Предусилители — YBA GENESIS PRE5A

The Genesis PRE5A is a preamplifier from French maker YBA and part of the Genesis range, where it partners the Genesis A6 power amplifier. Besides its analogue line section it contains a digital to analogue converter with a wide set of digital inputs, and it was among the first YBA products to offer a digital power off function that shuts the digital section down completely when only analogue inputs are used.

Key specs that matter

Analogue connections include one balanced input and several RCA inputs, and the outputs comprise two RCA pairs and one balanced output. The digital inputs cover AES/EBU, optical, coaxial, BNC, Bluetooth and USB, with the USB port accepting signals up to 24 bit and 192 kHz. An S/PDIF output passes digital signals on to another device. Gain is +6 dB, the signal to noise figure exceeds 105 dB, and THD+N is below 0.003 percent between 20 Hz and 20 kHz. The frequency response covers 20 Hz to 20 kHz within 0.5 dB. Input impedance is 47 kohm and output impedance 100 ohm. The black aluminium case with its black acrylic panel measures 430 x 388 x 115 mm and weighs 10 kg.

Engineering and use context

The conversion stage is based on the Cirrus Logic CS4398 DAC chip. Power is supplied by two linear supplies, fed from a transformer rated at 190 VA. The digital power off switch isolates the whole digital section from the analogue circuit, so owners who play only vinyl or other analogue sources can run the preamplifier with its converter switched off, while streamers, computers and CD transports can still use the built in DAC when it is on. Windows computers need a driver to be downloaded before the USB input can be used, while other systems do not. One input offers a video bypass, a feature that is switched on and off from the remote handset.

Pairing

The Genesis A6 power amplifier is the direct partner, sharing the 430 mm width and the black aluminium and acrylic look, and it accepts both RCA and balanced signals, so the PRE5A can drive it over the balanced link. The second RCA output lets the preamplifier feed a further device alongside the power amplifier. Analogue sources such as the Genesis PH1 phono stage can connect through the balanced or RCA inputs, while digital sources go straight to the converter. In total six digital sources can be connected, five by cable and one over Bluetooth.

Alternatives

The YBA Passion PRE550A combines a preamplifier and a DAC in one chassis within the Passion range.