Sweet looking new YBA Design YC201 CD Player

[HiGHFLYiN9]

Just got the new Audio Advisor catalog yesterday and on the front cover is a very nice looking new CD player. The maker, YBA design has evidently been around for a while but I hadn't heard of them until I got this catalog. It appears the CD player was just released so there is very little info. Here's what I've come across so far:

Here's the main site: http://www.yba.fr/uk
Here's the YBA Design series site: http://www.yba.fr/ybadesign/en/crbst_2.html
Here's an article at cinenow: http://www.cinenow.com/us/news-2108.html

It's a very simple design, plays just regular CDs and only has standard RCA and coax outputs. It upsamples to 192kHz and makes use of a spiffy aluminum space frame. The look is very solid and chunky, somewhat reminiscent of Wadia players. Price is $1495, which is a nice price point imo. I'd like to know if anyone here has any experience with YBA in the past or has any more information about this player, or possibly has heard it

 

[guzziguy]

I've never personally heard any YBA equipment but they have a great reputation. You might get more information if you search or post on www.audioasylum.com.

Have a nice weekend.

 

[HiGHFLYiN9]

You're right, it seems like a lot of the posters there are pretty fond of YBA. I could only find one post looking for info on this new player though. I guess we'll just have to wait for the reviews to start hitting.

 

[darkninja67]

That looks sweet. Someone loan me some cash. I have never heard of them before. I got my AA catalog yesterday a couple of days ago as well.

 

[jayB]

YBA has a very good reputation in the audio world...

 

[swmtnbiker]

That's really a beautiful box.

 

[JaGWiRE]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpippel That's really a beautiful box.

I agree, it's amazing that some of the most popular players aorund here like the rega apollo are so freaking ugly.

 

[skullguise]

Oddly enough, this CD player (and I think amp) leave me a little underwhelmed. Maybe I'm judging solely on price - obviously I haven't heard the new YBA pieces - but based on past experiences, I've owned higher priced YBA gear (Alpha DT integrated) that was out-classed by less expensive Audio Analgue gear (Puccini SE integrated - just more musical and coherent).

I think YBA makes some great equipment, but you have to get up to their highest priced gear to really sound great. I briefly heard their Passion Integre amp and it was beautiful. But the $1500 price point seems more in line with their Audio Refinement line than their previous YBA line. Still very good stuff, but bettered by other things at the price point, or even less.

All IMO, of course. And of course, I'd love to be proven wrong by this new gear. I just wouldn't chance it unheard, based on my previous experience.....

 

[Genetic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by skullguise But the $1500 price point seems more in line with their Audio Refinement line than their previous YBA line.

You're perfectly right since it replaces the A. Refinement line.....

Amicalement

 

[SLCanhead]

I feel (as others) that the price/performance ratio for this product should/would need to be directly proportional (in relation to the previous Audio Refinement line). I used to have an Audio Refinement Complete amp w/JM Lab Cobalt speakers/Cambridge Audio CD6 player, which sounded very nice for the price (smooth, relatively detailed, nice soundstage). I would venture to say that you are getting more for the money, as Yves really seems to care as much about the audiophile, as he does his wallet, but that remains to be seen/heard.

I also auditioned the previous YBA products (low to high end), mated w/JM Lab speakers; these products are routed from the same national distributor. All products sounded great, even for the price points. Their YBA Integre CD player was a beautiful sounding player (priced around the same as this new one). The YBA monoblocks w/ their high end blue-laser CD player and JM Lab Mezzo Utopia speakers were a very nice listening experience, in particular. Yves seems to lean toward a smoother sound, not quite so in-your-face ("tube-like", as some may say).

Their CD players (up to recently) were relatively old design (D/A conv), but still rivaled players of newer technology, IMO. I think that it would definitely be worth checking one out.

 

[Mikey01]

Well HighFlyin9, looks like ya got ta take one for the team here. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[HiGHFLYiN9]

lol, not sure I'm ready to take a $1500 hit

 

[avraham]

I placed a order today for a YBA YC201 CD Player. I'll report back after I receive and get some playing time.

 

[HiGHFLYiN9]

Awesome, I'm looking forward to hearing your impressions.

 

[avraham]

I received the CD player today.
Sounds better than the Audio Refinement.
Using AKG K701 and A/B using the YBA redbook and either Pioneer SACD or Sony SACD playing several discs that I have duplicates in both redbook and hybrid, I can't hear any difference. My redbook CDs sound much better than on any of my previous players.
I will give more detailed feedback after I get more playing time.