After 20 years of searching for the ideal HI-FI system, the YBA is one of the very few solid state amplifiers that deliver music like a valve system. The YBA 600 power amplifier armed with a 1000 VA power supply is awesome in terms of timing, control, neutrality and soundstage. The YBA 1000 CD player is just amazing. The music it produces is pure magic.
Matching the B&W 802D speakers was a challenge but I got perfect now. One of the few three way speakers which sounds like one source. Very transparent and detailed speaker.
Having tested the YBA diamonds interconnects and speaker leads versus the MIT S1 equivalents. Same price range with different sound presentation. Both are great I must admit but the MIT S1 combination with the Pre-amp 1000 is just right.
CD player with separate 320 VA power supply. Just faultless and effortless delivery of pure magic. Would satisfy the most demanding audiophile. What I would consider as the end of the line source.
Y B A PASSION 1000 Pre-amplifier
Although the third in line of the YBA pre-amplifier series (400, 600, 1000) , it is a major improvement over the PASSION 300 intergre. Fortunate to have both to play with. The later has a great pre-amp section but not as open and detailed as the PASSION 400 Pre-amp. The 300 Integre however is warm and in its own way delivers a unique sound that grows up on you. The PASSION 400 needs careful matching with interconnects and speakers leads. Please see under MIT shotgun section. What it delivers is amazing for its price.
Y B A PASSION 600 Power Amp
The perfect power amplifier for the B&W 802D speaker. 150W at 8 Ohms, 300W at 4 Ohms and a 1000 VA power supply. Also kindly tested the PASSION 400 power amplifier. The 600 is a class of its own. Would very strongly recommend the YBA 600 Power Amp and B&W 802D combination.
It delivers deep bass with perfect timing and control. It drives the B&W 802Ds effortlessly.
B&W 802D (diamond tweeter)
The YBA and B&W 802D produces the perfect combination of huge soundstage, detail in all frequencies, transparency, dynamic control and pure magic! A hair raising experience for anyone who had the opportunity to replicate and listen to this fantastic system combination. My quest for the best is now over.
MIT Shotgun S1 interconnects x2
Interconnect between CD player and Pre-amp; second interconnect between Pre and power amp. Impedance matched with the downstream equipment.
YBA Diamond power leads
Perfect match with the PASSION series. Four power leads all connected to a modified french multiplug running off the mains without fuse and all wiring soldered using mains cable.
MIT Shotgun S1 - speaker leads bi-wired
A challenge choosing between the MIT S1 and the YBA diamond speaker leads. The MIT is a perfect match with the PASSION 400 pre-amp. The YBA diamonds speaker leads are well matched with the YBA 300 Integre. Another formidable YBA equipment whcich I have kept as my second system.
Over the past 20 years I have enjoyed my YBA2 amp and pre in 2 CH. Expanding into home theatre I was thinking of picking up a used YBA Passion 600 amplifier.
I see that you have this amplifier and a long history with YBA. I wanted to confirm the Passion 600 was always made in France and the sound quality is classic YBA, not the new YBA. I assume the tonal balance of the Passion and the YBA2 would work well, but welcome you opinion. Also, are you still happy with MIT cables. Thank you.
Thank you for your comments. It was not easy matching the B&W 802D speakers with the YBAs but once done it is just awesome.
The sound stage is huge, the timing is perfect and the frequency response is superb. I have analysed both the room and system accoustics using REW software and have a near flat frequency response.
To get the best possible sound I have used a dedicated fuseboard separate from the rest of the house. I have two 20Amp circuits with armoured cables running under the floor boards (one braided and one straight) with french and UK sockets with no fuses. The earthing is separate to the rest of the house. Power cables I kept the existing YBA diamond which were given to me when testing their differrent amps.
I had the luxury of using the integrated PASSION 300, POWER AMP 400 & 600. I also tested the PASSION 400 and 1000 preamps. I had the CD 1000 right from the start as I did not want to compromise on the source. The 400 power amp was too lean and fast for the B&W 802D. The 300 intergrated was great at low voluems but could not drive the B&W 802D at higher volumes. I then tesed the first genration PASSION 600 amp which was fine but when fed back to the factory some of its shortcomings, the second generation PASSION 600 ws just perfect. This is a copycat of the PASSION 1000 amp but with a single 1000VA transformer and a smaller one for start-up.
The PASSION POWER 600 matched the timing of the B&W802D. With regards to interconnects and speaker cables I tested all sorts some as expensive as my amp and ended up suing the MIT S1 which could match the impetence of the system.
I have also kept a pair of cello leads and inteconnect which were great but not as detailed as the MIT. Good if you want a more warm but less detailed presentation. I also kept the YBA daimond leads and interconnects which were a perfect match for the 300 but too lean for the PASSION 600.
Great pitty that the YBA PASSION series is no longer in production. Ever since the company was bought by the Chinese company Sherling the PASSION and reference series has become colectors items. What a loss....
If anyone hears any news about YBA I would very much appreciate if you would let us know.
Nice system. I wouldn't have considered that combo of YBA Passion/B&W 800 series/ MIT would have perfect synergy as these companies have different philosophies, but can imagine the beautiful sound you must be getting. Can you please elaborate on the overall sound you are experiencing?
Yes, the Transparent MM Reference Powerlink is extremely dynamic and musical...it can transform a system (best for front ends)! The MIT AC 2 is also remarkable in the way it purifies the signal, lowers the noise floor and allows every bit of music through without any AC contamination (power amps and pre-amps only).
Thank you Dave. I agree that the MIT interconnect and speaker leads have made all the difference on the system.
One other point to make is plugging the power amp straight into the mains. On a high end system it makes a huge difference. The base and sound stage changed immensely.
Do you have any experience on various power leads? I use the top of the range YBA diamond leads.
