i have YBA1 HCDT now, planing of upgrading to higher YBA preamp and CDP, but their current line(from Passion & downwards) all do not have that special sonics of YBA Classic 1,2 or even 3. i had heard Passion 400 & up and CDP passion series, they're lively dynamic open & deep soundstage but lack the Classic with that special clean refine(some may call it thin) grandeur airyness, which able to "spread out" and image instruments with midhigh to high freq. evenly between 2 speakers. Not easy task as high freq are directional. i listen to modern orchrestra soundtrack so YBA can make me feel i'm sitting somewhere row 8 or more. YBA also make rock music very pleasant without that brute, forward thick acoustic texture, plus sweet vocals. i could go on describing... Sadly YBA no longer produce Classic anymore. Hope anyone whom may have heard any HIFI similar to share their experience, so i could narrow down and save some time. THanks for your time and effort, sure appreciate all inputs. BTW, only solid state please.
-phil |
hi, thanks for your input.
Passion series has an overall presentation of slightly forward sounding. it certainly made jazz and small chamber music lifelike and enjoyable. Yes, i also notice pairing YBA and Focal speakers in shows as they share that open soundstage feel. You'll notice Passion being sold in the market, but never Classics! and i heard ECM1-UP, feels analog and sweet but only 55-60% close to YBA classic.
Have you heard cdp from CEC or Metronome ? my dealer have problems getting these for demo.. regards. |
hi, thanks for the link, i didn't know Koreans can produce superb CDPs! i'm not sure if their present Stello CDp are just as good, anyway, would keep options open.
do you listen to LP or disc? have you heard Simaudio? i just listened it yesterday and it's very airy as far as other HIfi i heard, but seems digital and forward. Oh! YBA just relaunch Signature range, see their web www.yba.fr but seems very different from YBA original design concept. |
yes Digepix, that's what i'm been doing for last 8yrs, being listening music nothing else, but when i plans to upgrade, i discover they (YBA) no longer do classics anymore, i being under the impression that they seldom update the website & still produce it on demand since Passion series are still relevant. Now it seems YBA has everything change, undergoing major product line overhaul.
anyone familar with PassLab or Mcintosh preamp? thanks. |
hi Vimv, thanks for your suggestions.
that's what i feels also, about Naim & Passion closeness in sonic similarities. so that's why i didn't buy Naim & Passion series, it's not the sound i like. it's more about overall presentaton of musical soundstage, like in a grand musical hall with musician playing all sort of instruments without compression and lots of air around them.
anyone know other HiFi have such traits? Audiio Aero? thanks. |
sure of course, i would definitely post my encounters with the Hifi i experienced. i would try going for more listening whenever possible. but i just don't wish to visit each and every hifi dealers and make them feel i am wasting their time since i'm hunting for specific type of sound.
So i hope anyone whom have brief idea of any Hifi equipment that sound similar to YBA classics range to enlighten me, i'll post my findings and give a more conclusive and comparison with other hifi set, and make future Audiogoners easier in selection process. |
how about pass lab preamp and audio research CDP ? |
just upgraded from ML Vantage to Spire. these are fast & revealing speakers. i have not heard any DACs before, but if any can sound similar to YBA classic, that would be best!
i'm using MIT cables, compared to that $4000 Siltech RCA interconnect, which is extremely good, i still prefer MIT. i had A/B them in a $50000 Spectral electronic & Avalon system, so i believe what i hear is their true sound. i suggest anyone whom love jazz using Naim system to give Siltech a try.
can you suggest any DAC that sound laidback & airy & smooth relax highs? BTW, is it extremely rare to find DACs with balance adjustments as compare to preamps? my budget is not high, maybe the farthest i go for DAC or Pre is 10-11k, still need to get YBA amp or Electrocompaniet amp though.
thanks, |
Vinw, thanks for your recommendations. guess you are knowledgeable with DACs. i would sure try some of the names you suggested, it will be my first venture with DACs. Just read somewhere that Audio Aero are almost 85% similar with Zanden, maybe that is also the kind of sound presentation i would be happy with as they are also more or less in line with YBA attributes.
would post as when i'm free to attend more auditions. thanks |
hey, i just bought a simaudio 750D from my dealer. i requested him to ask Simaudio to change the digital RCA connector to BNC type. do anyone knows by any chances that Simaudio accept such request? thanks.
i had audition the 750 and felt it is smooth and has big soundstage. it is still not quite the same as YBA but acceptable, given i'm drawing reference from a YBA 3 box CD player and with money difference of a few grand though. |
hi Ham,
i tried many cables from Nordost, Synergetic Research, Crystal cable, Siltech and the cheaper one too. but none can compete to MIT network cables if you like the openness and airyness of YBA.Then MIT will compliment YBA very well. Hope this helps. |
