YBA "Passion series" Pre/DAC 550 ***NEW*** Preamp+DAC (Dual-Mono) - INPUTS: 3 Analog + 7 Digital

YBA...an iconic legend returns to US!

“State of the Art...Designed in France by Yves-Bernard André”

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************* Ask about available demo *************

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YBA “Passion series” Pre/DAC 550A

(Preamp w/internal Dual-Mono DAC)

Specs & Features:

• (2) Separate Power Transformers for Analog & Digital sections

• Analog Transformer: Custom UI-Core Ultra Linear Design

• Ultra-Short signal paths

• Chassis/PCB designed to eliminate Micro-Vibration Distortion

• 180° Phase (on Faceplate & Remote)

• Compensates for Out-Of-Phase recordings to maximize precise imaging

• 1-piece wrap-around cover attaches to 9mm aluminum bottom plate

• 3-feet including 1 for Mechanical Ground Path

• Network RJ45 connector

• Sleek, solid aluminum remote

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Dual-Mono DAC - w/separate dedicated power supply

Digital Inputs (7)

• USB, I2S, AES/EBU, Optical, Coaxial, BNC, iPod

• APPLE “AirPlay”

Analog Inputs: 2-pr RCA, 1-pr XLR

Analog Outputs: 2-pr RCA, 1-pr XLR

Digital Output: 1-SPDIF

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YBA Overview: http://www.tmhaudio.com/2015-Spirit%20of%20YBA-BLUE-FINAL-PDF.pdf

More info: http://www.tmhaudio.com/

Passion series: http://www.tmhaudio.com/Passion.html

Genesis series: http://www.tmhaudio.com/Genesis.html

Contact: [email protected]

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NEW 2016 Review: http://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/equipment-menu/644-yba-passion-pre550a-dac-preamplifier

Dynamics were powerful, yet subtle when required, and fast. The quietness I’d already noted let me hear a lot of detail -- real detail, not the fake detail created by goosing up the high frequencies. Speaking of the highs, they were open and extended, with plenty of sparkle.

In “The Panther,” from Jennifer Warnes’s The Well (16-bit/44.1kHz WAV, Sin-Drome), the assorted percussion instruments near the beginning of the track sounded extremely detailed with abundant high frequencies, but with no trace of peakiness.

In the über important midrange, Savall’s viola da gamba sang out beautifully, with fully developed harmonics, and the sounds of the woodblocks, cascabels, and other percussion instruments were very clear, with well-defined initial transients and decay. The clatter of percussion was much more prominent than usual, which kept their sounds from receding into the background.

Orchestral instruments had lots of clarity in James Horner’s Pas de Deux, a concerto for violin and cello performed by violinist Mari Samuelsen and cellist Hakon Samuelsen, accompanied by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic conducted by Vasily Petrenko (24/96 AIFF, Mercury Classics/HDtracks). Orchestral color was just gorgeous, with fully developed harmonics making the RLP sound rich and natural. I recently auditioned a DAC that made it difficult to distinguish between the solo violin and cello. The PRE550A had no such problem. Orchestral violins had a rich sheen, with abundant high-frequency extension.

“Texas Rangers,” from Rebecca Pidgeon’s Four Marys (24/96 AIFF, Chesky/HDtracks), showed her in very expressive voice, with tons of detail that let me visualize her enunciating each word. The banjo and fiddle accompaniment sounded particularly realistic.

To hear how the YBA reproduced a solo instrument, I cued up Ottmar Liebert’s One Guitar (24/96 FLAC, Spiral Subwave/HDtracks). The detailed realism the YBA PRE550A retrieved from this high-resolution recording was amazing. It reproduced the sound of Liebert’s guitar incredibly well -- not only the notes, but also the extraneous noises inevitably produced by a guitar being played by a master. Notes were harmonically complete, attacks and decays were extremely lifelike, and some of the initial transients were startling in their forcefulness.

In Folia Rodrigo Martinez, bass was slightly more extended but no more impactful. There was lots of detail in the percussion, the woodblocks’ harmonics sounding particularly realistic. In Allegri’s Miserere, the distant solo group sounded just slightly more detailed, its sound remaining embedded in the reverberant field that created the sense of depth.

One Guitar, on the other hand, sounded slightly more focused, with lots of dynamic differentiation. There was still a lot of “startle” factor. The PRE550A was sufficiently transparent to make it easy to distinguish between the two digital servers.

Conclusion:

"YBA’s Passion PRE550A lived up to its French origin by producing unfailingly beautiful, realistic sound. Its extended highs were gorgeously smooth, with nary a bit of peakiness. The midrange was very detailed and harmonically rich -- little to grumble about there. I could, and did, happily live with a PRE550A in my system.”

“Very highly recommended."

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NOTE: The reviewer found the YBA Pre/DAC 550 to be very closely comparable to his $16+K reference (ARC SP20 + PSAudioDirectDAC) and the YBA “Passion” Pre/DAC550 exceeded his reference in some areas.

Matching award winning "Passion" A650 stereo amplifier available

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The new YBA…

• Yves-Bernard André continues as Chief Designer of all YBA products from his studio in France

• Yves-Bernard André directs & manages all YBA manufacturing & assembly in Shanling’s certified “ISO 9001” facility to ensure the highest level of world class construction

• Yves-Bernard André sources critical components (incl custom transformers) from France to YBA specs

• Yves-Bernard André personally tests all Signature series production and, if required, adjusts to his design specs

• Three year warranty - any required servicing is done by tmh audio’s US-based Authorized Technician