I heard the Grande Utopia Be's at the montreal 2005 show running off a YBA passion 1000 stereo amp. Source was the esoteric UX-1 player with the YBA passion 1000 preamp (with the large external powersupply). I'm not sure what interconnects and speaker cables were used, but powercords and powerconditioning was by YBA.
The sound was good, even very good. The soundstage was impecable, vocals were rendered with great control and at the same time with ease, transparency was first class, bass was visceral yet very well rendered. Classical music impressed on it. No constriction whatseoever. The room was huge. I walked away from that room regreting the fact that I did not bring more cd's to the show.
but...
there was definitely present, in the highs, a particular metalic glare present in many metal tweeters (even in high end speakers) ... and it has nothing to do with sibilance, sibilance was not an issue in montreal ... despite the advantages of this sound in brass instrument rendering, I have to say that to my ear it is not the most pleasant and my own choice of speakers has revolved around the better silk tweeters out there. I think it's a matter of personal preference, no right or wrong here ... or anywhere else in this hobby.
At the Monsteal 2005 show, I found the Ayre/Sonus Faber room to be absolutely magical ... a world away from the YBA/JM Lab room. There was emotion there, music felt surreal there ... total involvement, no walls (room size similar to the YBA room) ... therefore I would like to caution people considering the Nova Be's to also keep an open ear for Sonus Faber Amati's/Stradivary's ; Dynaudio Evidence Temptation's as well as Acapella Violon's as an ion tweeter alternative. They are all world-class speakers worthy of an audition. The Dali Megalines, MBL 101E's are other fascinating alternatives.
The sound was good, even very good. The soundstage was impecable, vocals were rendered with great control and at the same time with ease, transparency was first class, bass was visceral yet very well rendered. Classical music impressed on it. No constriction whatseoever. The room was huge. I walked away from that room regreting the fact that I did not bring more cd's to the show.
but...
there was definitely present, in the highs, a particular metalic glare present in many metal tweeters (even in high end speakers) ... and it has nothing to do with sibilance, sibilance was not an issue in montreal ... despite the advantages of this sound in brass instrument rendering, I have to say that to my ear it is not the most pleasant and my own choice of speakers has revolved around the better silk tweeters out there. I think it's a matter of personal preference, no right or wrong here ... or anywhere else in this hobby.
At the Monsteal 2005 show, I found the Ayre/Sonus Faber room to be absolutely magical ... a world away from the YBA/JM Lab room. There was emotion there, music felt surreal there ... total involvement, no walls (room size similar to the YBA room) ... therefore I would like to caution people considering the Nova Be's to also keep an open ear for Sonus Faber Amati's/Stradivary's ; Dynaudio Evidence Temptation's as well as Acapella Violon's as an ion tweeter alternative. They are all world-class speakers worthy of an audition. The Dali Megalines, MBL 101E's are other fascinating alternatives.