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Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Y&S Symphonies Preamplifier (Tube) by Joel_Waterman

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REVIEW: Y&S Symphonies Preamplifier (Tube)

69.105.117.231


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Model: Symphonies
Category: Preamplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price: $995
Description: High-Definition Tubes Line Preamplifier
Manufacturer URL: Y&S
Manufacturer URL: Y&S

Review by Joel_Waterman ( A ) on March 21, 2004 at 19:28:15
IP Address: 69.105.117.231
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for the Symphonies


YS-Audio "Symphonies" Pre-Amplifier Review +Modifications

The YS has been in my system for three months now. I wanted a tube pre-amp in the hope that it would provide the necessary balance in my all solid state system. This is a review in three parts, with a twist towards the end.

Wanted: Budget Tube Pre-Amp
My budget was approximately 500 dollars so I looked at the used market and considered CJ, AR and similar pre-amps. However, for that amount of money I could acquire their entry level models only. I was not sure that that would do it. My reference is a Rotel RC-972 and the Audio Note M-One. Browsing through Audiogon, eBay and looking around AA I found some interesting observations about YS-Audio products from Hong Kong. A tube pre-amp with quality parts for 400 dollars (incl. shipping to the US!) is a pretty good deal.

Stock
People here have observed that a number of compromises were made in the "Symphonies" design. Specifically the use of low quality signal capacitors was frowned upon. The latter is easily remedied. I decided to chance it and placed an order with Mr. (Nelson) Chui Chi Wai. The order was promptly fulfilled.

Right out of the box I noticed a good measure of increased space around instruments and indeed a softening of the leading edges, restoring some timbre without loosing detail. The Audio Note M-One has long left my system, but when I re-read my review notes and I think back about my AN experience I think I won't be far off by suggesting that in my system the unmodified 'Symphonies' is comparable to the M-One. However, it was clear that there was more hiding behind the simple case.

Say Hello to Alex Peychev from APL HiFi - a very talented designer, tweaker and engineer of cables, speakers, (pre)amps, phono stages and the best modified SACD player I have ever heard.

The Modder
When I showed Alex the pre-amp he was pleasantly surprised at how much value it represented, although it was my impression that he was more impressed with the R-Core transformer and the case than the circuitry. Apart from the parts quality mentioned above, the signal path is deemed too long and the choice (12AX7) and amount of tubes (3+1 rectifier) unnecessary for a pre-amp. That said, in the end this could all be a matter of opinion.

After a few discussions along these lines with Alex, his tweakers instinct took over. He started to measure various part of the circuit, hummed, looked and hummed some more, and mumbled things along the following lines: 'Why did they do that?', and I am sure I heard 'That is a crappy part'. Before I knew it he had taken out his soldering iron and started cutting wires, taking out and replacing certain parts, rewiring stuff - 'You don't need that. It should not have been there in the first place. Geez !', or words to that effect :-)

Four areas for improvement were identified:
1) Power supply parts quality
2) Signal path capacitor quality,
3) A few unnecessary circuit design choices with regards to tube loading, and
4) Tube quality.

He decided to address 2, 3 and 4 first, replacing the output caps with Auricaps. He also implemented some shortcuts - it's to do with tube loading which I think was perhaps not implemented correctly. I already ordered three new Electro Harmonix 12ax7 EH's and replaced the JAN Philips 6x4 rectifier tube with a RCA NOS rectifier from the fifties. The rectifier tube switch on its own did not make a noticeable difference to me.

After Modifications Part 1: Caps and Tubes
The result of the mods and the tube change was quit astonishing. Alex decided that the input tube should be an EI 12ax7 EG (gold pin) so I ended up with the Electro Harmonix as output tubes and the EI as input tube. The input tube has the most effect on the sound and the EI made the pre-amp more fluid - a nice rounding out of the sound and the instrument timbres.

Overall there was simply more music flowing through, portraying a more three dimensional picture, more musicality, more body, more everything, but above all treble extension and purity. The difference was very apparent. Even at very low levels I still retain a full soundstage and good sonic characteristics.

The contrast at this stage with the Rotel is quite important. The Rotel is pretty good for what it represents. But it cannot do what I described above. A/B/A swapping made clear that the Rotel could not pull apart complex musical passages that well, it hardens the upper treble to the extend that on massed strings I wanted to turn down the volume, it made things two dimensional and it's tonal balance and timbre was much less natural and full bodied. Music sounded flatter and harder. Easily recognisable on piano and acoustical double bass. Acoustical guitars and violins sounded far to thin and steely. Voices did not have the physical presence they have with the modded YS-Audio. There is actual detail missing with the Rotel - the plucking noises of bass strings and the strings hitting the fret board, the overtones on the piano, and the natural decay of notes seemed suddenly cut-off. The sense of increased headroom with the modded YS-Audio is really nice.

And finally...Triumph ! I tamed Patricia Barber's 'Touch Of Trash' from her 'Companion' CD. This tune is a treble and sibilance test. I have gone through 3 SACD player upgrades, had the Audio Note M-One pre-amp and the Meishu integrated in my system, but if you check the review section you'll find that I reported about the rather objectionable sibilance/treble encountered with this track. Until now that is. The VSE Level 4 Mod on the SACD player goes a long way towards achieving this feat, but the modified pre-amp finally did it.

Modifications Part 2: Power Supply
The next modification took care of the power supply. Nothing fancy here, just replacing all capacitors with Panasonic capacitors. We also added Herbie Audio Lab tube dampers. Because Alex had to order the parts I left the pre-amp in his workshop for a week and inserted the Rotel back into my system.

Listening to the Rotel for a week was instructive. It confirmed what I said earlier about the lack of headroom and the ugly treble.

So this is where I'm supposed to report on mod no. 2 ..... Ahem.... well.... it never made it back to my system. But I did hear it in Alex' system. It sounded pretty darn good, so much so that I did not really miss his own 'exploded' pre-amp, though there was a measure of continuousness missing that Alex' pre-amp seemed to possess. For me, and for the relatively short time (one evening) that we listened there was not a great deal of difference, though this was an informal session with little careful comparisons and a lot of Irish whiskey.

Modifications Part 3: "Hey, Joel...the more I look at this....what would you say if I..."
I should have seen this coming :-) Sorry YS-Audio, but most of the original circuit will eventually disappear :-) Well, not the R-Core and the controls - I think.... The idea is to use a single octal 6SN7/VT-231 tube in a completely redesigned circuit. When that happens this will be a completely different pre-amplifier in more ways than one. I will therefore end the review here.

Conclusion
Based on my experience there is a good chance that a stock YS-Audio Symphonies pre-amplifier equals the Audio Note M-One, a (+/-) 1500 dollar pre-amp - at least it will get you close. Amplifiers like the 'Symphonies' are maybe not the best designs and experts may frown upon the circuitry, but that does not mean it does not represent good value. Some of the more well known and marketed brands don't even have R-Core Transformers to name but one element. Everything has its own set of compromises, and I'd rather pay 350 dollars for a design compromise than 2500. With a few relatively simple modifications a pre-amplifier like this can reach entirely new levels of performance as witnessed by parts 1 and 2 of my review. At this price point you can afford to experiment a little, with surprisingly good results.

'A little' in my case turned out to be somewhat more radical, but I hope you enjoyed the read. Just realized something....I wonder if YS-Audio will still honor the warranty ... :-)

Music listened to for the review process:
* Isaac Stern, Tchaikovsky, Violin Concerto in D Minor, Sony SACD <
* Bill Evans, Sunday At The Village Vanguard, Analoque Productions SACD
* Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach, Painted From Memory, Mercury RBCD
* Living Colour, ' Sailin' On ' and Lonnie Mack ' Tough On Me, Tough On You ' and other tracks from the "2 Meter Sessies", Radio Records Vol. 2 RBCD
* Patricia Barber, Companion, RBCD, Blue Note/Premonition


Product Weakness: see above
Product Strengths: see above


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: See My System Page
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): See My System Page
Sources (CDP/Turntable): See My System Page
Speakers: See My System Page
Cables/Interconnects: See My System Page
Music Used (Genre/Selections): See My System Page
Room Size (LxWxH): x x x x x
Room Comments/Treatments: See My System Page
Time Period/Length of Audition: See My System Page
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): See My System Page
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition): http://cgi.audioasylum.com/systems/2076.html




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Topic - REVIEW: Y&S Symphonies Preamplifier (Tube) - Joel_Waterman 19:28:15 03/21/04 ( 11)