YBA CD3a Player Reviewed
- By: Ken Kessler
- - Reviewer's System
- Resources & Links:
- Source Components ,
- View Ken Kessler's Reviews
- January 11, 2009
Blame the end of the Millennium, the coming of DVD, the arrivals of HDCD/20-bit remastering/XRCD, what-have-you. All I know is that we're experiencing a flood of deliberately off-the-wall CD players, and if this is anti-digital backlash, then it's over a decade too late. Even before recovering from the stress of the Rega Planet, here's a French offering to wrack my brain. Worse, it veers sonically (as I recall it) from the YBA CD2 I reviewed - what? four years ago? - enough to make me wonder who lost what beat. What was once a race to make CD sound like analogue has turned into a movement which attempts to redefine analogue in digital terms, when most of us liked analogue just as it was.
This 'redefinition' results in a sort of
What these CD players do, these CD-players-which-are-ashamed-to-be-CD-players, is succumb to an extreme form of denial, that of transference, like a tabloid editor calling a paparazzo a 'sleazebag'. They deny over a decade's worth of fine-tuning and honing and reassessing, a period which created not an analogue surrogate, but a more acceptable form of digital. We've learned to listen in 70 minute spells rather than in 20 minute snatches. We've grown accustomed to the total absence of tracing noise. We've taught ourselves to compensate for CD's finite frequency response. In other words, we've grown up and learned to live with CD, while keeping analogue close to our hearts
YBA's CD3a, blue light or not (see Paul Miller's panel), is a player which errs on the side of audiophilic attraction, betraying political as much as sonic motives. What at first seems like an only slightly odd player soon emerges as a machine imbued with the kind of hobbyist mythos which we haven't seen since the heyday of Peter Belt. While I adhered to the instructions regarding mains cable selection, polarity, positioning, lid open vs closed, I did so not so much out of any slavish adherence to nor belief in such concerns, but to pre-empt any flak from the distributor or manufacturer. Polarity, cable quality and the like are now such an intuitive part of audiophile practice that labouring the issues serves only to set up a smoke screen. I also tried the player with a flimsy rack, with the AC polarity inverted and with crap AC cables, and yet the primary characteristics remained unchanged.
The CD3a looks like the '1 and '2, sharing the YBA philosophy which states that a single chassis player betters separate transport/DAC set-ups because there is less jitter, the two primary stages are directly linked, a (digital) cable connection is removed and there's no chance of mismatches. You won't hear me arguing against this position, based as it is on clear logic, but equally persuasive arguments can be made for separates. I'm not prepared to side exclusively with either, because the proponents are evenly matched and there are good and bad single-chassis and two-chassis CD players. But this, along with over-specified power supplies are part of the YBA CD experience, so it bears mentioning, in case you want to know why there are single-chassis CD players at prices well above what will pay for separates: a sobering £2250.
As with the other models, the Gallic touches include a clever central logo/badge which acts as the power-on button, there are beautifully weighted toggles with decidedly luxurious action to access the various transport operations, and YBA continues to employ a series of combinations which double up the functions. Yes, the player still has to 'initialise' a disc, which adds a slight delay and can confuse the machine if you perform steps out of order, all of which makes the CD3a not entirely user-friendly: you actually have to push the play switch up twice to get things rolling. In other words, you
Then there's the business with the lid. Like any top loading CD player, the YBA employs a puck to keep the disc from doing a frisbee impression. YBA argues that the sound is better with the lid open, but I'm growing more hypochondriacal in my old age, and I want my eyes to be the last thing to go. PM tells me that the laser in a CD player can do a real number on one's eyes, so be careful: the laser remains active when the lid is open. But did I hear a difference? Not as much as I did when I kept the lid closed, but used different pucks and mats.
Which tells you that, in accordance with YBA's image, yes, this is a player highly susceptible to tweaking. So despite my doubts, I respected every one of the manual's commands, and I didn't even bother with testing the most amusing contradiction of all: the CD3a has digital outputs, despite YBA arguing that a single box player beats separates. (Curiosity did force me to connect them momentarily to an X-Series X-DAC and Theta's Chroma, but you know what I'm going to say, so let's give YBA a break.)
Unlike the Rega, the YBA was consistent from pre-amp to pre-amp, so I used it with packages consisting of the Audio Analogue Bellini/Donizetti, the Roksan Caspian or the Unison Research Simply 845, with Quad ESL63s, Quad 77-10L and Opera Platea speakers. God bless Yves Bernard Andre: the CD3a's character was undimmed from system to system.
But the music sure was. Whatever claims of transparency are made for this player, I found its sound to be accompanied by a slight but perceptible haze which I could only describe - wry smile intact - as a freakish attempt at making the music sound like an old LP. Oh, it worked alright, and the performance was smooth and relaxing and somewhat distant, but the bloom of an LP was missing, the warmth hadn't been retained. Still, I can imagine this charming the hell out of a certain kind of listener, whatever my own reservations.
Let's be perfectly clear about this, especially as I have gone on record more than once defending cranky valve amps which err on the side of softness, warmth and smoothness. But never have I favoured compromising transparency. There is a difference, and all you have to do to illustrate the two approaches is to A/B the YBA with a tube CD player or tube DAC, or a normal CD player with an X-10D. You will, in effect, hear two different methods of 'de-digitising' the sound of CD for those who can't cope with its de-nuding effect on music.
While the difference between tube and solid-state digital hardware seems to be a 'de-fatiguing' effect, a removal of aggressive artefacts, the net result (in the finest example of the genre) includes retention of details, clarity and spatial coherence. The YBA seems to bury the small clues which provide detail and an impression of dimensional verities. This is the price paid for a reduction in transparency. But, again, I can understand how some would find it appealing, especially owners of systems with bellicose solid-state amplifiers or shouty, in-your-face speakers.
The YBA pulls in the reins. Mono recordings appeared to emanate from a line behind the speakers (actually a desirable effect in small rooms), while wide stereo appeared congested. Vocalists gave the impression that they had stepped back from the microphone. It's as if an extra stage had been inserted in the chain. Conversely, the YBA exhibited sharp transients at both ends of the spectrum, bass had a pleasing wallop and I couldn't fault the way that decaying notes had a smooth transition into silence.
It would be easy for me to succumb to Francophobia (I've lived in the UK way too long...) and write this off as an aberration like the 2CV, escargot or that stupid pyramid in front of the Louvre. But that's a cheap shot. Instead, as with the Rega, I'll display largesse by recognising that one man's meatloaf is another man's steak tartare. And the only thing I eat raw is vegetables.
Keywords
YBA CD3a Player Reviewed
- Lyra Dorian Mono Cartridge Rev...
- Manley Steelhead Phono Stage R...
- Proceed PCD (PDP & PDT) Compac...
- Radford WSCD1 CD Player Review...
- SME 20/12 and 312S Tonearm Rev...
- Tivoli Radio Combo System Revi...
- V, Inc Bravo D2 DVD Player Rev...
- Antex Triple Play Satellite Rad...
- Apex DRX-9000 Recordable DVD Pl...
- Audio Alchemy Digital Decoding ...
- Audio Analogue Maestro Settana ...
- Audio Analouge Maestro CD Playe...
- Audio Research DAC1 Digital To...
- Audio Research CD3 CD Player Re...
- Audio Research DAC2 Digital to ...
- Audio Research PH5 Phono Preamp...
- Audio-Technica AT-ART1 Phono Ca...
- Audiovalve Sunilda Phono Amp Re...
- Basis Turntable Reviewed ...
- Blue Angel Cartridge Reviewed...
- Bow Technologies Wizard Compact...
- Bow Technologies ZZ-Eight CD Pl...
- Bravo D1 DVD Player Reviewed...
- California Audio Labs Tempest I...
- Chord DAC 64 Digital To Analog ...
- Chord One CD Player Reviewed...
- Clearaudio Statement Turntable ...
- Copland CDA 266 Compact Disc Pl...
- Copland CDA822 Compact Disc Pla...
- Counterpoint DA-11 Transport Re...
- DCS Delius DAC Reviewed DCS...
- Day Sequerra FM Studio Tuner Re...
- Denon AVR 2807 Receiver & Denon...
- Denon DL-103 Cartridge Reviewed...
- Denon DVD 2900 Universal Player...
- Denon DVD-1600 DVD-Audio Player...
- Denon DVD-2500 DVD-Video Player...
- Denon DVD-500 DVD-Video Player ...
- EAR 324 Phono Stage Reviewed ...
- Esoteric Audio Research 834P Tu...
- Garrard 301 Turntable Reviewed...
- Garrard 501 Turntable Reviewed...
- Genesis IM-5200 Loudspeakers Re...
- Go.Video Dual-Dec DV-3130 DVD/V...
- Grado Statement Reference Cartr...
- Gryphon Competition Isolation D...
- Harman Kardon DVD 101 Reviewed...
- Harman Kardon DVD 25 Reviewed...
- Harman Kardon DVD50 DVD Player ...
- Humax DRT800 DVD Recorder with ...
- JVC HR-XVC25U D-VHS Deck Review...
- JVC XL-FA900 DVD Changer Review...
- Kenwood Sovereign DV-5700 DVD P...
- Koetsu Urushi Black Cartridge R...
- Krell DVD Standard DVD-Video Pl...
- Krell KAV-280cd player, KAV-300...
- Krell MD-20 CD Transport, Krell...
- Linn CD 12 Compact Disc Player ...
- Linn LP12 Turntable Reviewed...
- London Decca Reference Cartridg...
- London Super Gold Cartridge Rev...
- Lyngdorf CD-1 Player Reviewed...
- Maplenoll Turntable Reviewed...
- Marantz CD-11 SE Compact Disc P...
- Marantz CD-16 CD Player Reviewe...
- Marantz CD-63II K.I. Signature ...
- Marantz CD52 MK IISE Reviewed...
- Marantz DV8400 DVI-Enabled Univ...
- Marantz SA-11S1 SACD Player Rev...
- Marantz SA-15S1 SACD Player Rev...
- Mark Levinson No. 30 Digital to...
- McIntosh C2200 Amp Reviewed...
- McIntosh MVP851 DVD Player Revi...
- Meracus Imago CD Transport Revi...
- Meridian 586.2 DVD Player Revie...
- Mimetism CD 20.1 CD Player Revi...
- Mitsubishi DD-8030 DVD Player R...
- Musical Fidelity 3D Compact Dis...
- Musical Fidelity kW 25 CD Playe...
- NAD PP-2 Phono Preamp Reviewed...
- NEC ND-3500A DVD Recorder Revie...
- NEC ND-3500A DVD Recorder Revie...
- Nagra PL-L Preamp and PMA Mono ...
- Nakamichi DVD-10 DVD Player Rev...
- Onkyo DV-SP800 Universal Player...
- Oracle DAC 1000/CD 2500 CD Tran...
- Oracle Delphi III Audiophile Tu...
- Oracle Delphi Mark VI Turntable...
- Panasonic DMR-E80H Hard Disk/DV...
- Panasonic DMR-HS2 DVD-R Reviewe...
- Parnassus Cartridge Reviewed...
- Philips DVD-962SA Reviewed ...
- Philips DVD750VR Reviewed...
- Philips DVD793C 5-Disc Changer/...
- Philips DVD793C 5-Disc Changer/...
- Philips DVD963SA DVD Player Rev...
- Philips DVDR80 DVD+RW Recorder ...
- Philips DVDR985 DVD Recorder Re...
- Pioneer DVL-909 DVD Player Revi...
- Pioneer DVL-919E Laserdisc and ...
- Pioneer Elite DVR-7000 DVD Reco...
- Pioneer DV-59AVi Reviewed...
- Pro-Ject Tube Box Phono Stage R...
- QUAD 99 Compact Disc Player Rev...
- Quasar LE Turntable Reviewed...
- Rega Planet Turntable Reviewed...
- Rotel RDV-1080 DVD-Audio Player...
- SME M2 Tonearm Reviwed...
- SME Series 30 Turntable Reviewe...
- SME Series I, II, III Tone Arms...
- Samsung DVD-P721M DVD Player Re...
- Sequerra Model 1 FM Tuner Revie...
- Sharp DV-HR300 HDD/DVD Recorder...
- Shure V15 Phono Cartridge Revie...
- Simaudio Orbiter Universal Play...
- Simon Yorke Turntable Reviewed...
- Sony 333 SACD Player Reviewed ...
- Sony A VD-S50ES SACD/DVD Receiv...
- Sony DVP-NS315 DVD Player Revie...
- Sumiko Pear Cartridge Reviewed...
- Sutherland 12dAX7 USB DAC and P...
- T+A K6 Integrated Amp and Compa...
- Technics SV-DA10 DAT Tape Deck ...
- The Finial Laser Turntable Revi...
- Theta Carmen Universal Player R...
- Theta Chroma Digital to Analog ...
- Theta Compli Univarsal Disc Pla...
- Theta DaViD DVD-Player Reviewed...
- Theta Pro Gen V-A Digital to An...
- Thorens TD124 Turntable Reviewe...
- Thule Space 250b Universal DVD ...
- Tivoli Audio PAL Music Playback...
- Toshiba 32HLX95 Cinema Series H...
- Toshiba HD-XA1 HD DVD Player Re...
- Toshiba RD-XS32 HDD/DVD Recorde...
- Toshiba SD-2800 DVD Player Revi...
- Toshiba SD-3900 DVD Player Revi...
- Toshiba SD-V391 DVD/VCR Combo R...
- Transfiguration Orpheus Moving ...
- Transfiguration Temper V Moving...
- Unison Research Unico CD Player...
- Vimak DS-2000 D/A Converter Rev...
- Wharfdale DVD-750 DVD Player Re...
- Wilson Bensch Circle Turntable ...
- YBA CD 2 CD Player Reviewed...
- YBA CD3a Player Reviewed...
- YBA Integre Integrated Amp Revi...
- Yamaha DVD-CX1 DVD Audio/ 5-Dis...
- Yamaha DVD-S530 DVD Player Revi...
- Z-Systems RDP-1 Room Correction...
- Zenith DVD2381 DVD Player Revie...
- Zenith XBV343 DVD/VCR Combo Rev...
Featured Audio-Video News
Is Today's Home Theater Equipment Too Good? -
Shocking wouldn't be how I describe the news that regional AV chain Ken Crane's is closing after decades in business...
Latest Source Component Reviews (Classic)
Theta Chroma Digital to Analog Converter Reviewed -
Given that Theta's sublime Pro Gen V is a device which consistently astounds me with its transparency, speed, coherence and freedom from digitalia, there should be no surprise that it's my reference converter. Much as I adore the Marantz DA-12... Click for more...
Meracus Imago CD Transport Reviewed -
No, I don't know what 'Meracus' means, and I stopped playing around with anagrams after I reached 'ear scum'. How about 'US Cream'? No way: Meracus is so decidedly, unabashedly a German company that it couldn't possibly apply. Oh, is... Click for more...
Marantz CD-63II K.I. Signature CD Player Reviewed -
On the surface, it's just another set of modifications, right? Another way to sell CD-63s, eh? I suppose that a cynic could look at it that way, but - after hearing the 'K.I. Signature' - the cynic would have to... Click for more...
Bow Technologies ZZ-Eight CD Player Reviewed -
It could have grown out of the ZZ-One integrated amp, a Siamese twin just itching to use its amplifying sibling as a plinth. Whether or not it should be 'stacked' is doubtful, given the ventilating properties of the ZZ-One's end... Click for more...
YBA CD3a Player Reviewed -
Blame the end of the Millennium, the coming of DVD, the arrivals of HDCD/20-bit remastering/XRCD, what-have-you. All I know is that we're experiencing a flood of deliberately off-the-wall CD players, and if this is anti-digital backlash, then it's over a... Click for more...
Wilson Bensch Circle Turntable Reviewed -
No puns about 'squaring the circle', 'Will the Circle Be Unbroken?', 'circle jerks' or any of that stuff: the most-obviously named turntable since the Revolver is exactly the dream Wilson Benesch watchers hoped it would be. Its shape, its simplicity,... Click for more...
Theta Pro Gen V-A Digital to Analog Converter Reviewed -
Not keeping tabs on other reviewers, I can't say if it's normal practice to use as a reference something which members of the public cannot purchase. Hot-rodded hardware, prototypes which never made it into production - there are plenty of... Click for more...
Rega Planet Turntable Reviewed -
Buying into certain 'schools' of audio thought requires the same kind of metaphorical lobotomy as becoming a slavish football supporter or joining a religious cult. In real terms - if you let the mind-set supplant part of your personality -... Click for more...
Quasar LE Turntable Reviewed -
'Gorgeous.' That's the word I kept hearing, every time someone noticed the Quasar LE turntable in for review. And one of the first to utter it was the owner of a Michell Orbe, itself no canine. What these individuals cooed... Click for more...
Linn LP12 Turntable Reviewed -
Military manoeuvres come no more complicated. Merely considering a 'top secret' review involving a panel of seven or so listeners is to court disaster, as 'secrets' and 'journalists' are mutually incompatible. But we knew, as the only British hi-fi magazine... Click for more...
Latest Source Component Reviews (Classic)
Theta Chroma Digital to Analog Converter Reviewed -
Given that Theta's sublime Pro Gen V is a device which consistently astounds me with its transparency, speed, coherence and freedom from digitalia, there should be no surprise that it's my reference converter. Much as I adore the Marantz DA-12... Click for more...
Meracus Imago CD Transport Reviewed -
No, I don't know what 'Meracus' means, and I stopped playing around with anagrams after I reached 'ear scum'. How about 'US Cream'? No way: Meracus is so decidedly, unabashedly a German company that it couldn't possibly apply. Oh, is... Click for more...
Marantz CD-63II K.I. Signature CD Player Reviewed -
On the surface, it's just another set of modifications, right? Another way to sell CD-63s, eh? I suppose that a cynic could look at it that way, but - after hearing the 'K.I. Signature' - the cynic would have to... Click for more...
Bow Technologies ZZ-Eight CD Player Reviewed -
It could have grown out of the ZZ-One integrated amp, a Siamese twin just itching to use its amplifying sibling as a plinth. Whether or not it should be 'stacked' is doubtful, given the ventilating properties of the ZZ-One's end... Click for more...
YBA CD3a Player Reviewed -
Blame the end of the Millennium, the coming of DVD, the arrivals of HDCD/20-bit remastering/XRCD, what-have-you. All I know is that we're experiencing a flood of deliberately off-the-wall CD players, and if this is anti-digital backlash, then it's over a... Click for more...
Wilson Bensch Circle Turntable Reviewed -
No puns about 'squaring the circle', 'Will the Circle Be Unbroken?', 'circle jerks' or any of that stuff: the most-obviously named turntable since the Revolver is exactly the dream Wilson Benesch watchers hoped it would be. Its shape, its simplicity,... Click for more...
Theta Pro Gen V-A Digital to Analog Converter Reviewed -
Not keeping tabs on other reviewers, I can't say if it's normal practice to use as a reference something which members of the public cannot purchase. Hot-rodded hardware, prototypes which never made it into production - there are plenty of... Click for more...
Rega Planet Turntable Reviewed -
Buying into certain 'schools' of audio thought requires the same kind of metaphorical lobotomy as becoming a slavish football supporter or joining a religious cult. In real terms - if you let the mind-set supplant part of your personality -... Click for more...
Quasar LE Turntable Reviewed -
'Gorgeous.' That's the word I kept hearing, every time someone noticed the Quasar LE turntable in for review. And one of the first to utter it was the owner of a Michell Orbe, itself no canine. What these individuals cooed... Click for more...
Linn LP12 Turntable Reviewed -
Military manoeuvres come no more complicated. Merely considering a 'top secret' review involving a panel of seven or so listeners is to court disaster, as 'secrets' and 'journalists' are mutually incompatible. But we knew, as the only British hi-fi magazine... Click for more...
Latest Equipment Reviews
NextGen 1x8 HDMI-Over-CAT6 Splitter Reviewed -
There's no denying the convenience that HDMI affords. The ability to send high-definition video, high-resolution audio, and control/data information over one small, relatively pliable cable has given us leaner, cleaner A/V backsides, but it comes with potential downsides. Handshake issues... Click for more...
McIntosh MC-501 Mono Amplifier Reviewed -
McIntosh is one of the longest living legends in American high-end audio history. McIntosh's 'Unity Coupled Circuit' utilized in the 50W-1 tube amplifier introduced in 1949 was its first breakthrough design. The use of black glass panels that give McIntosh... Click for more...
Mordaunt-Short Performance Home Theater Speaker System Reviewed -
Mordaunt-Short is a name I have known about for years but rarely got a chance to hear. When I learned I'd be receiving their top of the line Performance home theater speaker system for review, I was excited. Mordaunt-Short has... Click for more...
Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 Computer Speakers Reviewed -
When does a loudspeaker stop being a loudspeaker and become a computer speaker? When does a computer speaker stop being a computer speaker and become a loudspeaker? These two questions have been on my mind a lot recently, as I've... Click for more...
Bowers & Wilkins P5 Mobile Hi-Fi Headphones Reviewed -
Bowers & Wilkins, makers of some of the finest home theater and audiophile loudspeakers the world over have come on strong as of late with a host of mobile and iPod friendly products like the P5 Mobile Hi-Fi Headphones reviewed... Click for more...
Sherwood Newcastle R-972 Audio/Video Receiver Reviewed -
Sherwood has been a staple of high quality audio/video components for decades, and the Newcastle line represents the pinnacle of the company's engineering prowess. The R-972, which retails for $1,799, falls on the higher-end of mainstream receiver pricing. That said,... Click for more...
Vizio M550NV RazorLED LCD HDTV Reviewed -
Vizio's 2010 LCD lineup is perhaps its most ambitious yet, including a wide range of edge-lit and full-array LED models. The full-array models carry the TruLED moniker, while the edge-lit models sport the RazorLED tag. The M550NV is one of... Click for more...
Vizio SV472XVT TruLED LCD HDTV Reviewed -
Vizio's 2010 LCD lineup is perhaps its most ambitious yet, including a wide range of edge-lit and full-array LED models. The full-array models carry the TruLED moniker, while the edge-lit models sport the RazorLED tag. As the name suggests, the... Click for more...
AT&T U-verse DVR and Service Reviewed -
Bundling one's entertainment services - be it television, Internet or phone - is all the rage these days. Every service from satellite to cable is seemingly offering an all-in-one solution in the hope of making your home entertainment more enjoyable... Click for more...
Mitsubishi Unisen LT-55154 LED LCD HDTV Reviewed -
Mitsubishi's 2010 LCD line includes three series: the top-shelf Diamond 265 Series, the 164 Series and the 154 Series. As the entry-level series in the group, the 154 Series lacks some of the advanced options found in the step-up lines,... Click for more...





Comment on this article
0Post a Comment