Hey guys, just thought I'd give an update on my YG Hailey system. First, the power issues have been isolated - my MSB dac just doesn't play nice with the Music First preamplifier. I can run the MSB direct to the amps with no issues, but stick the preamplifier in and can get a blown fuse when my air conditioner comes on. I've had multiple discussions with MSB and SST and they've never heard of anything like it in 15 years.
I also had LADWP out due to a brown out and they checked my power lines out back (one had tripped at the transformer so I was only getting 100-102v one day) - I am getting a steady 115v now which is in spec here. It drops to 110v on hot days, but that also meets minimum spec. There are no grounding issues as mentioned before.
Onward to amps - boy have I had an experience in the past four months. I've now had the pleasure of auditioning or owning the following amps:
Audio Research Ref160 monos
M2Tech Crosby Class D monos
Luxman m900 stereo
PS Audio BHK Signature 300 monos
Ampzilla 2000, 2nd edition monos
Jeff Rowland 625s2 stereo
What I've determined (and pretty much understood going in) is the YGs love power- this took out the ARC and Luxman. The m2techs drove the speaker fine, but I still felt a class D-ness to timber on them along with some non-smoothness in the highs (admittedly they are $2500/pair list). The BHK tube hybrids were indeed powerful and did some nice things like tone and decay, but weren't a great match with the lens-like YG. I felt they would be far superior on a wood speaker and indeed they sounded better on a friend's JBL hybrid PBN speakers. In my experience, the "tube" part of the hybrid wasn't that sensitive - its the output stage where the sound comes from. We rolled tubes with a rather small effect.
Today, as reflected in the picture below, I have the Ampzilla and Rowland. The Ampzillas have been here since March and do a good job holistically top to bottom on the speaker. They aren't the last word in resolution and I think have too much leading edge, not enough decay but have been a good amp on this speaker. I chose the Rowland as it has 600 wpc into 4 ohms, is known for good tone, and is Class AB and doesn't run super hot (although it actually runs much hotter than I thought). Other considerations at the time included Pass X350.8 and the Parasound JC1+.
The Rowland has been running in for almost 300 hours or so, but not much changed after 200. The Rowland has a warm, almost creamy, very tube-like midrange at times. It does instruments in space that are fuller than the Ampzilla, but doesn't have the holistic nature of the latter. It also doesn't have the ultimate bass and slam of the Ampzillas and I feel is a little thin in the upper bass/lower midrange. Interestingly enough, I initially installed the amp on top of my Ampzillas + towel + cutting board (due to space limitations with so many amps!) and it was quite thin in the lower midrange and bass but that changed significantly when I moved it to the floor. As a result, all my comparisons had to be revisited.
I like both amps on different music, but neither has totally clicked yet. I've had 3 audiophiles visit, each with different opinions as well. Gun to my head I'd take the Rowland as long term erring on the side of warmth and flow is better on a YG speaker. That said, my next step is to get a tube preamplifier as the Music First doesn't work with the Ampzilla at all - I am leaning to the Linear Tudio MicroZOTL which is licensed from David Berning. To that end, I have ordered Mogami RCAs to make the long run from a RCA-output only preamp.
So the journey continues and hopefully by the end of the summer I will have achieved a perfect match for the YGs that doesn't cost Dagostino or Audionet type dollars.
