antero

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $3200.00 from audiogon

Summary:
Simply put, I am not quite as fortunate as the Passion 1000 series owners below. I am fortunate enough though to own the smallest amp in the passion series. It's the YBA passion integre (older version, 100 wpc in 8 ohm, 170 in 4). Great piece!

In the last year or so I have acquainted myself with the sound of YBA and Audio Aero. At the same time I have noticed that I have gained a greater appreciation of music in itself, surpassing the notion of listening to music for pleasure. I have a few companies in the audio industry to thank for that:

YBA (passion integre)
Audio Aero (Capitole MKII SE)
Whest Audio (dap.10)
Symposium (rollerblocks series 2+, grade 3 balls)
Revelation Audio speakers ( Mistral S6 with Sub6 Units)
Shunyata (anaconda vx)
Electraglide (epiphany x)
Revelation Audio Labs (precept)
Cardas interconnects (Golden Reference)
Monster speaker cables (Sigma Retro Gold) ... (don't be fooled by these cables's name ... read the review that compared them to the valhalla's.)
HRS (MKII damping plates and M2 platform)

Never fatiguing, very involving, YBA bass, great dynamics (not Passion 1000 style but not too shabby either), liquid midrange, simply beautiful musical sound that can be enjoyed for hours without boredom, without the mind wondering off ... is music.

YBA is not so much about the pure sound that puts you in the recording studio. I believe this sound is all about music ... which is the same philosophy as Audio Aero.

Long story short. With a few more upgrades ... if this sound gets any better I would be very happy, as I cannot imagine it being much more rewarding than it is already. But maybe I will move to the passion 1000 series someday, along with Kubala Sosna Emotion cables all around, maybe an elrod Statement on the amp ...

I want to caution everyone: the sound of YBA is addicitve! It can make you a music addict!

Enjoy.

4 out of 5 for such a product? C'mon now.

Strengths:
This product has my highest recommendation, no hesitation (a bargain at $3000 used on audiogon). Potential owners should know that the preamp stage in the Audio Aero capitole mkii se surpasses that of this integre. Consequently, running the capitole through the whest and directly into the amp stage of the YBA integre produces the best results when the same level of isolation and power is fed through the chain.

Weaknesses:
The only weakness is that it is not a tube amp, and perhaps may leave some to desire the ultimate sound achieved by tubes. As a transisitor amp it can easily compete with the best out there ...despite being around for a few years alreadyill!

YBA technology cannot get old or fall out of fashion as long as music survives!

Similar Products Used:
Joule, Accustic Arts, Rogue, Mark Levinson, Simaudio, Atmasphere, VTL, Nagra, Ayre ...many others that cannot even come close.

Price Paid:  $7000.00 from second hand

Summary:
This is a review of the YBA Passion Stereo, not the monoblocks. It looks exactly the same, and if you have two they can by made into the monoblock type. It outputs 2X250 watts 8 ohms, 2X500 watts into 4 ohms and 2X3750 watts into 0.7 ohms, so it is very flexible into low impedances. It has two of the special YBA 1000 powersupplies, totally 2000 VA powersupply, and they are not torodial type but C-core and according to YBA they are much better and also 3 times as expensive. The net weight is 52 kilos (115 pounds), shipping weight is 65 kilos (144 pounds). My speakers (Infinity Kappa 9.2i) have a very difficilt impedance curve, dipping to 1,2 ohms at 30 hz, so they suck enormous amounts of current from the amp. I have used and tested probably 20 different amps during the last 8 years, and the YBA stereo is clearly the best sounding amp, and also it seems more powerful than many amps rated with more watts. (It is also a lot more expensive than most of the other amps) I have trouble getting the VU meters to travel more than 40% of their maximum travel, and then we are talking music at 130 dB level or powerful movie soundtracks. So I dont know why I would want the mono blocks, not for more power anyway, but they could of course sound even better. The sound is just wonderful, deep tight bass with a lot of control over my 4 12" woofers, the mids are just awesome, and all tests of YBA including the Stereophile test of the monoblocks say the mids of YBA are world class, maybe the best transistor amps there is in this regard. The treble is never fatiguing, very pleasant to listen to and still detailed and clear. Just the way I like it! And The looks of this amp outclasses anything I have seen, so huge and classy, looking both beautiful and powerful. Here the competitors have a lot to learn, I am talking about Krell, Mark Levinson, and even Pass Labs does not have the same finish and good looks.

Strengths:
Sound Power Design Only 300 pcs build, exclusive. Does not run very hot at idle. Does not get too hot even when pushed hard for hours. Many other top amps will give in and shut down after playing loud the whole evening, but the YBA just keeps on pumping....

Weaknesses:
Price (10000 USD is a lot for many people) Very heavy (

Similar Products Used:
Electrocompaniet AW 250R Hegel H4 reference amp Krell KSA 250 Mark Levinson 333 Parasound HCA 3500 Sunfire Signature Rotel 1090 Carver X760a Dynamic Precision 6.4 Classe One Thousand

Summary:
Although a big and hefty amplifier does not show any signs of being lethargic,unmusical or similar defects that usually big and heavy amplifiers show.

Music and only music sparkles trough this power ampl.

Another achievement by YBA.

Special thanks to S.Chadjidimitriou of Sonus HI FI for his advice and care for setting up this superb musical instrument.

Keep up with the good work Yves.

Strengths:
Fluidity - Dynamics(Macro+Micro) - Timbral accuracy

Weaknesses:
Non so far

Price Paid:  $14000.00 from audio plus

Summary:
overall excellent, albeit a little polite

Strengths:
great midrange, wide soundstage, liquid sound

Weaknesses:
a little cool

Similar Products Used:
Symphonic Line Kraft 400; Mark Levinson ML2; 21.5; Marantz 9; Audio Research D79c;D150; VT200; Krell KAS; Audio Note Meishu; Boulder 500AE