ЦАПы — YBA Genesis S2 Streamer DAC

The Genesis S2 is a streaming DAC from YBA's Genesis range, launched in mid-2023 at EUR 6,500 in Germany. It combines two AKM AK4497EQ converters, an Android-based streaming computer with a 1 TB solid-state drive and a 6-inch touchscreen, and a full set of digital inputs and outputs, which lets it act as the single digital source of a system.

Key specs that matter

Two AKM AK4497EQ chips handle PCM up to 32 bit and 768 kHz, DSD512 and MQA 8x. Storage is a built-in 1 TB SSD. The 6-inch touchscreen has a resolution of 1080 x 1920. Streaming services include Tidal, Qobuz, Deezer, Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music, and networking is by 10/100 Ethernet and dual-band Wi-Fi at 2.4 and 5 GHz, with a Bluetooth 4.2 receiver supporting LDAC and SBC. Inputs are USB DAC, optical, coaxial and two USB drive ports. On the output side, two RCA pairs and one XLR pair are joined by optical, coaxial, AES/EBU and BNC digital sockets. The unit measures 430 x 388 x 115 mm and weighs 9.1 kg.

Engineering and use context

Using two AK4497EQ chips allows one converter per channel, and YBA pairs them with two separate power supplies - a linear supply with a UI toroidal transformer for the DAC and a switch-mode supply for the computer section - so the noise of the streaming computer is kept away from the analogue circuits. The Android platform lets the Genesis S2 run streaming service apps directly, and the touchscreen controls playback and settings. The internal SSD stores a local library, and two USB ports accept external drives. MQA 8x refers to full unfolding of MQA files up to eight times the base sample rate. The four digital outputs allow the unit to act as a streamer for an external DAC. With two RCA pairs, it can feed two amplifiers or a preamplifier and a subwoofer at the same time. LDAC Bluetooth accepts high-resolution audio from Android phones.

Pairing

Amplifiers and preamplifiers with RCA or XLR inputs take its analogue output, and the digital outputs can feed a separate DAC. A computer uses the USB DAC input, and a CD transport the coaxial or optical input. YBA's own amplifiers, such as the Passion A650 through a preamplifier, suit it. It matches the width of other full-size components while remaining light.

Alternatives

The YBA Heritage D100 is a DAC with a TI PCM1795 converter, USB input up to 24 bit and 384 kHz and DSD128, variable outputs and a 5 kg case.