Интегральные усилители — YBA GENESIS IA3A

The GENESIS IA3A is a two-channel YBA integrated amplifier, made by the French firm, with a digital-to-analogue converter built into the same chassis. It belongs to the Genesis range, and the addition of Bluetooth to that range lets owners pair a phone or tablet and start playback without a separate streaming box. The case is made of 4 mm thick black aluminium with a black acrylic front panel and cooling vents along the top, and the UK price was GBP 3,200.

Key specs that matter

Per channel, output is rated at 105 W into 8 ohm and 150 W into 4 ohm, with a gain of +6 dB. The analogue side offers two RCA inputs and one balanced input. Digital connections consist of one 75 ohm S/PDIF coaxial input, a USB input working up to 24 bits and 192 kHz, and a Bluetooth receiver with aptX support, and every digital input adapts automatically to the standard rates between 16 bits at 44.1 kHz and 24 bits at 192 kHz. Conversion uses a Cirrus Logic CS4398 chip. YBA specifies more than 95 dB signal-to-noise, THD+N below 0.03% from 20 Hz to 20 kHz and a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz within 0.5 dB. The amplifier measures 430 x 404 x 115 mm and weighs 12 kg.

Engineering and use context

The IA3A draws its power through a linear supply, and its UI-core transformer is rated at 300 VA. The chassis rests on three feet, with the front centre foot placed directly below the power transformer. A rear switch disables the digital board entirely while the owner listens to analogue sources only and brings it back when a digital input is needed. The front panel carries the on/off switch, a volume control and a source selector that steps through six inputs. For USB playback, Windows computers need a driver download, where the amplifier appears as Genesis IA3, while macOS needs none. The analogue inputs include a video bypass option that routes the signal past the volume control. There is no headphone jack. Outputs include one pair of speaker terminals, a digital output and an RCA pre-out, the last usable for a subwoofer or a separate power amplifier.

Pairing

Because power is rated into both common nominal impedances, the IA3A suits most passive loudspeakers. A CD transport or network player can connect through the coaxial input, a computer through USB and a record player, via a separate phono preamplifier, into an RCA input. A home theatre processor can connect to the bypass input, while balanced sources plug into the XLR socket.

Alternatives

YBA also lists the Design YA302 Integrated Amplifier among its integrated amplifiers.