Magnificent richness

The YBA also demonstrates flawless leading-edge definition and dynamics, which help it create accurate note shape and thus accurate timbre.

The mix of instrumentation on the Vivid Curve album Live at Edgefield – guitar, percussion and didgeridoo – enjoys a magnificent, almost valve-like, richness along with an invigorating sense of presence. Interestingly, without over-stating the instrument's contribution, the YBA seems to maintain the didgeridoo's low-key presence in the mix better than many amplifiers.

On tracks such as 'Hundred Naked Kangaroos', its subtle contributions are rendered consistently and the instrument never seems tempted to withdraw into the back of the mix.

The extreme definition of the YBA makes its presence felt most strongly with discs such as the Naim recording of the RPO Chamber Soloists playing Mozart Wind Serenades. The amplifier positively scavenges information and presents an exceedingly finely etched portrayal of the ensemble, its instrumentation and playing.

Bewitching amplifier

Things become even more interesting when you feed the amplifier with hi-res material; in this instance a 24-bit/88.2kHz version of the same Mozart recording and a similar Naim hi-res disc of cellist Tim Hugh playing at Wigmore Hall.

The instruments immediately acquire a depth and solidity that greatly enhances the life-like quality of the piece along with the amplifier's ability to convey subtle musical details. The added insight the hi-res performance gives and the way the YBA reveals this makes the music appreciably more entertaining, meaningful and enjoyable.

Overall, the performance of the YBA YA201 is nothing less than bewitching: musically persuasive and sonically as near transparent as any integrated we've heard, this amplifier is in a league of its own.