Price Paid:  $7000.00 from shop

Summary:
Remarkably coherent sound, extends lower in the bass to 25hz, higher in the treble than Royal Master alone.
Minimalist crossover, the subs do less damage in the midbass to lower-midrange than any sub/satellite combo I've heard.
Supremely musical
good match with finest tube electronics

Strengths:
clarity and transparency close to electrostats
much more musical than watt/puppy

Weaknesses:
a bit thickening of textures through midbass

Similar Products Used:
no competition under $30,000

Summary:
When I first hooked up just the monitors of the suprema speaker system I was floored! Smooth, articulate, coherence, absolutely huge soundstage out of these extremely well built monitors. I used to think that I would have to spend at least $50,000 to get a system that was this musical. I can't recommend these speakers enough. I have heard dozens of speakers at all price ranges and none have surpassed what the supremas do. The sound cannot be described it has to be experienced.

These speakers seem to work well with a lot of different electronics. I myself have had the most success with YBA 3 alpha and 2 alpha electronics and YBA cables. If you are looking for a speaker in the $5,000 range look no further than the Royal Master they are incredible by themselves with respectable bass. You can always get the subs later to add that lower octave. The subs integrate seemlessly and produce some of the cleanest tightest bass I've ever experienced. A good 150 watts for the bass alone is recommended.

You can't do much better at any price!!!
Do yourself a favor and buy a pair. I have heard speker systems costing 5 times as much that were not as musical These are true gems!!!

Strengths:
Musicality, soundstaging, you name it!!! they have it!

Weaknesses:
No complaints here

Similar Products Used:
too many to mention

Summary:
I will only review the top of the suprema (i don t have yet the subs).

It is the first speaker that let me ignore the electronics and make me listening to the music and just the music. For instane several Audiophile CDs from chesky and others, while sounding excellent, do not offer the ultimate musical experiments or outstanding interpretation.

This Reference 3a is extremely dynamic and fast, and it reminded me the Triangle Comete. In terms of musicality, the YBA minimum come very close, with less dynamic and shy bass.

The AE1 Signature has a more precise soundstage and image, but a much less lively presentation ... which at times can be frustrating (you probably need heavy amplifier, and tube, rather than solid state amplifier).

Ref 3a are very revealing of every nuance in the musical message, voices are superb, and they manage orchestral work superbly.... with the bass always under tight control ... I never realized before how important is the musical content in the bottom end.

The only complaint is its poor distribution in the US and limited availability (Daniel Lehay handbuilds all its drivers, limiting the production.

System : YBA CD1a, YBA2a pre- and amplifier, Wireworld cables throughout the system, Fanfare FM Tuner

Strengths:
Lively, detailed, smooth, extremely fast, superb bass

Weaknesses:
Soundstage

Similar Products Used:
MArtin Logan, Acoustic Energy AE1 Signature, Triangle Comete, YBA Minimum, Proac Response 2

Summary:
Those speakers are exactly as their name SUPREMA. Absolute clarity, transparency, and a large soundstage.They are easy to drive by quality amplifiers. The monitors can be bought separately without the sub-woofers (Royal Master Control) and are also excellent in their own way, however with the sub's they became a full-range loudspeaker that can be compared wtih the best avaiable, for a very reasonable price.