YBA launches Design One as transportable SACD player

The first model in YBA’s Personal Hi-Fi line gives the brand a compact disc source for headphone listening and system integration. Its role spans SACD/CD replay, USB DAC use and digital transport duties rather than a conventional portable CD-player brief.

Georg S. Kuklick

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May 20, 2026

YBA has launched the Design One, a transportable SACD player and the first model in its new Personal Hi-Fi line. The product combines disc playback, DAC operation and headphone listening in a compact source component intended for stationary and system-based use.

The Design One uses a top-loading disc mechanism with a magnetic clamp and can play CD, CD-R/RW and SACD discs. It can also operate as a line-level or pre-out source for active speakers or power amplifiers, or as a digital transport feeding an external DAC.

Headphone use is central to the design, with front-panel outputs and volume adjustment for direct listening. When connected to a computer, the unit can also function as a USB DAC, extending the product beyond disc replay alone.

Key specifications

Disc playback	CD, CD-R/RW and SACD
Mechanism	HD850 laser and MT1389EE system, top-loading with magnetic disc clamp
DAC chip	AKM AK4497S
USB DAC support	PCM up to 32-bit/768 kHz and DSD512
Headphone amplifier	Balanced discrete amplifier, up to 1.65 W at 32 ohms when powered by an external DC power supply
Headphone outputs	3.5 mm unbalanced and 4.4 mm balanced
Rear outputs	RCA at 2.6 V, 4.4 mm balanced at 5.2 V, coaxial S/PDIF and USB Audio digital output
Battery	Two internal 21700 batteries, up to 5.5 hours
External power	USB-C 9V/3A PD3.0 PPS charger required
Dimensions	188 x 166 x 40 mm
Weight	1.34 kg

The Design One is available in May 2026 through YBA international distributors. YBA lists MSRP at 1699 USD / 1848 Euro, with a note to check dealers for U.S. pricing.

Sources
- Stereocheck - YBA Design One: Portable SACD Player, DAC & Headphone Amp With DSD512