YG Acoustic Speakers

Minatophase3 · Mar 6, 2024

I recently had the opportunity to hear a the newer YG Peak Series Talus speakers and was extremely impressed. I have only heard the Thor bookshelf and the Talus which I believe have the same drivers, just one is a bookshelf and one is a floor stander. After hearing them I started to look at YG's other offerings around the same price point and see that a pair of used Carmel 2 speakers can be purchased for less. Having never heard the Carmel 2 speakers I thought I would ask here to see if anyone has any experience with both the Carmel 2 and the Peak series?

Are the Carmel 2's substantially better than the new Peak line? Any insights would be appreciated. My max budget is around $15K so I am not able to consider the Carmel 3''s at this time.

Thanks in advance.

chuck · Mar 6, 2024

I have owned YG speakers for about five years (Sonja XVi) and heard most of them. If it were my choice, I think I would get the new Talus because they use essentially the same woofer driver as the Carmel 3, which is bigger than the Carmel 2 (185mm vs. 178mm). As you heard, the Talus sound terrific.

Minatophase3 · Mar 6, 2024

chuck said:
I have owned YG speakers for about five years (Sonja XVi) and heard most of them. If it were my choice, I think I would get the new Talus because they use essentially the same woofer driver as the Carmel 3, which is bigger than the Carmel 2 (185mm vs. 178mm). As you heard, the Talus sound terrific.

Chuck, thanks for the input! Sounds like I will need to decide between the Talus or Thor as I think they both have the same drivers. The Talus plays 5db lower but I have a Rel S/812 so not too concerned about that. I believe it is 1db more sensitive but I think my Accuphase E-380 would drive either nicely. I do like the looks of both.

I have some Spatial Audio M4 Sapphire speakers with upgraded cross overs and they sound amazing. I was completely happy with them until I heard the YGs

Of course the YG's are quite a bit more expensive.

Thanks again.

chuck · Mar 6, 2024

Minatophase3 said:
Chuck, thanks for the input! Sounds like I will need to decide between the Talus or Thor as I think they both have the same drivers. The Talus plays 5db lower but I have a Rel S/812 so not too concerned about that. I believe it is 1db more sensitive but I think my Accuphase E-380 would drive either nicely. I do like the looks of both.

I have some Spatial Audio M4 Sapphire speakers with upgraded cross overs and they sound amazing. I was completely happy with them until I heard the YGs Of course the YG's are quite a bit more expensive.

Thanks again.

My choice would be the Talus over the Tor. I use 2xRel 32 with my XVi, I think the sub will integrate more seamlessly, better with the Talus.

Minatophase3 · Mar 6, 2024

chuck said:
My choice would be the Talus over the Tor. I use 2xRel 32 with my XVi, I think the sub will integrate more seamlessly, better with the Talus.

I bet your system sounds amazing!

chuck · Mar 9, 2024

Minatophase3 said:
I bet your system sounds amazing!

It does, I have not yet heard anything as good although have heard many great systems. I think the woofer in the Talus is the same as the upper-mid drivers in my XV, the XV has six of them. Just listened to Beethoven 9th start to finish, Ferenc Fricsay conducting the Berliner Philharmoniker, 1958, 2023 ADD Japanese CD played on the Playback Designs MPT8/MPD8.

x1992 · Mar 23, 2024

I have heard the Carmel 2s and other YGs a number of times. Just heard the Summit at SWAF. The main issue with the Carmel is the bass. The bass response can be augmented in small rooms with boundary effect, which I do not really enjoy. Otherwise, the bass is quite dry and strikes me a bit tricky and limited. I have never experimented positioning a pair, though. Who knows how sub integration is going to go with your room and subs. It is certainly easier to integrate speakers with more extended LF response.

Other than that the Carmel 2 is better at being a YG speaker than the peak line. Some may like the bit warmer, softer sound of the Peak line than the Reference. Sometimes junior lines (i.e. Sopra vs utopia and O93 vs O96) disappoint me, but imo you can't lose on this one.

LL21 · Mar 23, 2024

chuck said:
My choice would be the Talus over the Tor. I use 2xRel 32 with my XVi, I think the sub will integrate more seamlessly, better with the Talus.

Fascinating, Chuck. Presumably, you drive the RELs in parallel (XVi running full range). If so, where do you bring the REL 32s in? 28hz? 35hz?

What do the RELs bring to your sound? Definitely focusing here on upgrading the Velodyne DD18+ to something...possibly something extreme. So always interested in how others are utilizing great subs. Thanks for any insights.

chuck · May 20, 2024

It is interesting to me how the current CEO of YG, Dr. Matthew Webster, talks about his design methodology and goals for the company's products compared to the company founder, Yoav Geva's design goals. Dr. Webster talks about "magic" and "musical" as goals for the speakers. Mr. Geva said the job of the loudspeakers is to accurately play the recording and eschewed the idea of "magic" being added by the speakers. My XV2s were designed by Mr. Geva. I have not heard the XV3.

LL21 · May 20, 2024

chuck said:
It is interesting to me how the current CEO of YG, Dr. Matthew Webster, talks about his design methodology and goals for the company's products compared to the company founder, Yoav Geva's design goals. Dr. Webster talks about "magic" and "musical" as goals for the speakers. Mr. Geva said the job of the loudspeakers is to accurately play the recording and eschewed the idea of "magic" being added by the speakers. My XV2s were designed by Mr. Geva. I have not heard the XV3.

What a great interview...and really like 2:00 - 4:00 where he actually talks about the incredible application of complex systems analysis normally for far bigger industries...but always where the ultimate listening for music is the arbiter that causes them to say 'scientifically why is this better?'
Such an interesting interview, it makes me interested in hearing YGs again after many years.

Are you contemplating the upgrade? Would be most interested to hear what you think of the next gen XV3.

chuck · May 20, 2024

LL21 said:
What a great interview...and really like 2:00 - 4:00 where he actually talks about the incredible application of complex systems analysis normally for far bigger industries...but always where the ultimate listening for music is the arbiter that causes them to say 'scientifically why is this better?'
Such an interesting interview, it makes me interested in hearing YGs again after many years.

Are you contemplating the upgrade? Would be most interested to hear what you think of the next gen XV3.

I am not contemplating an upgrade but would of course like to hear the XV3s. Dr. Webster changed the crossover and the crossover points. There is a slight change to the tweeter and the tweeter waveguide. The cabinets and other drivers are unchanged. I did the upgrade from XV to XV2 two years ago. It seems there will be an XV4 as suggested by the XV3 Signature.

LL21 · May 20, 2024

chuck said:
I am not contemplating an upgrade but would of course like to hear the XV3s. Dr. Webster changed the crossover and the crossover points. There is a slight change to the tweeter and the tweeter waveguide. The cabinets and other drivers are unchanged. I did the upgrade from XV to XV2 two years ago. It seems there will be an XV4 as suggested by the XV3 Signature.

Thanks.

chuck · May 20, 2024

I have considered downgrading to a smaller system and have listened to many smaller speakers including the YG Peaks. They can sound pretty good on their own but then compared to the XV2, just not close at all. I discussed the problem with Dr. Webster, however, there isn't much than can be done about that.

asiufy · May 20, 2024

Minatophase3 said:
I recently had the opportunity to hear a the newer YG Peak Series Talus speakers and was extremely impressed. I have only heard the Thor bookshelf and the Talus which I believe have the same drivers, just one is a bookshelf and one is a floor stander. After hearing them I started to look at YG's other offerings around the same price point and see that a pair of used Carmel 2 speakers can be purchased for less. Having never heard the Carmel 2 speakers I thought I would ask here to see if anyone has any experience with both the Carmel 2 and the Peak series?

Are the Carmel 2's substantially better than the new Peak line? Any insights would be appreciated. My max budget is around $15K so I am not able to consider the Carmel 3''s at this time.

Thanks in advance.

Definitely get the Talus.

Gregadd · May 20, 2024

If you ike neutrality fan YG is definitely an option. Alas it is a snob and prefers to associate only with the best. The Solutions amp for example. You want hear things like killer bass or sweet highs/ It is just great music.
Your effort will be rewarded.
I think they have a linear upgrade path. No need to sell anything.
Enjoy

chuck · May 21, 2024

Seems that YG/Boulder took best of show at Munich, at least according to one Stereophile writer. Compared to the other systems at Munich: "without breaking a sweat, the YGs elevated themselves above all."

YG Acoustics, Boulder, Aurender, Weiss, Innuos, Technics, Ortofon, Siltech, Hifistay

On the final day of High End Munich, a couple of hours before closing time, I sent the visiting Stereophile crew a message about the new speakers in the YG Acoustics room: “Should you have time and you haven’t visited yet, go listen. Both the passive and active systems there sound phenomenal.”

www.stereophile.com

Barry2013 · Jun 23, 2024

My YG Acoustics Kipod Signature passives have now been replaced by a pair of Hailey Reference 2,2s which I am delighted with.They really are a superb speaker and I can now hear and experience in my own home and system why they are so highly regarded and were awarded the Absolute Sounds Speaker of the year.
I have long been a YG fan starting withe the Carmel i and then moveing up to the Kipod Signature passive, but the improvements in the sound quality with the Reference 2.2s has exceeded my expectations. So lucid and musical and enormously enjoyable. Transparent and revealing and so communicative.
I really can't recommend them highly enough

LL21 · Jun 23, 2024

Barry2013 said:
My YG Acoustics Kipod Signature passives have now been replaced by a pair of Hailey Reference 2,2s which I am delighted with.They really are a superb speaker and I can now hear and experience in my own home and system why they are so highly regarded and were awarded the Absolute Sounds Speaker of the year.
I have long been a YG fan starting withe the Carmel i and then moveing up to the Kipod Signature passive, but the improvements in the sound quality with the Reference 2.2s has exceeded my expectations. So lucid and musical and enormously enjoyable. Transparent and revealing and so communicative.
I really can't recommend them highly enough

Congrats! Big news! Bigger speakers!

Barry2013 · Jun 23, 2024

LL21 said:
Congrats! Big news! Bigger speakers!

Thank you Lloyd.
Yes there really is no substitute for more cubic inches

LL21 · Jun 23, 2024

Barry2013 said:
Thank you Lloyd.
Yes there really is no substitute for more cubic inches

You just said the magic words. Its why I am trying to figure out maximum, high quality/low distortion displacement below 40hz...

YG Acoustic Speakers

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