Unveiling the YG Acoustics Hailey 3 Loudspeaker: A New Era in Sound

Experience the YG Acoustics Hailey 3 Loudspeaker, where technical mastery meets emotional depth in sound quality.

The Mission Behind the Speaker

Early in the development of any new speaker, the designer must pinpoint its mission. What does this speaker aim to achieve? Who is its target audience? In what environment will it be used?

For most of its 22-year legacy, YG Acoustics speakers have been guided by a mission established by the founder and chief designer, Yoav Geva. Irrespective of the specific model’s size or price, Geva focused on crafting products that excel in key technical metrics. He was particularly obsessed with minimizing sonic impurities, emphasizing the need to ensure pure sound.

Targeting Sonic Impurities

The primary impurity that Geva aimed to address was cabinet vibrations. This goal is reflected in the signature materials and unique shape of YG speakers. Constructed from billet aluminum, YG speakers feature extensive bracing and various techniques to enhance stiffness and reduce ringing. To counteract diffraction—a notable impurity—the speakers are modular, with separate sections that avoid being wider than the housed drivers. Every enclosure is sealed to prevent distortions commonly associated with ported designs.

These design strategies have proven effective. YG speakers are widely recognized for their low distortion, tonal neutrality, and outstanding imaging. However, YG has occasionally faced criticism for producing “analytical” products that fell short in conveying the emotional aspects of music. The Carmel 2, which I reviewed some years ago, exemplified this: while more accessible than its predecessor, it lacked warmth.

A Change in Leadership and Philosophy

This ongoing balancing act might have persisted indefinitely if not for a pivotal change in 2017. Surprising many in the audio industry, YG welcomed a new set of audiophile-minded owners. In 2020, Matthew Webster, a forward-thinking designer, was appointed CEO. While the external appearance of the speakers remained consistent, everything within began to shift.

Webster respected Geva’s achievements but was eager to embark on a new direction. He envisioned a fundamentally different mission for YG speakers, one that would “make magic.” This meant delivering an emotional experience alongside their already impressive technical capabilities.

A Unique Approach to Design

Many speaker manufacturers aim for a musically oriented goal, but Webster's challenge was discovering the design and manufacturing techniques that would produce the magic he envisioned. His solution? Computational modeling.

While it may seem counterintuitive to use digital technology to uncover the essence of emotionally resonant analog listening, Webster is inherently a technical thinker. Holding a PhD in astrophysics from Cambridge University, he views technology and measurements as means to a musical end rather than the end itself. As Webster states, “there are many speakers that measure well by traditional metrics but that don’t move the listener.”

Through computational modeling—skills he honed while writing his dissertation on large-scale universe modeling—Webster sought to identify design techniques that would evoke emotional responses. He began experimenting with a new line called Peaks, which would be priced lower than the Reference Series while testing the question: “What can we achieve with computer modeling?”

Prototyping and Innovation

One of the significant advantages of computational modeling lies in its ability to produce numerous virtual prototypes. For the Peaks series, Webster created 450 virtual prototypes—an endeavor unfeasible in the physical realm. Physical prototypes were also necessary, though, as listening to a computer model alone wouldn’t suffice, and actual behavior measurements were essential to validate the model's predictions.

As Webster delved deeper, he discovered that conventional computer models lacked the accuracy to elucidate a speaker’s behavior. The model evolved to encompass multiple dimensions, integrating not just physical properties, but also electronic and magnetic attributes. This complexity meant the model could no longer be processed with typical computer systems.

Fortunately, cloud computing made it easier to access the immense processing power required. YG leveraged 2000 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) from the cloud, amassing an impressive 4.5 million GPU-hours for the Peaks series.

Advanced Measurement Techniques

Webster found traditional measurement methods inadequate, prompting YG to invest in cutting-edge tools like multi-point laser vibrometry and high-speed photography, capable of generating 200,000–500,000 time-sliced images per second. These techniques complemented extensive listening sessions, ensuring the ultimate mission was achieved.

As the Peaks designs reached their climax, Webster simultaneously invested in revamping and expanding YG's factory. The state-of-the-art production facility matched the innovative R&D process. For instance, initial cuts of aluminum components are executed with a water jet, which is faster, more cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. The cut pieces are then fashioned using advanced 4- and 5-axis lathes, achieving precision down to 0.004 millimeters.

The Hailey 3: A Testament to Innovation

The Peaks series proved to be a resounding success, both sonically and in terms of market response. With newfound confidence in R&D and production processes, Webster ambitiously upgraded the entire Reference Series 2 to Series 3 status. Among the new models is the mid-level Hailey 3, priced at $68,000 per pair.

The Hailey 3 cabinet features a unique construction, built from solid aluminum. It essentially consists of two aluminum cabinets with a gap between them, utilizing constrained-layer damping material to deter ringing. This innovative design results in a cabinet that is both stiff and sonorous.

Drivers start with a silk-dome tweeter set onto a delicate aluminum lattice frame. New for the Series 3 models is a reworking of the bracing on the cone's backside, enhancing rigidity while minimizing cone mass. Additionally, a revamped waveguide leads to decreased high-order distortion, resulting in smoother high frequencies. The tweeter operates over an impressive frequency range from 1.75kHz to 40kHz, ensuring no breakup or phase shift occurs in the audible spectrum.

The 7.25″ midrange and 11″ woofer are carried over from the Hailey 2, with the crossover point set at 90Hz, meaning the midrange handles much of the workload typically reserved for a woofer. However, this design improves coherence and phase regularity within critical audible frequencies.

The Crossover: A Marvel of Precision

The crossover itself is entirely new, incorporating custom-designed inductors and capacitors, with attention paid to microphonics. Many inductors are potted and secured to the circuit board, and the circuit employs custom foil capacitors crafted specifically to YG's specifications. Even the circuit board traces are thicker for enhanced performance.

Perhaps most significantly, computational modeling enabled YG to create a crossover with near-perfect phase matching between drivers. In frequency regions where two drivers overlap, they operate in perfect pistonic synchronicity—a critical factor for maintaining musical engagement.

Sound Quality: A Transformation in Audio Experience

So, how does the reimagined Hailey sound? The answer is pure—with an infusion of newfound passion. I experienced a speaker that not only eliminates impurities but also enhances the music by getting out of its way. Through the Hailey 3, I discerned musical lines with unmatched clarity, revealing layered details of sound.

Consider Peter Gabriel’s “Playing for Time.” When the orchestra plays, it doesn’t appear as a singular entity but as intertwined instrumental lines. Listening through the YG, I noticed elements of this musical tapestry that were previously obscured, even on other high-end speakers.

Post-purity, the next aspect I noted was refinement. The sound from the Hailey 3s never felt harsh; this wasn’t due to anything being softened. The transients hit with proper intensity, yet without any artificial sharpness. This quality can be attributed to the newly designed tweeter, which remains unblemished regardless of how hard it’s pushed.

My ultimate test focuses on the “stabbed” high-piano notes in Michael Wolff’s “The Conversation.” Correct reproduction requires speed, definition, and power. Many speakers that excel in this area often exhibit breakup around those notes. Yet, the Hailey 3 handles them cleanly—a rare accomplishment. You might think your speakers perform well in this realm, but until you’ve experienced the Hailey 3, where the tweeter extends to 40kHz, you may not have encountered true high-frequency refinement.

Imaging and Sweet Spot

The new waveguide excels at dispersing high frequencies, contributing to exemplary imaging and a wide sweet spot—no more head-in-a-vise syndrome here!

When it comes to bass, the YG impresses across all expected metrics. You’ll find timbral density, transient definition, power, and depth. The Hailey 3 certainly qualifies as a full-range speaker. The low-end definition is such that I uncovered more tonal information from string basses than I typically hear from any other speaker.

Moreover, the Hailey 3 possesses a bass quality that reflects its refined nature. Compared to the excellent Wilson Sasha V, which features similar bass attributes, the YG’s sound is sonorous rather than gutsy—a matter of personal preference, no doubt. What is clear is that the bass aligns perfectly with the overall refinement of the speaker.

Midrange Excellence

In terms of midrange performance, I wish every speaker could match the Hailey 3's neutrality and clarity. This speaker provides unforced transparency, allowing every musical line and instrument, no matter how hidden in a mix, to shine. I’ve found myself captivated by these newly evident musical elements—precisely the intention behind the Series 3.

To illustrate the engagement these speakers can evoke, let me share a brief anecdote. My local listening group gathers occasionally to audition equipment, and we had a notably large turnout for the Hailey 3s. Each attendee brought their chosen musical selection, and as we listened to the familiar tracks, the group erupted in spontaneous applause after several pieces. That’s a first for us! The speakers truly do “make magic.”

Aesthetic Transformation

Visually, the Hailey 3 gives no indication of the profound transformations it underwent. It appears almost identical to its predecessor, yet it represents a significant departure from the past in terms of philosophy, technology, and sonic performance. With the Series 3, YG has prioritized engagement and musicality, leveraging science to achieve these goals without sacrificing the core essence that characterized previous models. Based on the performance of the Hailey 3, it’s evident that this new mission has been exceptionally accomplished.

Specs & Pricing

• Type: 3-way sealed floorstander
• Drivers: 11″ woofer, 7.25″ midrange, 1″ tweeter
• Impedance: 4 ohms nominal
• Power requirement: 25W min
• Sensitivity: 87dB/1W/1m
• Frequency response: 20Hz–40kHz
• Weight: 200 lbs. each
• Dimensions: 13″ x 48″ x 21″
• Price: $68,000

Associated Equipment

• Analog source: Lyra Etna cartridge, Goldmund Studietto turntable, Graham 2.2 tonearm
• Digital source: Bryston BCD-3 CD player
• Electronics: CH Precision I1 universal amplifier (phonostage, DAC, streamer, linestage, power amplifier)
• Speaker: Wilson Sasha V
• Cables and cords: Empirical Design
• Footers: Goldmund Cones

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