The Best Sound at RMAF?
I heard many show-goers complaining about the awful sound in the Primrose room hosted by Audio Limits. They had YG Acoustics Anat II Reference speakers ($107,000), Weiss Jason transport ($19,600) Weiss Medea DAC ($16,200), Blacknote DSS-30 ($4500) Aural Acoustics Cables and a HRS SXR rack ($10,000), and FM Acoustics 811 MK2 amplifier ($128,800) with the FM Acoustics 245 preamp ($23,200). According to my math the entire system cost over $320,000. I scheduled 20 minutes before the show opened to hear it for myself. I was amazed how superb it sounded as long as it wasn’t turned up to the point where the room become involved. Once the room started to sing along the sound went straight into the crapper. But at lower SPLs it was the best I heard in terms of resolution and transparency. Too bad most RMAF visitors never got a chance to hear what this system could do since once the show opened the volume was immediately too loud. At show levels the system’s considerable sonic virtues were buried under maelstorm of reverb and unsympathetic resonances.
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Comments
Not sure what it is with the Anats at shows, but they also sounded awful at the last CES. Perhaps YG has the knack of choosing the wrong rooms?
"Perhaps YG has the knack of choosing the wrong rooms?"
Or wrong business... I had owned one of these dreadful things (The Anat Reference). Just couldn’t pass the “show special” they used to have. Tried for almost a year to make them work. Most frustrating experience I had ever had. My conclusion is, that if it does not sound good at a show, it may very well not sound good at your home.
Louis,
do you read Stereophile..WP got them to sound top notch...TO RH/JV/ST, etc..i believe given the controversies surrounding YG..TAS needs to get into overdrive and give its readers an un-depth review of what these Anats really sound like.
Zead,
I do not relay on reviewer to form an opinion. I hardly remember the last time I read a “bad” review in the American press. I am sure that YG massive ad campaign is not helping to promote “real” journalism anyway. I am not sure what “controversies” you are talking about. If you go to audio shows, you most likely heard them. If you like what you heard good for you. BUT if you did not, do not expect them to miraculously sound good in your home. They did not in mine.
Steve,
This may make sense. According to SS measurements the YG distortion levels skyrocket when played loud. In a big room at a show, they may be pushing the speakers beyond their limits
I'm working on a review of YG's $38k Kipod Studio which is basically a scaled-down version of the Anat.
I own these dreadful things (The Anat Reference II Studio) since four weeks.
These speakers, well positioned in the room and playing with an appropriate SPL, are the best I've ever heard. (gear is Dartzeel, Reimyo CDP, Valhalla cables)
Roomacoustics is No1 main cause of an enormous second hand market on superb gear.
Roomacoustics is No1 reason of totally different experiences, even by experienced audiophiles.
Roomacoustics is No1 thing.