YBA Passion PRE550 MKII Pre-amplifier & DAC
The Passion PRE550 MKII delivers transparent, high-dynamic control with a remarkably quiet backdrop, expansive imaging and bass rendered with real weight and articulation. Aron Garrecht found YBA’s preamp/DAC design exceptionally revealing yet richly scaled, while balanced analogue connections and wide-ranging digital inputs make it a poised, luxurious hub for ambitious systems.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
93/100
Build Quality
94/100
Features Connectivity
90/100
Value for Money
92/100
Pros
Exceptionally transparent and resolving, revealing differences between upstream components without imposing a strong sonic signature.
Lively, dynamic presentation with a huge soundstage, strong transient speed and convincing image scale.
Low frequencies carry substantial weight, impact and articulation, supported by an inky-black background.
Luxurious, substantial aluminium construction and extensive analogue/digital connectivity.
Cons
Ergonomics are less polished than the sound and build: the remote layout is unintuitive, unlit, and omits convenient controls.
Home-theater bypass setup is cumbersome, requiring multiple manual steps and volume adjustment.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 93/100
The available review portrays the Passion 550 as a highly transparent, lively control center with unusually strong low-frequency authority and a spacious presentation. It combines a very quiet backdrop with little apparent sonic imprint, while retaining richness and scale rather than sounding sterile.
Transparency Resolution
94/100
Aron Garrecht found differences between external DACs readily audible through the YBA and called it “exceedingly transparent,” saying it imposed little to no sonic signature on incoming analog signals. He also heard an inky-black background and praised the preamp’s resolving nature in comparison with the Classé.
Tonal Balance Musicality
92/100
The review describes a vibrant and compelling sound that retains richness and scale. Bass was said to have greater weight, impact, and articulation than the comparison component, suggesting a full-bodied yet controlled presentation rather than an overly lean one.
Dynamics
93/100
Garrecht was immediately struck by the vibrancy and dynamic character of the sound. He also found the YBA especially capable of conveying lower octaves as intended, with notable impact and authority.
Soundstage Imaging
94/100
The review reports a huge soundstage extending well beyond the listening-room walls. That scale was paired with a sense of liveliness and an arresting presentation of acoustic piano, giving recordings strong spatial presence.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
94/100
The reviewer was immediately impressed by the unit’s build and tactile qualities, describing its aesthetic as one of quality, simplicity, and luxury. Its thick solid-aluminum chassis and equally substantial surrounding casework were singled out as particularly impressive.
Features Connectivity
90/100
The Passion provides three analog inputs, including one balanced connection, alongside seven digital inputs covering I2S, AES/EBU, optical, coaxial, BNC, USB, and iPod. Outputs include XLR, RCA, and S/PDIF, while the OLED display, remote-adjustable brightness, onboard DAC, and optional AirPlay make it a notably versatile digital-and-analog hub.
Value for Money
92/100
Although the reviewer acknowledges that it is not inexpensive, he calls the Passion 550 “one heck of a value” in light of its build, design, and sound. Its combination of reference-level DAC capability, analog preamplification, and extensive digital connectivity was presented as persuasive against similarly ambitious alternatives.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
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Specifications
- Product type
- Preamplifier
- Audio Outputs
- 1 Balanced XLR, 2 RCA & 1 Digital S/PDIF Coaxial
- Audio Inputs
- 1 Balanced XLR & 2 RCA
- SNR
- >110dB
- Frequency Response
- 20 Hz – 40 kHz (-0.5dB)
- THD+N
- 0.001% (20 Hz – 20 khz)
- USB Input
- XMOS XU208 – PCM 32bit / 768 kHz & DSD512
- D/A Converter
- Dual Analog Devices AD1955 – Native support up to 24/192 & DSD64
- Display
- OLED
- Display Brightness
- Adjustable from remote
- Power Supply
- 2 Linear power supplies with high performance transformer 190VA
- Color / Finish
- Natural aluminium
- Dimensions (w x d x h)
- 430 x 412 x 118mm
- Weight
- 12 kg
Manufacturer's Description — YBA
Released Spring 2022
There is a definite warmth of presentation, a fuller lower midrange sets up the YBA’s sonic texture. The sound is based on proximity and immediacy. What sounds the most beautiful is the instruments and vocals located in the middle of the frequency range. Yet this occurs without limiting everything to just the midrange. The treble has an open, strong character, with plenty of energy corresponding to the higher registers of the vibraphone, drum cymbals, etc.
PRE550 MKII offers three inputs – one balanced XLR, one unbalanced RCA, and one video pass-through RCA. Combined with pair of unbalanced RCA outputs and one XLR output, PRE550 MKII us a versatile choice for wide range of Hi-Fi setups. And all easily controlled with our classic YBA remote controller.
New Mark II version brings quite a few improvements in its digital section, mainly thanks to a pair of Analog Devices AD1955 DACs, with a native support of PCM up to 24 bit / 192 kHz and DSD64. USB input was also significantly upgraded with the XMOS controller, offering the top-quality sound with a direct connection to your computer.
For use with other digital sources, you can pick from I2S (RJ45), AES/EBU (XLR) or S/PDIF (Optical TosLink, coaxial, BNC) inputs. PRE550 MKII also includes S/PDIF Coaxial output, for use as a transport for a standalone DAC.
If you prefer simpler and wire free setup, PRE550 MKII can be connected directly to your smartphone or tablet over its Bluetooth 5.0 input. Amplifier even supports advanced LDAC and aptX HD Bluetooth codecs for a Hi-Fi quality wireless playback.
When used with a separate source, the whole digital section can be quickly disabled, resulting in an improved performance of amplifier’s analog circuit.
PRE550 MKII offers three inputs – one balanced XLR, one unbalanced RCA, and one video pass-through RCA. Combined with pair of unbalanced RCA outputs and one XLR output, PRE550 MKII us a versatile choice for wide range of Hi-Fi setups. And all easily controlled with our classic YBA remote controller.
New Mark II version brings quite a few improvements in its digital section, mainly thanks to a pair of Analog Devices AD1955 DACs, with a native support of PCM up to 24 bit / 192 kHz and DSD64. USB input was also significantly upgraded with the XMOS controller, offering the top-quality sound with a direct connection to your computer.
For use with other digital sources, you can pick from I2S (RJ45), AES/EBU (XLR) or S/PDIF (Optical TosLink, coaxial, BNC) inputs. PRE550 MKII also includes S/PDIF Coaxial output, for use as a transport for a standalone DAC.
If you prefer simpler and wire free setup, PRE550 MKII can be connected directly to your smartphone or tablet over its Bluetooth 5.0 input. Amplifier even supports advanced LDAC and aptX HD Bluetooth codecs for a Hi-Fi quality wireless playback.
When used with a separate source, the whole digital section can be quickly disabled, resulting in an improved performance of amplifier’s analog circuit.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for YBA Passion PRE550 MKII Pre-amplifier & DAC
- Ambiance Concert — in-store — Angers, Pays de la Loire, France (website)
- AMPL’HIFI — online and in-store — Nîmes, Occitanie, France (website)
- AUDIO 2000 — in-store — Wuppertal, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany (website)
- Audio Aktoren — online and in-store — Horten, Vestfold, Norway (website)
- Audio Evolution — online and in-store — Volla, Campania, Italy (website)
- audioharmonia — in-store — Bouliac, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France (website)
- Design Audio — in-store — Aix en Provence, Île-de-France, France (website)
- FIRODIL — in-store — Bobigny, Île-de-France, France (website)
- hifi.fr — online and in-store — Goyrans, Occitanie, France (website)
- Kosmas Audio Video — online and in-store — Athina, Greece (website)
and 8 more verified dealers