Three years ago, I purchased my first ultra high-end audio component, the YG Acoustics Carmel 2 speakers. In this article, I will reflect on my journey with these speakers and share my thoughts on them today.
My full review of the YG Acoustics Carmel 2 from 3 years ago (in Hebrew)
Where I was 3 years ago
Three years ago, I have shifted my focus from a home theater setup to the world of stereo sound. After investing years in a home theater setup, my passion for music, which had always been there, grew stronger. I wanted to experience music at the highest possible quality.
At that time, my speakers were the Focal Aria 936, beautiful floor-standing speakers with a slim profile and clear, energetic sound. My amplifier was the Musical Fidelity M6si integrated amp, and my sources included a Bluesound Node 2i streamer and a Nottingham Analogue Interspace Jr. turntable (the only component that has lasted until today). After visiting the DigiTown 2019 exhibition (in Israel) and being impressed by the excellent demo rooms, I had my first real taste of high-end and ultra high-end sound.
The most impressive room at that exhibition was the one hosted by the Jerusalem-based importer "Avi Yaffe", where I first met Uri Yaffe and heard YG Acoustics speakers paired with Nagra electronics from Switzerland. It was there that I thought to myself, "This is the sound I want."
Shortly after, I co-founded AVReviews with my partner and started writing about audio equipment. I also wrote a profile on YG Acoustics (in Hebrew), a company I had researched almost obsessively since that exhibition. I kept in touch with Uri Yaffe, and together we looked for an opportunity to bring one of YG’s speakers to my home for review. The speaker I wanted to review was their smallest model, the Carmel 2, with the ultimate goal of buying them, which is what eventually happened.
On Balance and the Path to a High-End System
While many audiophiles prefer to make small upgrades and maintain balance in their systems, I chose to take a drastic leap. The price difference between the Carmel 2 and my Focal speakers was roughly four times. Upgrading usually involves financial loss, as selling or trading in equipment typically yields much less than the original purchase price. Therefore, if the goal is to reach high-end equipment, making large leaps is more logical.
However, large leaps have their drawbacks. If you buy expensive speakers, they might require powerful and high-quality amplification, so if your amplifier isn't good enough, you might end up with disappointing results. Conversely, upgrading the amplifier first might cause fewer headaches. However, I believe that speakers are the most impactful component in the sound chain, so upgrading other components might yield less noticeable improvements.
Fortunately, the Carmel 2 speakers turned out to deliver excellent results with almost any electronics I paired them with, which I will elaborate on later.
About the YG Acoustics Carmel 2
For those who haven’t read my full review, the YG Acoustics Carmel 2 is a compact, floor-standing speaker in a 2-way configuration. It belongs to YG’s Reference line, meaning it incorporates the company’s most advanced technologies.
YG’s unique speaker cabinets are made from aircraft-grade aluminum, manufactured using CNC cutting machines at their factory. The Carmel 2, like the rest of the line, features a sealed design with no ports. The tweeter is a 1-inch ForgeCore ultra-low-distortion model, while the mid-woofer is a 7-inch BilletCore ultra-high-rigidity unit. The crossover circuit uses YG’s proprietary DualCoherent technology.
In an interview with Yoav Geva (in Hebrew), the founder and former owner of YG Acoustics, he explained the critical importance of the crossover circuit and the uniqueness of the DualCoherent technology: “In simple terms, a quality crossover should have minimal impact on the sound, as much as possible. The crossover circuit has two main purposes: to separate the input signal into different frequency ranges for different drivers, and to balance the frequency response of each range. No driver has a perfectly balanced frequency response, so the crossover must correct for these imbalances."
Yoav continues: "The crossover design software I developed for YG Acoustics over the years, DualCoherent in 2002 and DualCoherent2 between 2017 and 2019, focuses on optimizing the relative phase between drivers while maintaining a balanced frequency response. The ability to optimize in both the time and frequency domains simultaneously is key to achieving a high-quality crossover.".
Recent Innovations from YG Acoustics
Since the departure of Yoav Geva, YG Acoustics has embarked on a journey of exploration and innovation. The company has signed a multi-year collaboration with Cambridge Acoustic Sciences (CAS), and expanded their product line in several directions. Last year, they launched a new entry-level series called the Peaks Series, lowering the price point of their speakers compared to the prestigious Reference line. They also expanded into active speakers with products like the Vantage Live, allowing customers to enjoy ultra high-end sound without needing separate amplification and source components.
In May this year, YG Acoustics announced an update to their flagship Reference series, which also includes a new version of the Carmel speaker.
Matching a Small Floor-Standing Speaker to an Israeli Living Room
One key factor in achieving high-quality sound in any space is matching the speaker size to the room. A speaker that’s too small won’t fill the space adequately, while an oversized speaker can produce overwhelming bass and an aggressive sound. For the average Israeli living room, I believe the optimal size is a compact floor-standing speaker.
However, there are two challenges with this. First, many manufacturers overlook this type of speaker, especially in the ultra high-end market, which is dominated by large speakers. If you want the most advanced speaker from a manufacturer in a compact package, your choices are very limited.
The second issue is demand. Floor-standing speakers with the best technologies from a quality manufacturer will be expensive, even in a compact cabinet. Many consumers may find it hard to justify a high price for a small speaker, even if it’s the perfect size for their space. People spending large sums on audio often want to see the justification in the form of large speakers that elicit “wow” reactions from their guests.
The Systems I Tried, or the Journey to Nagra
As I mentioned earlier, the first system I paired with the Carmel 2 speakers was fairly modest, consisting of a Musical Fidelity M6si integrated amplifier and a Bluesound Node 2i streamer. Even with this setup, I could feel the character of the Carmel 2. The sound was exceptionally clean and balanced.
However, after a short time, I sought to upgrade and try to get more out of the Carmels. Here I admit I made a mistake by purchasing a second-hand integrated amplifier from a reputable brand without testing it at home. That amplifier was the only one I tried with these speakers that produced results I couldn’t live with. It "killed" the soundstage, making the sound stick to the speakers and not spread into the listening space. I won’t mention the brand because it’s a respected company, and I’ve heard other models from them perform well with different speakers. Since I don’t know the history of the device I had, it would be unfair to tarnish the brand’s reputation.
After this disappointment, I sought a safer option and switched to a Naim Uniti Nova all-in-one integrated amplifier. I had heard this model with the Carmel 2 speakers during my review of them, so I knew exactly what I was getting. The Naim provided improved smoothness and refinement in the sound compared to my original system, along with the convenience of an all-in-one amplifier.
The next upgrade came as a surprise after I reviewed the Nagra Classic Int integrated amplifier from the Swiss high-end brand. Initially, I had no plans to purchase it, but after being impressed by its performance and sharing my thoughts with my amazing wife, she decided to surprise me, leading to yet another upgrade.
The Nagra Classic Int is less convenient to operate compared to the Naim Uniti, but the improvement in sound quality was significant. With the Nagra, there was a noticeable enhancement in the cleanliness and naturalness of the sound. The Nagra's tone added a touch of sweetness, and the synergy between these two brands reminded me why I fell in love with YG Acoustics speakers when I first heard the YG/Nagra combo in the showroom.
I later completed the other parts of my system puzzle, buying a second-hand Nagra VPS phono stage along with a Phasemation PP-200 cartridge upgrade. I also took care of the digital side with a Lumin U2 Mini streamer, and this year I added an MSB Discrete DAC, which brought another leap in sound quality.
Throughout this upgrade journey, I felt that the YG Acoustics Carmel 2 speakers easily reflected the improvements in my system. They were never a bottleneck at any point, and I’m confident that further enhancements in sound quality can still be achieved. Aside from that unfortunate second-hand amplifier incident, the Carmels sounded good with every amplifier I tried, including many that I reviewed, such as the excellent Lyngdorf TDAI-1120, the T+A 200 series, and various other amplifiers at different price levels, including the NAD M33, Roksan Attessa, Cary Audio SLI-100 and more.
What I Saw and Heard Over 3 Years
Over the past three years since purchasing the YG Acoustics Carmel 2 speakers, I’ve significantly expanded my experience and knowledge in the audio field. I attended the Munich High End show twice (in 2022 and 2023), where I listened to top-tier manufacturers and the most expensive systems in the world. I also visited one of Israel’s famous audiophiles and heard high-end systems in several stores across the country. After all these visits, when I returned home, I felt that even if my system costs less, it was the best fit for my space and taste.
A well-known phenomenon in audio is becoming accustomed to the sound you're familiar with, which can limit openness to different experiences. While I believe there’s some truth to this, in most cases, I can also explain why I prefer the sound of my system. Many of the large and expensive systems I've heard had more bass and powerful dynamics, but only a few (maybe 4-5 top-tier manufacturers) offered the balance, pleasentness, and level of detail that sounded natural, rather than exaggerated and forced, like the combination of the Nagra Classic Int and YG Acoustics Carmel 2. Additionally, many of the expensive speakers I’ve heard were too large for my space and often far beyond my budget, yet I still preferred the sound of the Carmel 2.
Now, let’s look at the other side of the coin and talk about speakers that are less expensive than the Carmel 2, which I’ve had the chance to hear. I’ve listened to and reviewed several speakers in the 20,000 to 50,000 NIS range, which is still half the price of the Carmel 2. Did I honestly prefer the Carmel over them? Yes, absolutely. However, in some cases, these were fantastic speakers—ones that, if I couldn’t afford the Carmel, I would have been completely happy with. At these extreme price points, the law of diminishing returns certainly comes into play. So, while the Carmel 2 aren't twice as good as speakers half their price, they are, in my opinion, better.
The Sound of the YG Acoustics Carmel 2
In this section, I’ll address the characteristics of the sound of the YG Acoustics Carmel 2 that made me appreciate them so much, even after hearing numerous other ultra-high-end speakers.
As I’ve mentioned before, the most striking feature is the clarity, a common trait across almost all YG Acoustics technologies, which focuses on reducing distortion. One example is their BilletCore technology, which replaces the standard driver manufacturing method. Instead of applying pressure to a material to shape it into a cone, YG Acoustics cuts a thick billet of aluminum using a CNC machine over an extended period to achieve the desired shape. This method avoids the pressure that can cause micro-fractures and inconsistencies in the aluminum, resulting in improved dynamics and reduced distortion.
Additional features include uniformity and balance, achieved in part using the DualCoherent crossover we mentioned earlier.
Another notable characteristic is the sound that isn't constrained by driver placement or the speaker’s general location. Often, I felt like the sound was floating in the room, seemingly unrelated to the speakers position. The soundstage is three-dimensional, vibrant, with excellent imaging, allowing precise localization of sounds.
The high-frequency reproduction of the YG Acoustics Carmel 2 features a high level of transparency, so performance significantly depends on the connected electronics. From my experience, the DAC had a greater impact on the highs than the amplifiers I tried. While none of the DACs I tested made the sound "bright" per se, the Carmel 2 and my ears preferred DACs with smooth highs. The standout DACs for me were the Ayre QB-9 DSD and my current MSB Discrete DAC, both known for their smooth and soft highs.
Lastly, let’s discuss bass reproduction. As a compact 2-way speaker, one might expect the bass to be a weak point. However, the Carmel 2’s bass isn’t attention-grabbing, primarily because there are no emphasized bass boosts. If you play music with deep bass in the recording, you’ll find the bass from the Carmel 2 surprisingly deep, but more so, detailed, clean, and balanced. This is where the sealed design shines, avoiding ports or other mechanisms to boost bass volume. The sound produced solely comes from the drivers, leading to better control and accuracy. Additionally, the high-quality cabinet construction and its damping allow for much more powerful bass than expected from a cabinet of this size.
During my reviews, I encountered several speakers with more powerful and dynamic bass, but I still consider the Carmel 2 to have the best bass performance I’ve experienced in my listening space.
Final Thoughts
The YG Acoustics Carmel 2 speakers were the first ultra-high-end component I purchased and are still the most expensive in my system. Following the Carmel 2s, I embarked on a journey to build a system around them that would deliver a dream sound experience. Even three years later, I feel that these speakers are the perfect fit for me—ideal for my listening space and my taste in sound.
In summary, the YG Acoustics Carmel 2 are such high-quality speakers that I feel I can continue upgrading the rest of my system, and they will consistently avoid becoming a bottleneck, effortlessly and naturally reflecting the benefits of each upgrade.
