Topic: Y-S Audio Symphonies reivew

[Nick's Picks]

I finally got around to writting this.
http://www.nickspicks.com/

check it out.  lmk anyone notices spelling/grammar errors.  i'm sure its rife with them!

Thanks, I look forward to your feedback.

[scb]

any update on the von schweikerts?

[Nick's Picks]

yes..
THIS JUST IN:  
they rock my house
!

[scb]

>>lmk anyone notices spelling/grammar errors.  i'm sure its rife with them!<<

the link to stereofile you have is:

http://www.nickspicks.com/www.stereophile.com

on http://www.nickspicks.com/stereo-ysaud-symph.htm
you say "secrete" instead of secret

while the pre may have made you secrete something, we don't need to know about that

[scb]

good to hear they rock!  i've been saying i'm going to test drive them, but I still haven't gotten around to it.  Plus, you said your dealer with the kickass price won't have them until march, so I see no rush.

i'm psyched to have my new pre/amp, but I really can't enjoy it until i get new speakers to replace the old bookshelf ones.  soon enough...

[Nick's Picks]

my VR2s are still breaking in, so no real comment on them at this time.  
I will say this though, I've got them spaced 11' in my room and they image like crazy.  so much music in that 11' soundstage, its almost uncanny...and might cause me to secrete something

[Nick's Picks]

oh, and thaks for pointing out the errors Scott!
fixed.

[Brian Skalinder]

Nice writeup, Nick.    A few edits for consideration:

According to the Y-S site, the designer is Chui Sat SUNG, not Sang.  No idea which is correct.

The link to Mr. Sung/Sang's website appears incorrect: http://www.nickspicks.com/i

"The layout is poor, and navigation to his products do not exactly jump out at you."
Consider slight rewording: The layout and navigation is poor and the products do not exactly jump out at you.

FWIW, I don't find my red LED difficult to see at all - perhaps a slight variation in its orientation within the faceplate accounts for the difference.

Double THE:  "The the Symphonies arrived"

Those minor edits aside, I have to say that my experience going from a Rotel solid state pre (w/tuner, the RTC-950AX) to the Symphonies mirrors yours.  The increased detail and depth and width of soundstage blew me away.  W-o-w.

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

in your review, you mentioned that you had already moved on.   Is the new pre better or just different?

Have you ever listened to the PV12 or PV14 to compare with the Y-S pre?

[Nick's Picks]

the new pre I moved on to....i was just foreshadowing.  I dont actualy have it yet, but it is the Musical Fidelity CD-PRE 24.  Its a solid state preamp, a CD/HDCD transport and upsampling 24/96 DAC..oh, and a 16/44 ADC w/remote in a one box stop.  It costs a few grand, but i found one used and still under warranty for peanuts comparred to its new price.  it replaces my Symphonies tube pre, my Philips 963sa SACD player and my smART DIO DAC..all in one.  I figure I can get an easy $300 each for those componants, so it almost pays for itself.  Almost.  
I have yet to hear it, but I am betting that it will smoke.  I'm going to get it before I sell off my stuff so that I can see just how good it is comparred to my current individual componants.  I've been horny for a good integrated, but its difficult to find one with serious power and real classy performance for less than $5k.  with this box, I can add a fat amp under it and be happy.  I hope.  Time will tell.

No, I have not put the symphonies up against any other tube preamps, but will have a chance to test it with a Audible Illusions L2 shortly.  I expect the L2 to outclass it big time, but then again...I sort of expected that from the PV10 as well.

[Nick's Picks]

btw, it says "chui yat sang" all over his www site.  where is it "sung" ?

[Brian Skalinder]

btw, it says "chui yat sang" all over his www site.  where is it "sung" ?

Yeah, Sang is plastered all over, you're right.  Only place I saw it - and the only place I looked before - was on the YS Symphonies page just underneath the first pic.

[MattD]

my VR2s are still breaking in, so no real comment on them at this time.  
I will say this though, I've got them spaced 11' in my room and they image like crazy.  so much music in that 11' soundstage, its almost uncanny...and might cause me to secrete something

I am not surprised. I have my VR-1s split 7' and that is still my favorite part about them. Despite the poor frequency response of my room, imaging is still very accurate in that soundstage.

[Trevor]

Nick,

I'm thinking about selling my mac MA6900.  Interested?  This integrated has BALLS!

[carlbeck]

Damn Trevor, if it wasn't for the fact that I just bought my BAT & L2 I would have been all over your 6900! Oh well, maybe next time (personal note, there will be NO next time..... yea RIGHT)