$63,400
Although the Hailey 3 looks identical to its predecessor, from a philosophical, technological, and sonic perspective the new speaker is a complete break from the past. Series 1 YGs were accurate and detailed but analytical to a fault. Series 2 models were much more musical, while still giving precedence to neutrality and resolution. But with the Series 3, YG has made engagement and musicality its top priorities—and has enlisted science (particularly in the form of multi-domain computational modeling) to achieve those goals. The result is a speaker that is perfectly balanced top to bottom, is wonderfully revealing, and has banished all traces of its predecessors’ analytical nature.
A natural—not overwrought—warmth contributes to this speaker’s accessibility and likability, while its refinement at frequency extremes means there are no nasties to distract from the musical experience. For retaining the best of its past yet forging forward with new priorities—and brilliantly succeeding—the Hailey 3 is a cinch for a Golden Ear Award. (Forthcoming)
Tags: YG ACOUSTIC LOUDSPEAKER FLOORSTANDING GOLDEN EAR AWARD
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By Alan Taffel
I can thank my parents for introducing me to both good music and good sound at an early age. Their extensive classical music collection, played through an enviable system, continually filled our house. When I was two, my parents gave me one of those all-in-one changers, which I played to death.
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