neutral, smooth and simply musical

Lacks punch in the LF frequency

I got the remote control version. The volume knob on this version is smooth unlike the default model with "step" knob. It allows u to set it at the precise vol u want.

What strikes me most about this amp is its calmness. It makes you feel at ease and listening fatigue is very low. Even when to blast your music, it still sound very controlled.

It is also very quiet, with very low background noise whenused with matching equipments. I did listen to the Integre CDP on this amp and surprisingly, it doesn't as good as I expect. Other CDPs like electrocompaniet, and sound better. However, when paired with the CD3 or CD2, it sounds wonderful!! No background noice.. It's as if the performance are live without using any amplifications. Vocal sounds like the singer is singing to you from right in front of you. I can actually feel her breath!! Never had the chance to try it with the CD1.

It's bass is very well controlled. The boominess in my speakers were eliminated once this amp enters my setup. I have always thought dat I own a very boomy pair of speakers but it turn out to be my previous amp dat is the root of the problem. This amp is very suitable for small rooms cause it doesn't have much bass extension, preventing boominess.

However, it performs best when positioned under some isolation device. But U got to be careful about its placement. The original 3 feet doesn't work too well cause the DT is heavier on the left side. The front feet should be slightly to the left for the DT to be more balanced. When properly set up, music will sound more natural, especially wind instrument.

At first, my whole setup uses YBA Diamond cables. I have tried it with different cables and YBA diamond sound quite good with this amp. However, there are better cables out there, depending very much on your CDP and speakers. However, a power chord which provide deep bass is recommended to improve the DT LF performance. For eg, PS Audio lab cable, JPS PowerAC and Aureal Symphonic.

Soundstage is satisfactory. It's quite wide but lack depth. It just could provide enough layering. With a decent isolation device, imaging becomes more pin point.

Despite its 50 watt rating, I have never find it any problems to drive any speakers. Not even dynaudios. It sounds superb on the contour1.3 but lack speed. However, using nordost blue heaven could provide it with more speed at the expense of warmth of vocal. With my setup of the DT, Electrocomplaniet 24/96 top loading CD player, and sonus faber grand piano, I find using the following cables to be the best :

YBA Diamond Speaker Cables
JPS SuperConductor 2 I/C
JPS PowerAC power chord for amp
YBA Diamond power chord or JPS DigitalAC for CDP

Similar Products Used:

Krell300, NAD340

The sound the Intégré DT produces is the most transparent and fluid I've ever heard from a one-box amp, not to mention numerous pre-power combinations way above its price range.
Easily the FINEST-SOUNDING integrated amplifier in the world. Three Cheers for the legendary Yves-Bernard André!

This amp is astonishing for small to medium rooms. Makes a fantastic combo with B&W Matrix series speakers.

What can I said about this amp!!Simplement musical......Caution you will get addicted to this amp...
After one year with this amp, I simply did not get tired of this unit.
Compare it against Classe Cap 100, Bryston B60 and Krell 300I, none were as musical as the YBA.

Hyperextended, if you like that

Bright with treble harshness

I heard this product auditioned at a dealer. It had a YBA CD player in front and was driving Spendor speakers. The sound was definitely not a pleasure to my ear. I would prefer something a bit more mellow. People who buy this product will have to be very selective about the recorded material they play. There is great extention into the treble and only base-midrange CDs sounded normal. You should definitely audition this piece before making a purchase.

Similar Products Used:

Acurus DIA100, Jolida 801A

very musical

Might not be dynamic with some speakers.

I don't think the YBA Integre DT is bass shy...it all depends on what type of speakers you pair them with. I listened to them with an old B&W 802 series3 and the bass was there...very good soundstage width and depth. I have heard it with my old Castle Chester speakers...which has a sensitivity rating of 90db but not that dynamic with the speaker. I'm currently using it with Sonus Faber Concerto speakers (but have also heard them with Concertino) and they are not bass shy...very dynamic sound.

Wattage are not all that important...its the ability of the amp to sound musical! I compared it to the Simaudio W-150 (150 watt @8 Oms) which was $2000cdn retail at the time...has a lot of power but not as musical as the Integre DT. Same goes with the Krell KAV300i (you are paying more for the name...more of a rock and roll speaker...might as well just get a Harman Kardon and Cerwin Vega speakers if you are seduced by Krell sound).

I give them a 5 star rating but that doesn't mean it's the best or the Holy Grail of High End. From my perspective, its a great amp for the price and it hints to the type of sound you can get from a YBA2HCDT(my dad has one) without breaking the bank or taking out a second mortgage.

FYI..ANYONE INTERESTED IN YBA SOUND AT CHEAPER PRICE?? CHECK OUT VECTEUR CLUB6 INTEGRATED AMP (THE DISTRIBUTER IS IN MONTREAL...MUTINE...http://www.mutine.com

Similar Products Used:

Krell KAV300I, Copeland Integrated

Rhythm and pace, soundstage, full, round sound

No pre-out

I have had great success with the YBA Integre DT. This is a very well made and great-sounding integrated amplifier. No coloration across the range of frequencies. Not bright-sounding or overly aggressive. I had thought it might be a little rounded-off on the top, but using better cables pulled out the last bit of detail. If you are thinking that this is a lot of money to spend on a 50 watt amplifier, well, my response is, it doesn't matter how many watts you have if the first watt is messed up. This amp drives my Meadowlark Shearwater Hot Rods very nicely.

This integrated replaced an even more expensive BAT pre-power combination that was fine, but the YBA seems more lively and alive.

By the way, the build quality and attention to detail are excellent. Especially resonance and vibration control. This is one solid piece of gear. No, it's not built like a tank, but what Stradivarius or Gofriller is built like a tank. Recommended for audiophiles and just plain anyone who wants a great-sounding, easy to use, beautifully designed integrated amplifier.

Similar Products Used:

Plinius 2100, Bryston, Classe, Krell

Clean,clear, verz musical superb dynamics even at a low volume level.It has only 50 Watts but lot's off current to drive almost every speaker. Of course the sensitivity of speaker higher the quality of amplifier becomes easier to hear. With well defined and deep ( I mean very deep bass ),
precizion, definition found in much costlier pre/power combos.
SIMPLEMENT MUSICAL !!!

For someone it will be its price, for someone it doesn't have aura and weight of KRELL, GRIFFON, CLASSE, ELECTROCOMPANIET OR MUSICAL FIDELITY 1001, FOR ME ONLY THAT THIS AMPLIFIER SIMPLY DON'T ACCEPT AVERAGE EQUIPEMENT OR CABLES!

First contact with similar "underpowered" and "overpriced" but astonising integrated amplifier was with old NAIM NAIT!
After that experience I realy do not have prejudice or complex to own and realy enjoy such piece of jewelery!
After first few auditioning YBA INTEGRE DT I was taken by it's superb dynamics and musicality, big (I mean big) soundstage, which stay stand and stel even at the high volume levels. It has details, well defined high an bottom end, transparency, pace somekind of darkness between passages, for me just everything that one pure blood first class hogh end amplifier for me must give!
I'm listening on quite big room WxDxH 6,5x4,70x3,75 m and realy I don't have problem with sound presure even with my
present speakers CANTOON GLE 60 almost 20 years old three way sealed speakers with measured sensitivity 85,6 dB
on 4 ohms (minimum) renewed and handeled with authority and
force ( volume knob when listening classics is on 14 -15 o'clock )! But normaly I carefully choose and audition my next definitive speakers with minimum 90 dB sensitivity and
from all this speakers which I auditioned with my amplifier:
- JM LAB ELECTRA 820, CABASSE EAGEA 500, B&W NAUTILUS 804,KEF REFERENCE 2, WIENNA ACOUSTIC MOZART SE, SONUS FABER
CONCERTO GRAND PIANO AND ELECTRA AMATOR II, NEW AUDIO FRONTIERS, ZYNGALI, AUDIO PHYSICS VIRGO. BUT FOR ME AUDIO PHYSICS VIRGO IS DEFINITIVE. I AUDITIONED THEM WITH MY AMPLIFIER AND WITH NEW LINN GENKI CD OR NAIM 5 CD, PROJECT PERPLEX PERSPECTIVE TURNTABLE WITH VAN DEN HULL THE FROG CARTRIDGE MC HIGHG OUTPUT. EVERYTHING CONNECTED WITH CARDASS NEUTRAL OR YBA DIAMOND OR NEW AUDIO FRONTIERS INTERCINECTS AND KIMBER 8TC DOUBLE RUN OR TOKHO OR CARDASS NEUTRAL SPEAKER CABLES.
WHAT I GET WITH THIS SET UP I'D LIKE EVERYONE TO HEAR ON BLIND. I BELIVE THAT MOST EUDIOPHILES WILL BE SATISFIED WITH
PRESENTATION, AND SURPRISED WHEN SEE COMPONENTS WHICH GIVE THEM THOSE SATISFACTION! FOR ME IF I WANT SOMETHING BETTER I KNOW THAT I MUST SPEND ?000 $ BUT RELLY I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH % I'LL IMPROVE MY SOUND! ONE MORE THING I FORGET TO SAY
PHONE STAGE IS REALY KILLER. FIRST I THINK TO BUY MY AMPLIFIER WITHOUT PHONO STAGE AND TO BUY SOMETHING SEPARATE BUT MY DEALER SUGGEST ME NOT TO DO THAT AND I DO RIGHT THING! EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED OVER YBA FILTER AND IT IS NOT
ACCESSORY IT IS REALY COMPONENT!
I REALLY DON'T WANT TO OFFEND OWENERS OF OTHER AMPLIFIERS BUT BY MY OPINION AND ALMOST 22 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN HIGH END
I FOUND AT LAST MY HOLLY GRAL. IF MR. BERNARD CREATE NEW INTEGRE, I'LL DEFINITELY WANT TO AUDITION IT , TILL THIS TIME I'LL ENJOY TO LISTEN MUSIC MY RECORD & CD COLLECTION
(CLASSICAL & JAZZ PREVALENTLY) THROUGT BEST AMPLIFIER ON THE WORLD!! (ONCE MORE SORRY TO EVERYONE WHO IS NOT SEDUCED WITH
INTEGRE FRANCE CHARM, MUSICALITY.....SIMPLEMENT BEST)!!!!!
(

Similar Products Used:

Krell KAV 300i, Electrocompaniet ECI-1, GRIFFON TABU, MUSICAL FIDELITY 1001, DENSEN DM 10 mkII, DENSEN DM 20/30,
COPLAND INTGRATED (BOTH TUBE ONLY, AND HYBRID ONE), JEFF ROWLAND CONCETRA, CLASSE INTEGERATED, AND COMBO PRE/150W POWER

beautifully made product,simple and direct connection to my music,all of the attributes of fine audio reproduction are present.

I love this product,I can find nothing to criticise...

Let me start off by saying that I have always wanted to own one of these integrateds and finally owning an Integre is the fulfillment of a dream for me...I fully acknowledge what that says about my credibility in regards to this review.
I am very passionate about my music and the equiptment I choose to reproduce it in my home.I have always had great respect for the design philosophy behind YBA products:simple,elegant engineering,a carefully executed circuit with short signal paths and the highest quality components,no tone controls
or other extraneous circuitry to get in the way of the music.As much as I have admired these fine products they have always been just beyond my reach financially,until now...
Needless to say I am far from disappointed,the integre is endowed with all of the attributes owing to it's minimalist pedigree:crystal clear unfatiguing sound,open,luscious midrange,tight uncoloured bass,excellent soundstaging and imaging and brilliant detail,it's all there.A true thoroughbred that's been going strong for more than ten years with only minor refinements(What other expensive piece of audio gear can you say that about?),The YBA exudes class and elegance.Sure you are able to spend more and maybe get incrementally better sound or you could go for separates and really impress your friends with your big boxes; but if music is your passion,as it is mine, then you really can't do better than this little integrated amplifier from france...
System:
YBA integre DT
Audio physic Tempo II
Sony SACD player
Rega planar 3/elys cartridge
The most important component: My CD and record collection.

Similar Products Used:

Nad 3140,creek 4040 and 4140,musical fidelity A1,jolida integrated,Musical fidelity A1000.

beautifully made product,simple and direct connection to my music,all of the attributes of fine audio reproduction are present.

I love this product,I can find nothing to criticise...

Let me start off by saying that I have always wanted to own one of these integrateds and finally owning an Integre is the fulfillment of a dream for me...I fully acknowledge what that says about my credibility in regards to this review.
I am very passionate about my music and the equiptment I choose to reproduce it in my home.I have always had great respect for the design philosophy behind YBA products:simple,elegant engineering,a carefully executed circuit with short signal paths and the highest quality components,no tone controls
or other extraneous circuitry to get in the way of the music.As much as I have admired these fine products they have always been just beyond my reach financially,until now...
Needless to say I am far from disappointed,the integre is endowed with all of the attributes owing to it's minimalist pedigree:crystal clear unfatiguing sound,open,luscious midrange,tight uncoloured bass,excellent soundstaging and imaging and brilliant detail,it's all there.A true thoroughbred that's been going strong for more than ten years with only minor refinements(What other expensive piece of audio gear can you say that about?),The YBA exudes class and elegance.Sure you are able to spend more and maybe get incrementally better sound or you could go for separates and really impress your friends with your big boxes; but if music is your passion,as it is mine, then you really can't do better than this little integrated amplifier from france...
System:
YBA integre DT
Audio physic Tempo II
Sony SACD player
Rega planar 3/elys cartridge
The most important component: My CD and record collection.

Similar Products Used:

Nad 3140,creek 4040 and 4140,musical fidelity A1,jolida integrated,Musical fidelity A1000.