YBA Design One

Design One is the first YBA model aimed directly at the portable and desktop hi-fi market. The company presents it as a way of taking its sound beyond a dedicated listening room, into offices, cafes, small workspaces and more flexible listening setups. In practice, it is not a pocket player in the old Discman sense, but a transportable high-end source that can move between headphone listening, a desktop system and a more traditional hi-fi installation.

The disc section is built around an HD850 laser and MT1389EE system, with support for Audio CD, CD-R, CD-RW, single-layer SACD and multi-layer SACD. The top-loading mechanism uses a custom magnetic disc clamp tuned specifically for the Design One. That detail matters because a transportable disc player has to deal with mechanical stability in a much smaller and more mobile format than a conventional home SACD player. The aim is to preserve accurate disc reading while keeping the device compact enough for desktop and portable use.

Digital-to-analog conversion is handled by AKM's AK4497S DAC, a recent flagship-level chip from the Japanese manufacturer's Velvet Sound family. In this context, the choice of DAC is important because the Design One is not only a disc player. It also functions as a DAC and pre/line-out source, so the conversion stage becomes central to every role the device can perform. YBA specifies a signal-to-noise ratio above 125 dB, THD of 0.0004% and frequency response from 20 Hz to 40 kHz at -0.5 dB, figures that suggest the player is intended as a serious hi-fi component rather than a nostalgic portable novelty.

Headphone users are clearly one of the main target groups. Design One includes both a 3.5-mm single-ended output and a 4.4-mm balanced output, supported by a balanced discrete headphone amplifier. Output power reaches up to 1.65 W into 32 ohms, which is substantial for a battery-powered disc player and should make the unit suitable not only for sensitive IEMs, but also for many full-size headphones. Low output impedance - 0.4 ohms from the 3.5-mm output and 0.8 ohms from the 4.4-mm output - is equally relevant, because it helps maintain stable tonal balance with low-impedance and multi-driver earphones.

Volume is handled by a 100-step hardware control, giving users finer adjustment than the rough digital volume systems found in many portable devices. This is especially useful with headphones and IEMs of very different sensitivity. A player that can drive more demanding headphones also has to remain manageable with efficient in-ear monitors, and the combination of low output impedance, hardware volume and separate single-ended and balanced outputs is meant to cover both ends of that spectrum.

The Design One is also designed to work as a source in a speaker-based system. Analog outputs include standard RCA and a rear-mounted 4.4-mm balanced connector, allowing the player to feed a power amplifier, active speakers or a broader hi-fi setup in line-out or pre-out use. This is where the 'transportable' idea becomes more convincing. The device can be used with headphones on the move or on a desk, then connected to a more conventional system at home without becoming redundant.

For users who prefer an external DAC, the Design One provides digital outputs through S/PDIF coaxial and USB-C audio. The coaxial output operates at 44.1 kHz for CD and 88.2 kHz for SACD, while the USB-C audio output supports 44.1 kHz for CD but not SACD. These details are worth noting because SACD handling is often more restricted than standard CD output, and buyers with existing DACs will want to know how the player can be integrated into their systems.

The USB-C port also allows the Design One to operate as a high-resolution USB DAC when connected to a computer. In that mode it supports PCM up to 32-bit/768 kHz and DSD512. Those maximum figures will exceed the needs of most music libraries, but they show that the device is not limited to disc playback. Used on a desk, it can function as a modern USB DAC during the day and as a SACD or CD player when physical media is preferred.

Power comes from two internal 21700 batteries, with battery life rated at up to 5.5 hours. That is not all-day endurance, but it is a meaningful figure for a transportable SACD player with a real disc mechanism, DAC stage and headphone amplifier. Charging uses USB-C with PD3.0 support, and connecting a 9 V/3 A PD3.0 PPS charger activates an External DC Power mode. In this mode, the headphone amplifier can deliver higher output power, which makes sense for desktop use with more demanding headphones.

The physical design follows the same hybrid logic as the feature set. A 2.79-inch display provides operating information, while hardware buttons and customizable mechanical switches give the player a tactile control system. A magnetically attached rear panel protects the connectors when the Design One is used as a transportable headphone source. This is a small but practical touch, because rear-panel outputs make sense in a hi-fi system but can be vulnerable when the device is carried around.

Design One is therefore best understood as a compact high-end source rather than a simple portable player. It can play CDs and SACDs, drive headphones directly, feed active speakers or amplifiers, work as a digital transport and serve as a USB DAC. That combination is rare, and the SACD support makes it particularly unusual. For listeners with physical disc collections who also want a flexible desktop or headphone system, YBA has created something that sits outside the usual categories. The Design One is available through YBA international distributors and is priced at €1848/$1699. Info and photos by YBA.