YG Acoustics add in Stereophile

There is much more to loudspeakers performance then flat FR. Many cheap 2-ways have as good or better (off-axis) FR then YG. Have a look at a $1500 Paradigm (And they actually also go below 80Hz). But YG does not seems to know that or, quite successfully I suppose, rely on the gullibility of its propaganda readers. Just few point for thoughts: Look at Soundstage Anat Reference measurements. Does the 30 degree off-axis resemble the measurements in their ad? Not even close. How about, MAJOR distortion levels in the 300-500 Hz and 2K-6K region (Some of the highest I ever seen). These high THD figures tell much more about the speaker then its FR alone. How about his ridicules claim that he is one of the only “foreigner” to ever win Japanese Stereo Sound Grand Prix (Basically 90% of the manufactures to win are, not Japanese – that will make them foreigners right?). Now YG speakers might be fine (Although the idea of adding a powered sub to a full-range monitor is marginal at best), but I can’t see how anyone can take any of their claims seriously.

I came to hear the YGs two years ago at CES. Previously I have heard what I regard as the best speaker ever at the RMAF-the LSA model 10 as resurrected by John Tucker from a never assembled DK Designs speaker. By CES they had decided that the aluminum cabinet was too expensive to make and to not market the speaker.

I saw in the YG's the same rigid cabinets and took a listen. Their room was just awful but nevertheless the Anats sounded quite good. The References, however, were clearly better. Nevertheless, I really could not listen through the room's acoustics. Had they not been so expensive and had I been able to sell my present speakers, I would have tried them although I probably would have limited myself to the Anats despite having a large room. I continue to think they have great potential and now have the advantage of being American made and without the inflated prices of European speakers caused by the quite weak US dollar.

Tbg, I do agree with you. I love the Kipods but the Anat Reference II Studios are exceptional. Their American manufacture makes them a relative bargain but it was their performance that sold me.

As you may surmise, they sound far better in a "home" environment than at CES.
They do not require much room treatment at all to sound their best, unlike many other superb speakers I have had in my home.

So I bought them. Could not be more pleased.

Especially since the dollars went to Colorado, a place and people I admire and am pleased to support.

Not that I have any less appreciation for the advantages of the opportunistic global outsourcing transforming our "hobby".

I doubt seriously that my opinion of this transformation could possibly ever sink lower.

But I am aware that many toil diligently toward that end, unwittingly.
And even more unconsciously.

Even in our little hobby there are now sociodemoeconomic factors to consider, unless of course you just have to have that beryllium tweeter at sweatshop prices.

Our daughters here will soon be handproducing them anyway and since they won't have healthcare no responsible society will be able to compete.

I am not looking forward to that soundstage.

Is it true that a) YG takes longer to break in and b) though they seem to avoid publishing data, they are quite insensitive and need a lot of power? ..as in 200W in 8 ohms solid state wld be the bare minimum?

Henryhk, yes I do believe that YG speakers require a somewhat longer break in period that the average high end contender but it is not outrageous. They sound perfectly agreeable right "out of the box" but bloom progressively at least through 120 hours. I stopped timing after that because they sounded so good at that point that I just didn't care and got completely lost in the music.

I do believe that YGs like lots of clean SS power. I use a McCormack DNA 500 rated @ 500W into 8 ohms, doubling to 1kW into 4 ohms. I have always contended that this amp is a "giant-killer" priced @ $7k even before I owned the YGs.

Dick Diamond, YG's Director of Sales & Marketing, kindly visited my home to assist with the placement and voicing of my new Anat Reference II Studios and I do not think I am exaggerating his enthusiasm for the DNA 500's performance by recounting his intention to mention this amp to Yoav Geva himself as a contender.