YBA Passion vs YBA integre dt integrated????

I'm still hoping that someone here can directly answer Sea2's question about YBA vs. Plinius 8200. I own the 8200 mkII and cannot believe its stunning performance. To my ears, it's the first piece of equipment I've had that seems to get better every day, that I still actually look forward to going home to (sad life, eh?!).

Obviously, no one has compared the two. Not an unlikely situation, given everything that's out there, and the liklihood of being interested in each one at the SAME time. What could anyone's opinion mean, anyway? You're the one who has to hear it. Not me. Not John Audio. Cpdunn99, is the one who has to put it to the test. You could always bring your 8200mkII to a YBA dealer to compare it to the Passion. I'm sure you'll get a good price on the 'gon for your 8200mkII, after you do your comparison. peace, warren

Warren,

Have you had any experience with B & W and The Passion? I own a YBA CD 2 and Nautilus 804's. I was driving them with a Krell KAV 300i until I realized the amplifier was stopping me from hearing the music as it should be heard. The CD 2 is really a wonderful and musical player, but the Krell was robbing me of that musicality. Will I be saved with the Passion?

I own B&W Nautilus 804s and just purchased the YBA Passion Integre. It should arrive within the next two weeks. Once it's hooked I'll post again. The CD player is Micromega Drive3/Dac2 and the cabling is by Cello.

My view on the Integre DT vs Passion Integre comparison

I compared the Passion to the Integre DT, hoping they would not be that different, and end up buying the much cheaper DT. Unfortunately Yves Bernand Andre is no fool.

The difference was not small. It was huge. They present the music in a very different way. To my ears the Passion was far superior to the DT. More natural presentation, more body, warmer and more musical. Since I could afford the Passion there was no question in my mind which own I should buy. The dealer also commented that the Passion line is the latest that YBA has to offer and that the overwhelming majority of customers who can afford both the Line 1,2,3 and the Passion Line prefer the Passion. Hope this is helpful.

Same interests at the same time with the same models is difficult to occur.
My Levinson recently blew on my face (by the way do NOT buy them, service sucks !).
Aniway, I have been trying several power amps which included the Plinius 250 MKiV and the YBA Passion Stereo.
I have to say that the YBA is BY FAR far the best Power Amp to drive my Maggies in every respect - I've tried several top brands like Krell, Levinson, Classé and Audio Research -while the Plinius was clearly a worse option than the Levinson I had before and really did not sound good at all, which was surprising and even annoying given the rave reviews it received everywhere. Is it because they advertise more...?
When you change just one piece in your set up you really can hear the differences and make the best decisions.
I also tried the YBA Integré Passion in my set up, which yielded an acceptable sound, but the sheer Power of the Passion Stereo Power amp just gives you that extra control into the low impedance areas of the Maggies. Frankly there is more of everything, more, deeper and tighter bass, more of a liquid midrange and wider/deeper soundstage and clearer and more extended highs. Awesome !!! You just cannot stop listening to your cd's again, because you've just re discovered them !
So although the Intégré may be an excellent option with easier speakers , it is by no means a match for the Passion Stereo in any set up.
The Intégré Passion is also in another league compared to the DT, which I believe has grown into the Audio Refinement Line as a lower end line of YBA.
As for the comparison with the plinius, if its the same difference I noticed between the 2 power amps, then I would stick with the Intégré and go visit New Zealand in a heartbeat !