It took 15 years of search to build this wonderful system. The system is based on YBA electronics and Devore Fidelity speakers. Both brands put the music first.
I first came across the supremely musical YBA amps and CD players around 5 years ago.
It took a lot longer to find that special brand of speakers that can play music in the most natural way.
After listening to the Devore Nines I knew that the quest for that magical speaker had ended and am a very happy man...enjoying music like never before. It feels like the musicians are in the room.
The system is all about music - a music lover's system. Music is presented in a very natural way that makes writing about it very difficult. It has the same presentation and emotional richness of live concerts. To my surprise, I find that switching from home to live music and back to home a non-event.
The music is right there in the room in all its glory with natural speed, detail, refinement, fluidity, effortless dynamics, huge soundstage and full of emotional communication!
This is a system that can play all types of music well but is exceptional with Jazz and vocals. I listen to Classical, Jazz, Reggae, Latin, Pop etc and am amazed at the versatility. Most systems I have heard, if not all, even some costing up to $200,000, have been very selective as to the type of music.
Amplifier
When in 2003 I discovered YBA and bought the YBA Passion Integre, I thought that this is the last amp I'll ever buy. I am still raving about it.
The CD player
I feel the same about the YBA Passion CD 1000 as I feel about the amplifier. It may also be the last CD player I'll ever buy.
It is good enough to make switching from vinyl to CD not an issue at all.
Hifi Choice reviewed the older equivalent YBA CD1a (2000) and accurately describes the character of the YBA:
"The CD1a is not an obvious-sounding player. It doesn't hit you with incisive detail or cataclysmic dynamics, neither does it impose an overt character on the music it plays. It simply plays, and you, the listener, will fall in love.
Its performance is magnificently airy and transparent, endowed with a 'listen-through' quality that sparks instant admiration; what's more, like a good bottle of claret, your appreciation can only grow as time slips by. Music flows from its outputs with free-breathing ease, giving you what seems to be the full breadth of the composer's vision, the broad brush strokes as well as the fine detail within."
Full review is at: http://www.hifichoice.co.uk/archive/perl/292_printreview.htm
Speakers
The quest for a great pair of speakers ended with the DEVORE FIDELITY NINES. It took nine long painful years.
They look like ordinary boxes but play music in such an extraordinary way that calling them loudspeakers does them injustice. They have so little in common with their competitors it is shocking. No wonder so many reviewers bought them.
The Nines are extremely transparent, super fast, very detailed, refined, clean - not a hint of grain, super coherent and evenly balanced (YBA needs very fast speakers to shine). The bass is clean, fast and goes low enough to fill a large room. Imaging is frighteningly good. Soundstage is huge, with the music coming from a stage of 4 meters wide by 2 meters tall and 3 meters deep. The speakers deliver the goods with all kinds of music, whether its POP, CLASSICAL, JAZZ or REGGAE.
http://www.devorefidelity.com/reviews.html
A note on searching for great speakers
The process of finding great speakers was the most difficult. The list of speakers I listened is long. The Devore Nines were head and shoulders superior to all the speakers I list below even though a lot of the speakers were very good. I place the speakers in my order of preference:
Class A
1. Devore Fidelity Nines - Best by far
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Class B
2. JM Lab Micro Utopia Be and Diva Be. Both were fantastic speakers but not as good as the Devores. They are the best of the rest and the alternative speakers if it wasn't for the Nines. They have a slightly shiny / glassy sound in the midrange and they are not nearly as fast as the Nines.
3. Devore Fidelity Super 8 (amazing but too small for the room)
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Class C
4. Vienna Acoustics Bach (very musical and replaced by the Nines)
5. Harbeth Monitor 30 (lovely midrange but non-punchy bass)
6. Harbeth Compact7-ES3 (lovely midrange but uneven response)
7. Vienna Acoustics Beethoven (nice speakers but a bit too serious and uninvolving)
8. Thiel CS 2.4 (very good but the tweeter was screaming a bit)
9. Reference 3A MM De Capo (nice but quite coloured)
10. Proac Response 2.5 (musical but VERY SLOW)
11. Wilson Benesch Arc (musical but in the end a bit tiring)
12. Sonus Fabers, Martin Logans, Living Voice, B&Ws and many many more
Turntable / Cartridge
The lovely Rega P3 plays music. I made some modifications and use a granite slab on a bicycle tyre as a base. It improves the sound a lot.
The Dynavector 10x5 cartridge is dynamic and detailed and great value for money.
Cables
I selected cables to fine-tune the system and ensure that the sound is as natural as possible. The YBA / Devore Fidelity combination is so strong that most competent cable combinations sound great - they just alter the overall presentation of the system.
System edited: The system has been changed with the 1) upgrade of the YBA Passion CD 400 to the two box YBA Passion CD 1000, presenting a major improvement in detail, dynamics and soundstage. 2) upgrade of the loudspeakers from lovely Vienna Acoustics Bach to the extraordinarily good Devore Fidelity Nines. Pictures will follow.
Defstathiou You have a very musical system! I am hoping to buy a YBA Passion 300 Integre to drive Harbeth SHL-5 speakers and hopefully this will end my audio nervosa! I have read that most audiophiles who own YBAs usually stay with the YBAs, which says a lot of YBA gear. I have been a long time owner of the YBA Integre DT (Delta) which is in my bedroom and has provided me with musical enjoyment this last 7 years! It took me ages for me to figure out why I felt relaxed in my room but fatigued in my music lounge!!
Vienna speakers use Seas drivers, so you might consider speakers manufacturers using the drivers.
I have built 3 sets of speakers over the years. I fist use Vifa/Pearless and they were OK. My next set used modest priced Seas drivers and I was stunned at their musicality. So my last set I used Seas top end Excel magnesium drivers and they are simply stunning.
The synergy between Seas drivers and my YBA Design integrated is made in heaven. The Excel line has all the musicality and added resolution, etc.
What is the point of all my chatter you may ask? Well if you like Vienna speakers which use Seas drivers, and I have experience Seas drivers in my home grown speakers having great musicality and synergy with YBA, you may consider speaker manufactures using Seas high end Excel drivers in their speakers.
Here are a few speakers manufactures I know of: 1.) Tyler Acoustics 2.) Snell LCR7 XL loudspeaker (discontinued) (http://www.stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/606snell/) 3.) Cary Audio used to make speakers with Seas Excel drivers 4.) Joseph Audio RM33si and Pearl (I believe the lesser line uses Seas aluminum drivers as Seas makes aluminum drivers as well as magnesium.) 5.) Madisound makes kits using these drivers if your handy.
I agree! Every YBA system I've ever heard is magic. There is something very special about the sound. I think the reason YBA is so special is because the designer is extremely passionate about getting the music right and not worried about trying to impress with specs and measurements.
i tried Sonus Faber EA1 last week, driving by YBA passion 100. i also have a Krell KAV-300i integrated amp for comparision purpose.
the conclusion i made is YBA still works best with transparent type of speakers like trangle/vienna acoustic/jm lab. the nature of YBA sound is not meant to be transparent. when drives an warm/thick sounding speaker like sonus faber, it makes the sound even more thick, dark and less dynamic. Krell KAV-300i, which is typical transparent amp to me, drives Sonus Faber better in this senario. however when KAV-300i, drives triangle speaker, it makes the sound too bright and harsh which basically makes the bright speaker too bright.
of course the bass of Sonus Faber EA1 is another story. so far i havent heard any better bass from a bookshelf speaker.
Thanks for the comments. I borrowed the JM Labs Micro Be for a week. They presented music in a very simple and musical way, with body and an open sound. However they lacked deep bass, as expected, and were a bit harsh, especially at the treble.
The return to the Vienna Acoustics Bach was not unpleasant at all. In some ways it was a relief to go back to their sweet way of making music. In the end, I think I favour paper mid-bass and silk dome tweeters.
The search for a better 2-way speaker continues. Any help here would be greatly appreciated.
...and the YBA Passion Integre stays, maybe for ever.
OOPS, did I just see you post "I dont think I will ever change the YBA Passion Integre" ??? Never say never, you know the saying.
I recently heard those JM Lab monitors you so like ... running off Accuphase gear I believe ... in Montreal at FSI. Very clean, open, lots of detail, fairly transparent ... but beware of those metal tweeters. Try to get an extended audition with those speakers, it's the only way you'll know if they really suit your tastes in the long run ... I find that soft dome speakers suit my tastes a lot better. I greatly preferred the EgglestoneWorks La Fontaines and the Revelation Audio Mistral S6 with Sub6 in Montreal ... there was just simply no fatigue there, whereas the amount of detail can sometimes take away from the pure enjoyment of the music ... just thought I'd post my thoughts to give you a different opinion.
I still use my YBA passion integre with improved isolation ... but now I've discovered Rogue ... also in Montreal. Oh man, I can feel the upgrade virus taking over ... bad news!
...agree with you that YBA intergrated amps are so natural and musical. I dont think I will ever change the YBA Passion Integre.
Still use the Vienna Acoustics Bach, to my own surprise, and its not because of lack of funds. The Bachs just disappear and let the music flow. They also have great soundstage qualities. When you get a speaker like that you are in no hurry to change it.
Am trying to get a pair of JM Lab Micro Utopia Be at home for a demo. If is is a huge improvement then will probably buy them. They were very impressive last time I heard them.
Another great speaker is the Harbeth Monitor 30. Great sound but not very detailed. Both the Harbeth Monitor 30 and the JM Labs Micro Be have a similar character to the Bachs.
The ProAc Response 2.5 was a lovely speaker and better than the Bachs in a lot of respects, but a bit slow and lacking in detail / air in the treble. The ProAcs midrange has a lovely huge body and very warm presentation. I do miss the ProAc sound but the Bachs were better at getting out of the way and letting the music flow.
Good luck with your search for speakers and hope that you can get a bargain on a used YBA integrated amp.
Wonderful looking set up there. I owned an Audio Refinement Complete amp and cd player a while ago and was very impressed with the amp. Sorry I sold it. I've been looking at YBA integrateds lately. Are you still using the Bachs as main speakers? I just finished reading the entire thread as I am beginning a similar quest for speaker upgrade. I much prefer a warm/musical speaker to clinical/analytical speaker. I use those terms loosely but you probably know what I mean. Your reaction to the Proacs surprises me as I always thought of them as being in the same camp as the Vienna Acoustics. I am using Meadowlark Audio Kestrel Hot Rods which are in the same price category as the Bachs (used). I've had several more expensive speakers in my system but they all seem to lack that certain something that makes me forget about the system and just hear the music. The Kestels are by far the best speaker I've owned for this. You really do have a pretty system there.
Tried a variety of speakers a few days ago. Best was the Harbeth Monitor 30. Very open and natural but not as fast or detailed as the JM Lab Mico Utopia Be that I tried a month ago. JM Lab Micro Be costs twice as much as the the Harbeth so it should be better, but as we know in hifi thats not always the case. In my view, if one can afford the JM Lab then it should be the one to buy. Thats what am likely to do.
Other speakers that I listened to were the Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor, Reference 3A Dulcet and Wilson Benesch Arc. They were all good speakers but not as open and natural as the Harbeths.
Listened to the speakers with my Passion Integre amp and a variety of cd players suppled by the dealer. These were:
1)Audio Research CD3 Mk II at $9k 2)dCS P8i at $12k 3)Phonosophie Implulse 1 (basically a Naim) at $4.7k (UK prices)
I thought the Audio Research and the dCS cd players were very disappointing for the price. The Phonosophie was ok. However, none of them could even come close to offering the combination of clarity and natural musical presentation that my YBA Passion 400 CD player offers at a much lower price ($3.8k).
Thanks for the tip. I just may try this!!! Although, I wonder if my problem is in the crossover? Then again, I've not run across "other" posts here or Audio Asylum chating about bad crossovers?
Let me know how the raking of the speakers go for you. For me, it seemed to open up the sound stage.
The tweeters in my Bachs always sound great. Why don't you replace the tweeter. I believe its the Scan speak D2905/9300 which you can buy from Madisound for $81.85.
I noticed that your Bach's are not "raked". Give it a try, you will notice an improvement! I currenlty own the Bachs as well (4 years). I however have a problem with the tweeters. Every now and then, I have distortion in the tweeters . . . . it sounds like . . . . for a lack of a better word "congestion" were the high end seems to crackle. I currently run a Krell 150A Amp, Krell 250P Pre-Amp and a Cary 303/200 CD player.
Right now, I'm in the process of replacing the Krells with a DIY tube amp and will replace the Bach's with either a new pair of Bach's or something else. Other than the tweeter issue the Bach's are pretty good speakers . . . especially in light of the cost.
Sounds like you are doing it right. I always liked the Micros and they look good too. Don't forget high quality stands. The Micros would be the last speaker you will ever need. They are near the top of the game. It is interesting that the Electra's are so demanding.
My budget is not where you are, but I strive for the same results... a musical system without sacrificing too much resolution and PRAT. A system I can own and forget, and just enjoy the music, and build my music library.
Have listened to the JM Lab Electra 1027 Be and the JM Lab Micro Utopia Be speakers at a a dealer a few days ago. Also took with me my YBA Passion Integre and speakers cables.
The Electra Bes were a dissapointment. It seemed that the Electras could not be driven properly by the YBA. This came as a surprise as the YBA Passion Integre was able to drive the JM Lab Diva Utopia Be with no problem at an earlier audition. We also tried the Chord CPM 2600 which drove the Electras much better than the YBA but with a more analytical, colder and less musical presentation.
The Electras sounded like a good hi-fi speaker but failed to communicate the music. They were also too forward for my liking. The Diva's are far superior in my view, and more expensive of course.
The pleasant surprise were the Micro Bes. They were magnificent. The YBA drove them beautifully. They were laid back without any aggression and with a huge open and precise soundstage. Extremely fast and very refined and had enough bass to fill the medium sized listening room. And they did sing like crazy, communicating the emotion of the music like no other speaker I've heard so far. They have the same philosophy as my Vienna Acoustics Bach, one of simplicity and musicality, but of course the Micro Bes are better in every respect - as they should be at 4x the price.
In my view, the Micro Bes were a revelation and far far superior to the similarly priced Electra 1027 Be.
The next step is to get them at home for a good long listen. Intend to do that very soon.
Thanks for the great advice. Will try the suggestions you mention. The YBA Passion Integre is alreday such a superb amplifier and would be thrilled to make it sound better.
