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
-phil