As the North American importer and exclusive retailer for Yamamoto Sound Craft, I am always excited when this Japanese high-end audio company announces the introduction of a new product. But I must admit that I was a little puzzled when I learned earlier this year that Yamamoto would be releasing a digital-to-analog converter. After all, this company has always favored vinyl, both in terms of its products (cartridges, headshells, phono stages, etc.) and its demonstrations at Japanese audio shows.

And I was puzzled even more when I found out just last month that Yamamoto's new DAC would be a solid-state upsampling unit. Many of my favorite CD players and DACs have been tubed and/or non-upsampling.

And so I was curious but not overly expectant when I finally received Yamamoto's new YDA-01 digital-to-analog converter last week.

Well, the YDA-01 has blown me away - and I say this as an audiophile who has always favored vinyl and reel-to-reel over digital. I have no idea why the YDA-01 sounds so darned good. Perhaps it's the combination of a relatively simple circuit with top-notch parts and point-to-point wiring between well-isolated segments of the circuit. Perhaps it's the zero negative-feedback design. Perhaps it's the fanatical attention paid to the power supply at all stages. Most likely, it's all of the above. But the YDA-01 is a revelation to me. And it is quite obviously a Yamamoto product, combining organic tonality, immediacy, and holographic soundstaging in the same manner as the company's award-winning SET amplifiers.

http://www2.117.ne.jp/~y-s/images/YDA-01-1web.jpg

You can bet that I'll be promoting this amazing product heavily, and will be bringing one to AK-Fest 2009. In the meantime, stay tuned - full reviews will soon be appearing on EnjoyTheMusic and 6moons!

The U.S. retail price of the YDA-01 is $2450.

Cheers,
Brian
Venus Hi-Fi
www.venushifi.com
517-881-7753

The feet of the YDA-01 (as shown in the above photo) are not plastic or rubber. They are sculpted from African Ebony - the same material Yamamoto uses for its series of audio bases.

The Yamamoto YDA-01 would be a major upgrade to almost any CD player out there. But if you wanted to start building your digital source from this DAC, I would strongly recommend considering one of C.E.C.'s less-expensive belt-drive transports - for instance, the TL51X.

http://audio-database.com/CEC/player/tl51x.JPG

Srajan Ebaen, the editor-in-chief of 6moons, has published the first review of Yamamoto's YDA-01 DAC, and has given it 6moon's much-coveted "Blue Moon" award. Check it out:

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/yamamoto7/dac.html

Enjoy the Music has just published a second review of the new Yamamoto DAC. Follow this link for the write-up:

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/1208/yamamoto_sound_yda_01.htm

Hmmmmm. I'm intrigued. I read the reviews.
I recently started listening via a hard drive feeding my CD player's digital input.
Do I understand correctly, that it uses 8X oversampling as apposed to asynchronous oversampling? I'm not a big fan of the latter.
Just out of curiosity, what kind of perspective does it give the listener in terms of front. center, back row?
Jack

Hi Jack,

Yes, I think your understanding is correct regarding the oversampling, although I am still trying to get straight in my mind exactly how this DAC works its wonders. I'm much more of a music lover than an audio engineer, and Yamamoto's English translations of their product descriptions leave much to be desired.

Regarding perspective, I'm going to take the easy way out here and opt for "center row." But please keep in mind that I was only able to spend a couple of weeks with the YDA-01 before sending it on to a reviewer (and yes, I'm very anxious to get this unit back in my shop!). In other words, I did not have a chance to audition it with a huge variety of speakers before I had to part with it for a while. That being said, it was obvious to me that this DAC truly excells in terms of soundstage depth. And its prodigious bass contributes in no small way to the solid-yet-spacious overall presentation.

Cheers,
Brian

Ok, I can live with "center row", a front row perspective tends to eventually bother me-too forward, and makes me feel claustrophobic.
I take it they are in stock?
Jack

Actually, the first couple of production runs are already sold out. I'm currently taking preorders for the next run, which will be shipping later this month.

Any idea when?
Jack

Yamamoto's most recent communication suggests that they'll be arriving during the last week of December.

So much for holiday listening.
I'll have to think about this.
Jack

So much for holiday listening.
I'll have to think about this.
Jack

Well, I might not be able to get you the DAC until the end of the month, but if you place an order soon, you'll receive a complimentary Yamamoto tote bag from me before the holidays begin (no joke!). Just hang it by the fireplace to remind yourself of the sonic bliss that will be arriving shortly...

http://www2.117.ne.jp/~y-s/images/WE%20LOVE%20MUSIC%20BAG-web.jpg

Nice sack.

Nice sack.

You owe me a new wireless keyboard. This one seems to be covered in Lagavulin.

Meet me at the Fest, my brother.

Late last year, I posted my impressions of the (then new) Yamamoto Sound Craft YDA-01 DAC. This unit blew me away when I first received it, and if anything I am even more smitten now, having spent many months using it in my main system.

Well, Yamamoto has just introduced the YDA-01b, which is their TUBE version of this outstanding DAC:

http://www2.117.ne.jp/~y-s/images/YDA-01B-1A-WEB.jpg

The YDA-01b incorporates a pair of Western Electric 408A tubes. As some of you know, this vacuum tube is a favorite of Mr. Yamamoto's. The well-reviewed Yamamoto HA-02 headphone amplifier also uses a pair of WE 408As. And the WE 408A - unlike most other vintage Western Electric tubes - is both relatively inexpensive and quite easy to find.

Is the tubed YDA-01b better than the solid-state YDA-01, or just different? I cannot say just yet, as my new unit won't arrive for another couple of weeks. But if it is indeed even nicer, as claimed by Mr. Yamamoto, then this will be big news - it's hard for me to imagine how the sonics of the original could be improved upon much more.

Please note that the YDA-01b is not replacing the YDA-01. Rather, both versions of the DAC will be offered from this point forward. The YDA-01b will retail for $2950 ($500 more than the YDA-01).

6moons has just published a preview of the new YDA-01b. Check it out:

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/yamamoto8/dac.html

...the new YDA-01b tube DAC is a winner, but winds up being more "different" than "better" than the YDA-01 solid-state DAC.

No, I still haven't received my own unit - I'm basing this judgment on the just-completed review of 6moon's Srajan Ebaen, whose write-up of the original YDA-01 was spot-on, IMO. Here's his full review of the YDA-01b:

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/yamamoto8/dac.html

Just like the original, this tube variant has been given one of 6moon's coveted "Blue Moon Awards."

The bottom line here is that both the solid-state and tube versions of this DAC are world-class, and it would be nearly impossible to love one without REALLY liking the other. In other words, the YDA-01 and the YDA-01b are variants on the same theme.

Oh, and did anyone else reading this article pick up on the fact that Jean Hiraga - one of Europe's most respected (but now retired) high-end audio reviewers - currently uses the Yamamoto YDA-01 in his reference system? That alone speaks volumes...