to DSD256; by Coaxial/Optical/AES - up to 24 bit/384 kHz, DoP up to DoP128 Power consumption: <30 W Dimensions: 248 mm × 210 mm × 60 mm Weight: 4 kg
There are 3 colors to choose from:
Black: Silver: Red:
Box. The box is made of thick cardboard, it is slightly wrinkled at the corners, but I don’t see anything wrong with that. On the box we have the inscription “Audio DAC / Headphone Amplifier”. That is, a DAC with an amplifier, or, more simply, a desktop combine. The graph is also shown below and that’s all. The information is repeated on each side.
The box is really huge, I was surprised, given the size of the box and the weight (as much as 4 kilograms), you would think that they brought me not a DAC, but a VCR.
Inside, thank God, all the contents are protected by foam inserts: Here are the entire contents of the box, the entire set:
1. Daart Aquila. 2. Warranty card. 3. Letter of happiness in Chinese. 4. USB cable - USB Type B for connecting to a PC. You can connect the device to a computer, smartphone, tablet. Operating systems supported: Windows, Android, Linux, MacOS. 5. Power cord. 6. Instructions in Chinese and English.
The power cord is about 170 centimeters long and connects directly to the device.
Unfortunately, they did not put an adapter on our sockets. I took an adapter from a TV set-top box (banggood sometimes puts it together with a TV box), thanks to them :), it came in handy.
The cable for connecting to a PC is from Vention. We installed a fairly high-quality USB cable - USB Type B, its length was 140 centimeters, and the wire diameter was 5 millimeters. The cable is long, you can move the DAC a little away from the computer. The same cable is included with the canary.
Chain letter: Instructions (two languages)
Specifications listed:
Now let’s move on to the device, Dimensions: 248 mm × 210 mm × 60 mm, measured as best I could with a regular tape measure:
Compared to Daart Canary:
Box and player shanling m0:
As you understand, the combine is not small, I had to move the monitor and hide it behind the monitor itself - I placed it close to the wall, tilted on its side. You can put it on the system unit, on a nearby cabinet, for convenience you can extend the extension cord to the headphones (if the cable is short). I plan to buy a hanging shelf (or mount) for this purpose and install it near the table. Weight - 4 kg, that says it all, heavy, weighty.
The body is made of metal (aluminium), it is composite, the build quality is excellent. The coating is good, but it does show fingerprints and marks. On the front panel: screen, 6.3 mm headphone jack, balanced 4-pin XLR, as well as a volume wheel. All settings are made using a regulator (wheel), the adjustment wheel rotates in a circle - without a stopper, the fingers do not slip during adjustment (there is knurling). It rotates smoothly, with a distinct click. If you pull it towards you, it comes out:
Encoder: This is what the main screen looks like, the screen itself is slightly recessed, it is never dim, all the symbols are clearly visible, you can look even at a slight angle and at a distance of 1-2 meters, everything is visible and everything is clear.
The selected volume is displayed in the lower right corner; the wheel can be used to adjust and set the desired value (0-99)
Pressing the wheel: I get to a small menu, first I can select the input: Coaxial:
Optical: AES:
And of course USB. You can select a digital filter: sslow/slow/sharp: (I chose sslow)
You can select the desired sound mode:
Mode 1 - balanced; mode 2 is elegant and solid, which may be preferable for classical music; mode 3 - with more emphasis on the voice and vocal parts, which can be useful for jazz vocals and the like.
According to the modes, they seem to influence the sound, but! The character of the sound changes slightly. Perhaps not every person will hear the difference, but everything is quite subtle. You can also select the operating mode: headphone amplifier, DAC and DAC with volume control. All settings are changed by turning the wheel.
During playback, the sampling rate will be displayed; if a DSD file is played, the DSD (DOP/Native) icon will light up.
Rear: switch, power connector, USB, optical, coaxial and AES/EBU inputs, outputs: 2x RCA and 2 x 3-pin XLR. There are silicone feet on the bottom, the DAC does not slip on the surface. But if these legs were missing, I think it wouldn’t slide anyway; after all, it has a decent weight... it’s impossible to move it.
What else can I add: - the coating, as I already said, is quite good, but slippery. -the metal is very thick, there is no heating during playback, at least I didn’t notice. -the build quality is excellent, everything fits together, all connectors and switches are of high quality. -the controls are clear, you just need to press the wheel and scroll (change settings), and there aren’t that many settings themselves, I showed everything that is there.
At the moment of switching on/off, the relay clicks each time, the switching time is approximately 2-3 seconds, all settings are saved and not reset.
As for the interior, I first began to unscrew all the screws on the rear panel (from the back), as it turned out in vain... Well, in vain, if you need to disassemble it completely, just completely, of course it’s worth unscrewing all the screws and clamping nuts. If you just want to look inside, you need to unscrew the lower 4 legs. The legs themselves are silicone, but the platform is completely metal, I unscrew all 4 pieces and easily remove all the contents.
The walls of the case are thick, diameter 4 millimeters. During disassembly, of course, the warranty seal is broken: I take out the internal unit, it is not mounted on a slide, it is held on by screws.
Close-up:
The board itself is also screwed together; if desired, you can completely disassemble the device. The board is more or less clean, the soldering is of high quality, the inside of the case is slightly dusty. In general, I won’t take too many photos, after all, the manufacturer is responsible, everything that was stated will definitely be present, there’s no catch.
Premium dual-channel 32-bit DAC AK4497. AK4497 is based on Velvet Sound architecture.
Microcontroller stc 12le5a60s2: Relay UD2-3NU (NEC, Japan). Volume control PGA2311: www.ti.com/product/PGA2311# The built-in headphone amplifier on the TPA6120 chip has natural sound and high power. XMOS 6u6c5 is responsible for USB; by the way, there are 2 driver versions on the manufacturer’s website. One specifically for this DAC, the second universal. Full USB with DSD support, resolution up to 32 bit/384 kHz (PCM). NativeDSD up to 256.
Detailed description (hi-audio):
Yulong Audio's DAART Aquila is a DAC with a built-in headphone amplifier and preamplifier.
It is implemented on the top AK chip - AK4497. Thanks to the SA8804 processor, Aquila plays files in formats up to 384 kHz (PCM) and DSD64-128 not only via the USB input, but also to others. In total, DAART Aquila has 4 inputs: USB, coaxial, optical and AES/EBU.The DAC uses PLL clocking, which is characterized by a very low jitter level. Low noise operational amplifiers such as OPA1611 and OPA1688 are used in LPF operation, then the signal is fed to the high current output buffer provided by the OPA1688 chip. The volume level is controlled by the PGA2311 chip.
DAART Aquila is a fully balanced DAC. The specially made to order transformer is located in a separate locked compartment. It also uses a unique filter that eliminates high-frequency noise coming from the network.
The USB input is implemented on the XMOS U8 chip, but its built-in switching power supply has been replaced with a linear one. The clock generators that supply the USB receiver with a signal are also powered separately. When operating the USB input, the highest quality drivers from Thesycon are used.
When playing music through Aquila, you can choose one of three sound operating modes: the first mode is distinguished by the smoothest presentation, the second is more refined and fast-paced, which is suitable for lovers of the classics, the third mode is distinguished by a slightly removed sound from the listener and a greater emphasis on the performer’s voice , which may suit jazz lovers.
By using three preset digital filters and combining them with one of the DAC operating modes, you can achieve the most interesting sound for yourself.
As always, setting up the “voice” of the device took a lot of time. Several experienced audiophiles, sound engineers, and mastering specialists spent a lot of time listening to the device in their completely different systems. Their advice and impressions shaped the final sound of DAART Aquila. So, as a result, the device not only has excellent technical performance, but also sounds great.
era-in-ear Store Description: Additional Information
Many years have passed since AKM solutions were first explored by the Yulong team, whose deep knowledge of the AK44xx, acquired through a journey of countless prototypes, experiments and fine-tuning, has contributed to the success of our most popular products , such as the U200, ADA1 and the highly acclaimed DA9. Every day, a team of engineers develops more and more new devices that delight users with excellent sound and a good price/quality ratio. One such device is DAART Aquila.
All Aquila inputs, namely USB, S/PDIF and Toslink, support DSD128 (DoP) and PCM384K formats.
Small size, ease of connection, support for playback of PCM signals up to 384 kHz and DSD up to 128 inclusive through absolutely any input allow you to install Aquila in almost any home system, significantly improving sound quality.
It all starts with the Saviaudio SA8804 chip, which filters the incoming signal from interference. The digital signal is then sent to the ultra-low jitter AK4497 chip for digital-to-analog conversion.
The OPA1611 and OPA1688 operational amplifiers are used at the stage of passing the sound below the filter setting frequency, after which the signal goes to the output buffer on the OPA1688 with a low current. Preamp and headphone levels are controlled by a PGA2311 digital volume control chip.
The custom-made, rugged, high-quality main transformer features a unique isolator character that filters out high-frequency noise from power lines and ensures operation under all power conditions, including severe interference.
The USB input is carefully implemented on the XMOS U8, with the built-in transport power being removed and replaced with a dedicated linear low noise power supply. The USB interface supports DSD256 using Thyscon's custom driver, which is well known for sound quality and stability.
The headphone amplifier has been carefully designed and implemented with TPA6120 chips for superior control and natural presentation of audio content.
Unique sound modes are selected to suit your taste.
Mode 1 - balanced;
mode 2 is elegant and solid, which may be preferable for classical music;
mode 3 - with more emphasis on the voice and vocal parts, which can be useful for jazz vocals and the like.
Working together with 3 filter modes, you can find many interesting combinations to take your favorite music to a whole new level of enjoyment.
DAART is well known for its efforts in audio fine tuning. A group of experienced users, which includes audiophiles, electronics and acoustics engineers, and recording/mastering studio engineers, have spent time listening and testing the Aquilas in a wide variety of environments and equipment, which is what makes them sound amazing.
You'll appreciate the craftsmanship and details like the seamless aluminum body and slim knurled handle.
Peculiarities:
Shielded transformer with unique isolator characteristics that filter out high frequency noise. Dop 64/128 are supported via SPDIF, Optical and AES interfaces. PCM 24bit 384KHz is supported via SPDIF, Optical and AES interfaces. PCM 16-32bit, 32-384kHz, DoP64, DoP128 and native DSD64, 128 and 256bit playback are supported via USB input. Fully balanced digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuit. Fully balanced high frequency preamplifier. Fully balanced headphone amplifier based on TPA 6120 A2 chip. DAC based on AKM AK4497 chip with low noise level. OPA 1611 with ultra-low distortion for the filter passing sound below the filter frequency (LPF) and high-voltage OPA1688 for the output stage. PLLclock with ultra-low jitter. Customizable digital filter. Customizable sound mode. 99-position volume control for more precise adjustment to headphones with different levels of impedance and sensitivity. Elegant front panel and aluminum housing. Universal network power 110-240 V.
Other photos:
Additional Information
PC connection. System: Windows 8.1, 64bit. Drivers can be downloaded from the official website: www.yulongaudio.com/col.jsp?id=111
In my case, I installed a universal driver (for Canary), switched to Aquila, an unknown device appeared in the device manager, selected the driver manually, and rebooted. Screenshots from the system:
Additional Information
As for the resolution of 24/192, you can set it higher, you need a driver specifically for Aquila (with support for DSD 256), and change it in the settings. There is sound always and everywhere, in programs you can select ASIO or Wasapi, for the browser it is enough to reassign the DAC as “default” in the system itself. It is stable in operation, there are no bugs, glitches, turn it on and forget it.
As for DSD, I deleted the universal driver, manually installed the version (DA9+Aquila+dsd256+driver.rar), then downloaded the foobar2000 assembly, with the plugins installed, voila. Regarding the formats, I think everything is clear, it will reproduce all modern formats, and not only :)
An OTG adapter may be required to connect to a smartphone. I checked mainly on Hiby Music, although everything is clear... High-definition FLAC plays, DSD plays.
Sound.
Now I'd like to move on to the sound.
In general, it is advisable to purchase good, expensive headphones that can fully reveal the mid-frequency and high-frequency range. The presentation is pure, honest and neutral sound as it is. Very good detail, very good development of the high-frequency range. The low frequencies are a bit dry, also of very high quality, but unusual, for me at least.
Needless to say about the power and volume of the headphones... everything I tried, it rocks, the volume reserve is simply gigantic. I still don’t have good headphones, so I had to make connections again :)) I listened to it paired with full-size headphones: Meze 99 Classics, HiFiMAN HE-400i, and on many other (inexpensive) headphones. Among the in-ear ones: TFZ King Pro, Meze 11 Neo, BQEYZ KB100, Periodic BE, Periodic MG.
LF.
If we talk about headphones, I would choose ones with a slight emphasis on low frequencies. The low frequencies are controlled very well, the bass is fast and collected, and does not interfere with the mid frequencies. The low frequencies are a little dry; sometimes I lack weight and quantity. Another interesting point is the transition between low and mid frequencies - it is very smooth, the music is perceived somehow differently. The detailing is excellent, the separation of instruments is beyond praise, this is the case when all the nuances can really be heard. This range truly surprised me and, one might say, shocked me, but here’s the thing. LFs are perceived completely differently (when compared with devices in the budget segment), the whole point here is that LFs are unexpectedly good in separation, each instrument can be heard in every detail. The bass is not blurry at all, very accurate and high quality. As for headphones, I already said that I would prefer them with a slight emphasis on the low frequencies, but this is more a matter of taste; neutral headphones will allow you to enjoy the mid frequencies to the fullest.
HF
Compared to the canary, the eagle works better in the high-frequency range. High frequencies: natural, with good resolution and detail. Here there is already one thing, the DAC is demanding on the quality of the recordings, all the jambs of compressed recordings from VKontakte, a mishmash, garbage on the HF and all that will be heard... But to hear all this you need good headphones. The highs here are not pinched, but rather stand out slightly. According to rumors, the Yulong DA9 sounds even better at high frequencies, which is quite expected, since it costs 500 bucks more.
CC.
The middle is without color, not the most emotional, but believable.
The stage is very good in width and depth, while the instruments are in their places, the positioning is excellent, the stage is realistic. By switching modes you can slightly change the sound, but again, to my ears the difference is small. I can’t say that the mid frequencies are smoothed out, that they are musical and emotional, rather, on the contrary, an honest-neutral midrange without coloration, with great resolution. As for connecting to speakers via the line output, unfortunately there is nothing to connect to, or rather, there are inexpensive 2.0 speakers, but judging the sound by them is simply ridiculous.
Somehow, there is nothing more to add. Canary sounds simpler, I don’t even see the point in describing a detailed comparison of these two devices. Canary is noticeably simpler in the highs, simpler in the lows, the eagle is neutral in sound, the canary is with an emphasis on the lows and upper mids.
To summarize: I liked the DAC (well, I wouldn’t have liked it), I note the good build quality, convenient and simple controls, the presence of all the necessary inputs and outputs. In terms of the filling, I am also satisfied with it, top-end DAC, good amplification, power supply. In terms of sound, perhaps someone will misunderstand me and think that the DAC gives a boring and flat sound, but this is not so. Yes, the sound is neutral, but not flat or boring. I won’t say loud phrases like “this is the best source for your money”, but to understand how these or other headphones sound, it’s not bad at all, it produces a completely honest and natural sound.
And that's all, thanks for your attention.
The product was provided for writing a review by the store. The review was published in accordance with clause 18 of the Site Rules.
Design and management
The amplifier box is quite simple. It is two-layer, but both layers are made of regular brown cardboard. Inside, reliably protected by foam inserts, is the D200 itself. In addition, you will receive a power cord, USB cable and instructions. Included cables are, in principle, the simplest, but Yulong offers an alternative for those who are willing to spend money on such accessories.
I received a 1.2 meter long USB cable CU2 with the D200 for testing. The cable is of very high quality, it uses double shielding for guaranteed protection against interference and possible interference. It looks beautiful and perfectly complements the Yulong setup.
When it comes to design, Yulong has been doing one thing right for several years now: their entire core line of devices has the same width and front panel design in the same style. This makes it easy to arrange the company's devices into very aesthetically pleasing “stacks,” encouraging the user to remain loyal to the company's products.
The D200 was no exception. Its body, of course, is simpler than that of its older brothers, it is made of thinner metal, but the front panel fits perfectly into the overall concept. Paired with some Yulong A28 D200 will look very solid.
Unlike older models that come in both silver and black, the D200 uses both at the same time. Its front panel is silver and the rest of the body is black. It is shorter in length and noticeably lighter than older models. The controls are arranged in a traditionally reasonable manner: at the back there is a power connector combined with a switch, a supply voltage selection switch, digital inputs and outputs, both regular and balanced.
A special feature of the D200 (like the DA8) is that its balanced outputs can be used to connect ground-separated headphones using the appropriate cables and/or adapter. This trick won’t work with many balanced DACs, but Yulong emphasizes that this is standard operation for their Saber line solutions. The sound will be different in comparison with the headphone output, since the signal actually bypasses the standard headphone amplifier.
Of course, moving the device switch to the rear panel is not the best idea; it would be much more convenient in front, but since the D200 is still a desktop device, this is clearly not critical.
The front panel contains all controls. The first thing you notice is the screen. It is, of course, not as cool as the DA8; instead of a color LCD screen, it uses a black and white dot matrix screen, but it still copes with its task perfectly. The top line shows the selected digital input and the sample rate used, while the bottom line shows the selected volume level.
Next are three buttons with LEDs above each of them. The first allows you to sequentially cycle through the digital inputs; the LED above it lights up when the connection is successful via this interface. The next button allows you to control the built-in filter. The default mode corresponds to the sharp filter, but does not have any effect on the signal; when the LED is turned on, the slow mode is activated, which slightly reduces the level of the highest HF frequencies (above 18 KHz), but the upper frequencies become cleaner. I prefer to turn off the filter, using upsampling using Audirvana Plus instead. In DSD mode, this button switches between 50 KHz and 70 KHz filter modes, and I personally don’t hear its effect on the sound. The last button is used to turn on and off the proprietary jitter suppression circuit, and according to strange Chinese logic, a glowing indicator corresponds to the turned off filter. On my setup, I didn’t hear any difference from its operation, perhaps in the case of a poorer source of numbers, this function will give something.
On the far right is the volume control. Like the DA8, it's digital and switchable, so it can be rotated in any direction indefinitely (more precisely, in one direction it will quickly lead to deafness), the current volume level is displayed on the screen. As with the DA8, pressing the knob puts the D200 into pure DAC mode, disabling the preamp and volume control along with it (be careful if headphones are connected to the balanced output, this may result in deafness).
Also on the front panel there is a regular 6.3 mm headphone jack. It is of high quality and securely fixes the plug.
In general, the appearance was a success, the device just looks “worth the money”, without pulling the blanket over itself from older models. The build quality is excellent, no flaws or complaints.
DAC + Headphone Amplifier + Yulong Audio D200 Preamplifier
The Chinese company Yulong is a great example of an audio success story. Yulong, the founder himself, once worked in the telecommunications field, occasionally designing audio equipment, which has been his hobby since high school. In the end, he did something that very few amateurs dare to do: he quit his stable job and took the risk of devoting himself entirely to his hobby. The company of the same name was born in 2009 and has since grown steadily, offering a good product in the form of a small range of DACs and headphone amplifiers.
The original Yulong D100 and the later redesigned D100 mkII remained on my list of recommended products for quite some time. If someone wanted a quality DAC under $500, they didn't have to look anywhere else. The D100 earned bonus points for having balanced outputs, which were not often found at the time. There was also a built-in headphone amplifier, which made this DAC an extremely worthy all-in-one solution. I know quite a few people who started with a D100 or D100 mkII. Since then, some of them have purchased more expensive equipment, while others are still completely satisfied with what they have.
Since then, Yulong began to produce other, more expensive models, which turned out to be extremely competitive in their price segment. This so-called “entry” segment is very popular: in theory, if a brand manages to attract your attention at first, you can become a loyal customer, and then it will be very logical to continue using the products of this brand when one day you decide to buy more advanced product. Therefore, it is extremely important to have a popular entry-level product in the market. The market is constantly changing, and the D100 mkII can no longer be called “state-of-the-art” in terms of functionality. It still sounds great, but with some adjustments: mainly the 24/96 limit on the USB input. This is where the D200 comes in to replace its predecessor and bring Yulong's "core" model back into the realm of cutting-edge innovations. Lest you think Yulong is just another enterprising designer tinkering with capacitors in his garage, this designer uses, among other things, a $10,000 Prism Sound dScope Series III and draws on his years of engineering experience to ensure not just the good sound of their equipment, but also the corresponding technical indicators. This is one of the few companies that consistently provides detailed measurements for each product that goes on sale.
Think of any feature a modern DAC could have, and the D200 probably has it. DSD support? Yes. The D200 supports DSD64 and DSD128. Newest asynchronous USB? Check it out. The D200 uses an XMOS chip that can reproduce PCM signals in 32-bit/384 kHz format, as well as decode the aforementioned DSD. High-tech Saber chip? Certainly. The D200 is equipped with the ES9016 chip, which can be found in more expensive devices, such as analogues from BMC and Simaudio. The headphone amplifier and balanced outputs remain in place, but new features have been added, such as a preamp and switchable digital filters. It looks like Yulong took the more expensive DA8 as a base, removed and simplified some of the components, and put it all into an updated D100 body. This is a really decent DAC for the money.
Flaws? The price has increased quite significantly - to $699. That's almost $200 more than the original model, which puts the D200 in the non-entry-level category for most buyers. While this is a very ambiguous term, the original D100 was never that cheap either.
Design
I compared it to the flagship Yulong DA8, which retails for $1,299, and the closer I looked at the D200, the more similarities I found. Even the layout of the PCB elements is very similar. Let's look at the differences between them to see what the cost was reduced and whether it makes sense to you. The almost twice as expensive DA8 has higher quality op amps in the output stage using the Analogue Devices AD797. The D200 comes with OP275, a cheaper option from the same manufacturer. Both use a Texas Instruments OP1632 as a preamplifier buffer, and both have a proprietary digital signal buffer that clears the input data stream. The body is definitely thicker and heavier on the more expensive DA8, while the D200 has a more standard (though still decent looking) body that hasn't changed much since the D100. It's unlikely to win an award for its fantastic looks, but at the same time it's not unworthy of a product in its price range. Both devices have displays on the front, but while the DA8 has a color OLED option, the D200 simply produces monochrome text. The display conveys all the information you need and, like the body, is simple enough to serve its purpose effectively, but not much else. Again, this is to be expected from a sub-$1,000 all-in-one.
Moving on... The DA8 has the high-end ES9018 chip, while the D200 uses the ES9016 - a newer chip, but probably a bit lower grade according to ESS. Both products feature custom low-phase noise clocks, although the DA8 has a higher quality (and more expensive) option. The DA8 has higher grade capacitors and different (though not necessarily better) voltage regulators in the power supply. Finally, the USB section: When developing the DA8, Yulong turned to Amanero Technologies for a modified version of their Combo384 solution with a separate daughterboard placed on top of the main DA8 PCB. The D200 uses a built-in XMOS chip. This is a simpler method, but honestly, I don't think it downgrades the product in any way. In my experience, a quality XMOS solution is one of the best USB implementations currently on the market.
The headphone output stage of the D200 is almost identical to the DA8: both feature high-quality operational amplifiers with discrete diamond buffers. Equipment
I usually use a dedicated music server, such as the Aurender X100L. I sometimes use a MacBook Pro with Audirvana+, but lately I've been trying to spend more time learning JRiver Media Center on Windows. I did the same now when I connected for the first time.
I thought it would be better to take equipment of a commensurate cost for testing, so I mainly used Alpha Dogs, Noble 4C CIEMs, Grado PS500 and Sennheiser HD650. Later, a Yulong A28 balanced amplifier was added to them. Towards the end of the testing, I gave myself the reins and upgraded to a higher level of hardware, just to see how the D200 could adapt. I'm talking about the Questyle CMA800R dual monoblocks paired with the Sennheiser HD800, the KGSShv electrostatic amplifier paired with the Stax SR-007mkII and SR-4070, and the Auralic Taurus with Audeze LCD-3 headphones. Let's see how the D200 performs under the pressure of high-end equipment.
Sound
What impressed me right from the start was that the D200 seemed to draw a line between the detail-oriented D100 and the smoother, warmer DA8. In the wrong system, the D100 could become somewhat analytical. For the most part it seemed quite neutral, but when connected to an amplifier with a speed/detail bias (such as the Yulong A100 or Firestone Audio Bobby) plus when using bright headphones (such as the HD800 or most Audio-Technica wood models), the overall sound was the system may have turned out to be too bright. Those who prefer thicker tones will enjoy the DA8, but what about those looking for a nice compromise? This is where the D200 comes in handy. In direct comparison with the D100 mkII, the increase in resolution is clearly audible. Without a doubt, the D200 stands on a different level compared to its predecessors. I experience the stage more deeply by listening to live recordings of Dengue Fever from the album In the Lay Lines (a B&W Society of Sound release) and enjoying the improved rendering of space and “scale,” for lack of a better word.
I then tried the DSD version (SACD rip) of the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra's Die Rohre-The Tube and noticed a stronger emphasis on the leading edges, resulting in greater clarity in plucked and bowed instruments compared to the previous model. The D200 wasn't as clear or dynamic as the DA8 on the same material, but it wasn't far behind it either. And on some systems, the D200 would even be preferable due to its higher “speed” than its more expensive counterpart. The DA8 sounded smoother, smoother and more organic, while the D200 sounded more open.
Where the D200 is more similar to the DA8 than the D100 is its ability to reproduce complex arrangements. On the XRCD release of Ernie Watts' Unity album, the D200 took it to new heights when it came to playing multiple instruments simultaneously. The D100 has always performed well in such situations, but everything is learned by comparison. This is not to say that the D100 stumbles in any obvious way here, but once you listen to the D200, there is a feeling of a certain averageness in the sound of the D100, especially during complex arrangements involving drums or on the track “Tricotism”, when electric and acoustic bass play simultaneously (and frantically). If you listen to simple rock or less complex music from a singer/songwriter, then the difference is not so obvious. However, fans of jazz, classical and other multi-layered/complex music should take note.
After numerous tests, I realized that I prefer the asynchronous USB input to all other inputs. It's not that legacy SPDIF sounds bad per se, just not as good as USB. It is also more dependent on the quality of the transport, whereas USB almost always sounds the same, whether with a dedicated Aurender X100L server or with a simple laptop. The D100 had an Asynchronous Sample Rate Converter (ASRC) that converted all incoming signals to 110 kHz before passing them to the Analogue Devices AD1955 DAC. But with the transition to ESS technology, Saber D200 began to process frequencies differently. Despite the use of ESS's "patented time domain jitter suppressor", there is still a noticeable difference between the SPDIF coax connected to a cheap DVD player and my regular YBA Design WM202 or Audiophilleo 1 converter with a PurePower power supply. Less-quality transport produces a smeared, unclear sound, which, frankly speaking, is not very pleasant to listen to. In this respect, the D200 is similar to the Yulong D18, which was known for its extraordinary demands on the quality of transport. What is so good about it? The D200's USB input is much less picky and doesn't make much of a difference, no matter how bad your laptop or computer is. Within reason, of course.
Interestingly, Yulong has a “Jitter” button, by clicking on which you can disable the jitter suppression function if such a desire arises. When connecting via USB I still don't feel any difference, but via SPDIF with good transport the sound gets better if I turn this option off. With mediocre transport, I leave it on. The sound can be further improved using the “Filter” button, selecting one of several built-in ESS filters. This does not make a significant difference (as happens with the filtering function on DACs), but, nevertheless, it is worth tinkering with them to tune the DAC to your taste. At times I prefer the "slow" filter because it's not as harsh on the highs. In other cases, I prefer the “sharp” filter for greater clarity and clarity. But again, this isn't a night-and-day difference... rather it's a subtle nuance, the final piece of the puzzle that can tip the scales from "almost, but not quite" to "just right" .
The volume control is connected to the DAC chip itself and has 80 adjustment steps at 1-decibel intervals. There is also the ability to switch to the “Pure DAC” DAC mode, when the volume control is blocked and the headphone output is also turned off. This mode is intended for connecting an external headphone amplifier or, for example, a speaker system with a built-in preamplifier. I enjoyed using this DAC with my Adam Audio F5 powered speakers and had no issues with it as the main component driving the entire system. I thought it was working great until the volume dropped to very low levels (-50dB or below), at which point I heard what sounded like the music was "fading out", probably due to the digital volume adjustment. In most cases this should not be a problem. If you have a good amplifier and high-end speakers, you can continue to include a separate preamp in the system, as this still improves the overall sound picture.
The built-in headphone amplifier is almost identical to that found in the DA8. But the sound from directly connected headphones differs on different models. Why? Because each amplifier, despite all the similarity of functions, amplifies a completely different sounding signal coming from the DAC. The result is warm, smooth highs on one unit and a more neutral, linear presentation on the other.
I have to applaud the D200 for its completely inaudible, inky black background. In this regard, Yulong had to work hard on previous models, but now the problem has apparently been solved. Sensitive low-impedance headphones and even in-ear models can also be listened to on this device. The DAC produces 1 full watt at 32 ohms, so it has plenty of power - more than enough for isodynamic headphones such as the Audeze LCD-2 and HiFiMAN HE-500, although the 600 ohm Beyerdynamic T1 was not so good. However, as a universal solution, I can safely recommend the D200. However, if you are serious about choosing headphones, then over time you may want to get a separate amplifier.
At this point I can also recommend the Yulong A28. While they're not a perfect match in appearance (but they're not too far apart either), the A28 is a great match for the D200. Both sound neutral and clean without any loudness, sharpness or intrusiveness. The D200 has true balanced outputs so the A28 can be fully exploited. This $1,400 pair handles even difficult headphones like the infamous HiFiMAN HE-6 to great effect. Can it compete with the super-duo Auralic Taurus and Vega DAC? No. However, for almost a quarter of the price, the duo from Yulong leaves the impression of a very valuable purchase.
And one last interesting point: in the case of the D200, you can directly connect headphones to the rear XLR outputs of the Yulong. Technically, this is possible on any similar device if there is a volume control and XLR outputs. There will be some brave souls out there who have done this in the past with Lavry and Benchmark DACs. In reality, these designers never had any intention of using their creations for such purposes. The problem here is the output impedance, which on their models increased or decreased with the volume level. Perhaps not much if you have an amplifier, but with direct connection of headphones? It wouldn't be as good. Yulong claims very low—and constant—output impedance on the D200's XLR outputs. This type of output is intended for higher impedance headphones such as Sennheiser or Beyerdynamic, preferably with an impedance of 300 ohms or higher.
Different models will have different results, but with low impedance models I personally prefer the front headphone jack, which produces more current. And, of course, you will need an adapter to connect your headphones to the XLR outputs. I was able to try this connection option with the HD650, and while it wasn't a full-on experience, I did think it sounded slightly better than the front-panel headphone jack. At least for that particular headphone model. The front panel jack also produces excellent results, but the XLR connection makes the sound more refined and transparent, although perhaps a little less punchy in the lower registers. But in any case, I consider this feature a bonus: it’s worth trying if you want, but you can ignore it if you don’t have such a desire. Comparisons I have already written about the D200 in comparison with other Yulong models. This is the easiest way to get to know the product because it sounds like a cross between the more analytical D100 and the ultra-analog DA8. Be that as it may, not everyone has heard of Yulong DACs before. So some basic comparisons are in order.
Let me start by saying that I would have no hesitation in choosing the D200 over the PS Audio NuWave DAC ($999). This DAC sounds too harsh and bright for my taste. Sometimes I hear complaints about the Saber-style sound and that ESS-based DACs are simply ear-shattering in some cases. Not that I agree with this unconditionally, but I certainly know the feeling from my experience using the NuWave DAC. It's funny that NuWave uses a Texas Instruments (aka Burr Brown) PCM1798 chip, and not a Saber solution at all. So apparently this theory doesn't apply here.
Despite all this, the D200, in my opinion, sounds better in almost all respects, and the lower price and additional functionality are just a nice bonus. The PS Audio product undoubtedly lives up to its status, and its name is much more prestigious, but that’s where the advantages end, at least for me.
Another parallel can be drawn with the Audiolab M-DAC, another compact DAC that uses Saber technology. The M-DAC retails for around $900 and could theoretically be considered a worthy competitor to the D200, as it has virtually the same features. I like the M-DAC better than the NuWave, but I still prefer the D200 with its “soul” that the Audiolab product lacks. They're both great at extracting low-level detail, but the Chinese product outperforms its British counterpart when it comes to range of amplitude, PRaT (tempo + rhythm + coherence) - no matter what you call it. Both sound equally charming on Jane Monheit's Home, adequately conveying her velvety voice along with the beautifully recorded piano, trumpet and brushes typical of the genre. But listen to Samuel Yirga's The Habasha Sessions or Idris Mohammad's Power of Soul and you'll see that the D200 captures the beat more adequately. Perhaps it's the low frequencies, although taken in isolation, the M-DAC doesn't seem to lack anything in this regard. Whatever it is, I constantly find myself tailoring my playlist to the M-DAC's strengths, when the D200 can play almost any material equally well. This is a huge advantage for those who, like me, love a very wide range of musical genres.
The D200 can function as more than just a mid-priced all-rounder. I've tried it with dual Questyle CMA800R monoblocks paired with an HD800 and even a KGSShv and Stax SR-4070/SR-007 mkII electrostatic system. As a $699 product, it fell short of my benchmark, the Resonessence Labs Invicta Mirus ($5,000), but with such a significant price difference, I didn't expect it to. Despite this, it sounded very solid, with no glaring flaws to mention. The shortcomings were surmountable and not glaring, which is always a good thing. Ultimately, I think that a user who starts with the D200 as the main component will be able to use it for quite a long time before it becomes a weak point in the system. This makes the price increase over the D100 more palatable.
Conclusion
I think I've said this at least once before, but here it is: Yulong has done it again. It has far surpassed its previous creation - enough to stay afloat for many more years. The DAC market is constantly changing, and companies cannot stand still: a DAC with a full set of functions, released several years ago, is considered obsolete by today's standards. In light of this, I'm glad the Yulong holds its altitude so well. This isn't an upgrade for the sake of an upgrade - it's a further development of the moderately priced, feature-rich component that made Yulong popular. If you find yourself thinking about buying a more expensive solution like Audiolab or even Mytek products, then I urge you to find a way to try the Yulong D200 first. In my opinion, this is a worthy alternative for a much smaller amount.
Based on materials from the internet portal headphone.guru Author: John Grandberg
Yulong Audio D200 in the Hi-Audio.ru store
Sound
I used the following equipment to listen to the Yulong D200:
- MacBook Pro Retina Late 2013 as a source
- Audirvana Plus as a player
- HiFiMan EF-6 and Yulong A28 as an amplifier
- Headphones AKG K702, ZMF Fostex, Fischer Audio FA-003 Bog Oak Limited Edition, Fischer Audio FA-011 Limited Edition Japan, Sennheiser HD800, TDS-7 Snorry mod and a number of others
- Recordings in lossless format
The D200 Yulong has tweaked the headphone amplifier setup a bit, making it feel distinctly different from the DA8. In the latter, the headphone amplifier is configured for a musical, slightly softened sound, nevertheless distinguished by excellent elaboration of plans. The D200 placed greater emphasis on detail and emphasis on the speed performance of the headphones; some users subjectively preferred the D200 option. By the way, Yulong took this point into account, and in the updated DA8 of the second revision, which recently entered the market, the amplifier is configured as an “arithmetic mean” between the D200 and the old DA8.
As a combine harvester, the D200 probably has few competitors in terms of price and quality ratio. Despite the simplification of the internal structure, it retained most of the advantages of its “big brother” - excellent resolution, speed, the ability to reliably work out multifaceted musical canvases, good control even over tight headphones. Some things, of course, turn out worse than the top model, but the difference is not that great.
The low frequencies are well controlled and warm without going beyond the point where they become muddy. If you need texture elaboration, the D200 will give you the elaboration; if you need pressure and drive, it will not fail here.
The mids are lively, detailed and natural, sometimes it seems to me that the more complex the piece, the better this little guy copes with its development. The imaginary scene is built confidently and quite volumetrically. There are some minor amp-induced tonal flaws in some instruments, but they are not many and are almost borderline nitpicky. If you want to fix this, Yulong A28 is at your service.
The highs are quite good, although not perfect. On the lightest headphones, you can sometimes detect notes of underdevelopment in the area of sibilance, but with most balanced headphones it will be unlikely to hear this. Otherwise, both the quantity and detail of the HF are pleasing.
In pure DAC mode, all roughness actually goes away. If you supplement the D200 with an amplifier, it is quite capable of competing with many famous tops. Of course, he will lose in this competition, but he will do it very well and with a minimal margin.
The option of connecting headphones to a balanced output, in my opinion, was added “for change” and, perhaps, serves more as a toy than a serious option. Headphones from this output sound a little more driving, but the midrange resolution is slightly reduced, in turn affecting the volume transmission. In general, the difference is rather a matter of taste, and for serious headphones with a balanced cable, I would bother buying an amplifier, since there are a lot of good models in the middle segment now.
Compatibility
There is enough power reserve to drive almost all headphone models. The combine amplifier also performs well, although not ideally, with models that need current boosting (yep, you thought correctly about the AKG K702). From my fleet of headphones, I liked it with isodynamic models, starting with the MyST isophones and ending with the TDS-7 and Fostex mods. Of the headphones with which the amplifier did not perform the best, it is worth noting the Sennheiser HD-800, but this is simply a matter of an unsuccessful combination, and not of any serious problems.
Genre-wise, the D200 is universal, it is suitable for any style and trend. He is critical of low-quality recordings, but not merciless.
As usual, here are a few tracks that I liked from the D200:
Pink Floyd - Shine on You Crazy Diamond. For my tastes, perhaps the greatest composition of the greatest band, clearly showing why they were called "architects of sound." The track is not composed, but constructed, assembled with extreme virtuosity so as to touch not the ear, but immediately the brain. Not all sources can correctly convey the languid exhaustion and tearing transition that opens the composition, but the D200 is clearly not one of them.
Dire Straits - Telegraph Road. Of all the diversity of the group’s creativity, this track is perhaps the most diverse. Knopfler's vocals are truly complex here, and the D200 conveys the richness of its subtlest nuances very reliably and in detail.
David Chesky - Rap Symphony. The great recording wizard, who did a lot to popularize headphones and binaural recordings, decided to once and for all put an end to the question of whether rap can be interesting music. The complex, intertwining beats of this work, combined with the perfectly chosen performers, recorded with the usual Cesky transcendental quality, will forever convince you that the answer is yes. Especially with the D200.
Evgeniy 16-12-2016
My U200 arrived to me. Nice appearance. Externally made quite high quality. I was pleased that the volume knob is made of metal, all the edges are milled, and the power button seems to be the same. Aesthetes will be pleased. The combine fits perfectly on the table, where everything is black.
Now about work. When you turn on the device, a soft click is heard in the headphones, which does not depend on the set volume. It's unclear, but not critical. I think such an impulse will not harm the headphones. When turned off, a much quieter sound is heard. The movement of the volume knob is very smooth and smooth, when rotating there is absolutely no additional sound in the headphones. Background noise is quite difficult to hear when the volume is increased. The device is dead quiet in this regard.
When I first listened to it, the device surprised me a bit. The thing is that, as I read in one of the reviews, the device builds the scene more in depth, this was unusual. Together with Fidelio X2, the result was an impressively sized concert hall. I quickly got used to it, because it sounds very natural and natural! The device is indeed a little dark, even more than expected, but it sounds clean and detailed! The first evening I listened to music without stopping for several hours, I couldn’t tear myself away and was absolutely not tired! This was something new for me! Instrumental music sounds simply mesmerizing! There is enough detail in the high frequencies, but they don't cut out the brain. The mids are very natural and lively! The bass is good, natural, there is enough of it. The bass delivery is somewhat softened, it seemed to me. He doesn't exude wild dynamics. For high-frequency fans who want to purchase this combine, light-colored headphones are highly recommended. You don't have to be afraid of them. The device will confidently curb excess lightness.
The sadness came only because of the headphones, which seem to be defective. But the combine has nothing to do with it.. Listening to headphones on the device showed exactly the same as what I heard with other sources. The bass in my headphone is slightly shifted to the right. And this prevents you from fully enjoying listening to some compositions. You will have to take the headphones to the store and wait for examination and replacement. What will delay the opportunity to listen to this wonderful music box.
Many thanks to Dmitry (hi-audio) for the advice on choosing a DAC. And for the fast execution of the order. I am very pleased with the purchase! The U200 is definitely worth the money!
Ellie1982 03/28/2016
An excellent device for your money. If you are choosing between the U200 and something like the Asus STU, don’t hesitate to take the U200. A very decent headphone amplifier (tested on HD600/HD650), pleasant “musical” sound, good build and appearance….
What else can I add? It’s just a great device. True, I returned it after 2 weeks of use - but not because it was bad, I just found a more interesting device for myself (specifically, the old Yamaha DX-U1 multibit on PCM56P-K). In comparison, the U200 loses in detail and timbre, but at the same time plays very beautifully. The difference is critical only with very decent acoustics.
Plus, the U200 is the only device where I was able to get DSD (though not in Foobar, but in JRiver - but that wasn’t possible before either). DSD plays just great, even on regular Microlab Solo 1c - I personally was delighted.
Separately, I would like to thank the Hi-Audio store for the excellent service and excellent work of the staff - they called me back so many times, advised me on my choice, then helped me with the return... I am extremely pleased.
Snly 02/23/2016
I will share my opinion about Yulong U200. I acquired it relatively recently. After a painful choice. I didn’t have time to listen to different material, BUT some things are already clear. I can only compare with the sound of the hi-fi player xDuoo x3 (DAC Cirrus Logic 4398, price at the time of release at the end of 2015 was about 100 USD).
I’ll say right away that the first impression did not bring any wow effect. But as soon as I found myself in a calmer environment and focused on the musical material, everything fell into place. The first thing I noticed was the space, it became larger, noticeably larger. The second is resolution, each instrument is clearly and distinctly heard, you can get carried away and follow it mentally even losing the overall picture, this is the first time I’ve heard this. Third, the sound has become more natural and brighter (in one of Florance’s songs you can hear someone beating a tambourine with some kind of bells, and it sounds so natural, as if someone is standing in front of you on stage and beating!).
I spent the evening comparing Yulon and xDuoo, plugging the plug from device to device and listening to the difference. She's great. Especially for the 3 points mentioned above. I want to listen to the device, and it’s pleasant to listen to it, I can say that the Yulon is quite musical (it doesn’t cut anything, it sounds really pleasant, airy, quite natural, you can hear the after-sound/attenuation of vibrations of guitar strings, etc.).
What kind of music is it best suited for? I think that the device is quite universal, especially good in my opinion for instrumental music, for everything around rock, electronic calm music. The guitar instrumentals of Satriani and Sergei Tabachnikov sound great (nobody.one - echo is simply mesmerizing). The device is capable of arousing interest in genres of music that you have hardly listened to before, this is happening to me now.
If we talk about heavy styles, about metal, about the sound of overloaded guitar amplifiers, then not everyone will have enough pressure and density of the lows, although in my opinion the bass is quite natural, it’s just not protruding. But compared to xDuoo x3, when listening to heavy rock/metal, you still want to add density at the bottom, maybe more punch/drive/bitingness. I noticed this with Five Finger Death Punch (2015). But I will refrain from making final conclusions; you still need to listen carefully, your brain will warm up and your perception may change. In any case, I have a good laptop, which has enough everything for metal. Source: forum.ixbt.com.
Andrey 12/31/2015
Greetings! I'm not much of a DAC connoisseur, but compared to my DacMagic100, this Yulong sounds much better. I am very pleased with the purchase! The difference with CA is immediately noticeable - the sound is denser, more comfortable, and lively. The double bass sounds excellent, and all live instruments have become more alive, even the human voice. In general, I recommend it! I can’t say anything about the amplifier yet - I haven’t got decent “ears” yet. (It is better to change the included USB cable. The difference with AudioQuest Forest is not that big, but it is there.) Source: order 889-16.
Gold 11/19/2015
Well, my Yulong has arrived! It looks like a neat black box with the most necessary connections. Made of very high quality, all parts fit tightly, there is no play anywhere.
Why did I choose Yulong? There are several reasons:
-Good reviews from owners who bought early products of this brand;
-We needed a quality source to replace Dr Prime;
-The outlandish AK4495 chip. I myself have not encountered their chips before, but the reviews were again good.
-The power supply is normally made for such a small DAC, just like in Violektrika.
I must say it’s a little smaller than the last one, I thought it would be smaller.
Sound: Overall the sound is cohesive and punchy, yet very smooth (in a good way), without losing detail or overall intelligibility. LFs are well articulated and precise. The bass does not press and in no way dominates other frequencies. The middle is pronounced, with a bias towards “warmth”. HF is calm and well readable. However, I cannot say that they are darkened or that they are missing. Nothing really bothers the brain. The musical material mainly consisted of old heavy metal and various instrumental compositions. Ears 900 Fostex.
There is a very funny nuance. As a “combine”, the device sang much better with the ears than as a separate DAC with Vili. Such miracles! My every recommendation for this miracle is, first of all, for light-colored headphones. Source: player.ru.
Comparison with DA8
Of course, the main question that many people will face when choosing an ultimate source for themselves is the choice between the D200 and DA8 (especially since the latter has recently been well updated). Yes, the D200 is indeed very close to the DA8; in DAC mode this difference will be even less noticeable than when using built-in headphone amplifiers. But there is still this difference, and it is shown especially well by top-end headphones such as the Sennheiser HD800.
So ask yourself what amount of money you want to settle on. If you plan to spend less than $1,500 on the entire “system” (not necessarily all at once), then the D200 is an ideal choice. Mid-range headphones will be an ideal complement to it.
If you are thinking about top models, both existing and upcoming, the DA8 is waiting for you.
