CD / SACD players and transports — YBA DESIGN WM202

The Design WM202 is the entry-level CD player of the YBA Design range from the French company YBA, a compact unit that also works as a digital-to-analog converter for external sources. The chassis is finished in black metal over a single-frame aluminium construction and weighs 5 kg.

Key specs that matter

The digital-to-analog stage is a Texas Instruments PCM1796 chip that is capable of 24-bit and 192 kHz operation. The rated frequency response is 20 Hz to 20 kHz, and at the RCA outputs YBA specifies a signal-to-noise ratio above 107 dB and THD+N below 0.001%. Analogue output level is 2 V RMS. The external digital inputs accept word lengths of 16, 18, 20 or 24 bits at sampling rates of 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 and 192 kHz. Pressed CDs play alongside CD-R and CD-RW discs. Overall dimensions are 320 x 280 x 110 mm.

Engineering and use context

Beyond the disc drive, the WM202 has two digital inputs - USB and optical. The USB port lets a PC or Mac connect directly and use the internal DAC, so the player can serve as the converter for a computer-based system. A gold-plated RCA coaxial S/PDIF output sends the digital data stream to other equipment, alongside the gold-plated RCA analogue outputs. Mains power is regulated by a linear supply that uses a high-performance R-core transformer. The analogue output can be switched between a fixed level and a variable level from the supplied remote handset, which gives full control of the player. With the variable setting the output can be matched to other sources that are louder or quieter than the CD. On the front panel are the on and off switch, the display window that shows all player information and houses the IR sensor, the disc drawer and a combined stop and eject key. The remote separates a short press from a hold of more than three seconds for some functions.

Pairing

IR in and IR out sockets on the rear panel link products of the Design range for remote operation, and an external IR receiver can be connected when the player sits in a cupboard or closed rack where its sensor is hidden. With the output set to fixed, the WM202 feeds any amplifier with a line input.

Alternatives

The YBA Heritage CD100 is a CD player from the Heritage range that also works as a DAC with coaxial and USB inputs.