Gilbert Yeung, Audio Designer
Gilbert has taken another step in his evolution as an audio designer/builder. He is offering a new line of audio products under his own name, implementing his latest technical thinking. More information to follow when I get it.
I have heard no better solid state electronics in my (83 year) lifetime than those designed and (hand) built by Gilbert Yeung. If anything, they have gotten better since he ‘retired’ from running his business to focus entirely on design. My new phono stage, essentially an upgraded version of his much admired BC 703, turns vinyl into an absolutely transparent medium. It is a magic maker.
Beginning with the 002i integrated amplifier some 5-6 years ago, which evolved into the NSI and NSI G, Yeung found something new hidden in his extraordinary mind: how to move beyond the territory contested by tubes and solid state into a new one that to my ears leaves the issue of mediums behind. Yeung’s designs do not sound like tubes, as some of the biggest fans of his gear have long maintained; neither do they sound like solid state. They are neither ingratiating or analytic. They quite simply (!) transport us, via both vinyl and CD, from recorded facts to the thing itself. Coupled with, in my house, JMR speakers, they bring us closer to the real thing than I ever imagined possible.
The first offering In his new line, illustrated below, in his integrated i802, a basic model of around 75 watts that can be upgraded through several steps to an amp that Gilbert tells me is better than the 002i — for less money, even in its maximally upgraded state. It is near impossible to get the master to explain how he does what he does or even what it is. But I know what his goal has always been: using technology to get ever closer to the emotional core of music. He does not want to impress us, he wants to move us. And now he wants to get better at doing this in an affordable price range. As his new line appears, we will see a preamp and amp separates, a new dac, headphone amp, phono stages, and plug in power supplies designed to upgrade them all — reportedly in ways that no one has seen before. He still feels his NSL and NSI G are his supreme products but there are precious few of us who can spend what they cost to enjoy their virtues. But who knows where he will go, once he establishes his new line of affordable and upgradeable pieces.
And actually, I’ve just learned there’s already a new version of the NSI G in the works. Still two chassis, configured like the NSI-G. It will be a hybrid with adjustable tube (6SM7) and solid-state. 47 position Shallco standard or a remote volume control user selectable on the fly. The power supply will be in the multi Farads range — 5 Farads or up. Gilbert won’t know the exact capacitance until he starts building. No firm price yet but he is expecting it to be around $40,000.00 to $45,000.00. He says it will be better than the NSI G, which will make it the new best essentially solid state amp in the world. I am assuming that the faceplate in the photo is one of several options….
NSI G
Gilbert’s new 18i with external power supply: 130 watts
.Gilbert’s new i810 with external power supply
i810 integrated amplifier
The final version of i810 integrated amp and its separate power supply iG810. 130 watt per channel. User adjustable hybrid. This is no where like the typical hybrid integrated amp available in home audio. Tube sound is adjustable while music is playing. It’s like changing tube on the fly. There is a solid-state knob if tube warmth gets too fat, turn up the solid-state to blend it in to get more punchy sound. There is unlimited amount of combination and fun to suit different kind of music or even recordings. Unlike graphic and parametric EQ, both adjust frequency response. In the case of i810, it adjust the amount of tube energy into the signal path is controlling the amount of energy between tube and solid-state and mix them together. Frequency response is the same no matter what the adjustment are. $16,000.
i802 integrated amplifier. 80 watts, 3 line level inputs including SP Cap Pack and FCF jack, $5000.
i806 integrated amplifier. 80 watts. 3 line level inputs, one of which is SE/BAL. With SP Cap Pack 5.1 and FCF 1.1 built in. $6500.
C310 preamplifier. Line level inputs including SP Cap Pack jack, remote volume control, SE/BAL outputs. 1/4 inch headphone jack. $3200.
C318 preamplifier. 5 line level inputs, 2 of the inputs are SE/BAL. Combination 6SN7, 6922, and solid state in parallel. $15,300
A 210 power amplifier. 100 watts per channel. $7,150.
More coming.