Any HiFi equipment sound similar to YBA sonics ?


may i humbly seek advices from experienced audiogon menbers whom knows of ANY hifi equipment (CDP, preamp/amp) that share similar characteristics to YBA ? perhaps 85% to 90+% closeness in airyness and its laidback uncompress open soundstage. any input would be deeply appreciated. i tried audition few brands but sadly none. Currently their YBA Passion & lower series do not really have sonic as impressive as former YBA Classic series. Thanks again.
-phil
philipwu
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
Phillip, i haven't heard the YBA classic amps, but i'v heard the YBA Passion amps, YBA Passion preamp, the one with 1 volume control and not 2.
They would always be at the Stereophile show on the JM Lab Utopia speakers.
The system had a huge soundstage and a tube like sound.
How did you like the YBA Passion series?
For CD players, I'v always liked the Sony Xa7es.
My friend has the La Audio Pro-2 Tube CD player.
It sounds very smooth.
Other CD players i'v liked that i'v heard over the years were the Cary Audio CD 303/300, LECTOR CDP 7TL, Canary Audio CD-200 and Electrocompaniet ECM1-UP
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, i'v heard the Metronome dac, transport at the Stereophile shows in NY.
But I wasn't able to a A/B it to anything.
My friend has the the CEC TL-1X transport modified by Reference audio Mods with a Audio Aero Prima dac.
This is one of the best combinations i'v heard.
It sounded so analog like a turntable.
The only thing i could compare it to, would be the REIMYO CDP-777 CD Transport/Player, that uses the JVC K2 processor in it.
Another top of the line dac and transport i heard that sounded amazing was the Eximus Dac and Transport.
I dont think they make it anymore.
Here's a pic of it http://www.shows.soundstagelive.com/shows/ces2005/showstoppers4.shtml
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.