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Bel Canto Dac 3.7 in 2018?

Hi all,

I’ve come across a store demo 3.7 including the VBL for approximately 3000. Mint. Boxed, ready for sell. I know some might consider it dated due to lack of mqa, dsd, pcm, which is not available on this unit. Or perhaps the converter is dated?

Im quite content with 24/192. I’m waiting for the dust to settle on what will become the industry standard.  Mqa still seems questionable. Though promising. 

I currenty own a Bel Canto Reflink which would utilize the fiber connection for optimal SQ.  Add the VBL. It looks like a win for my needs and price. 

At the same time. There are always options, and different viewpoints. Which I would take into account. 

New or used. Would the community agree the 3.7 still holds up for 2018.  Are there similar units for the same price range that will surpass the 3.7 with the VBL. 

I lean towards seperates that has a external power source. Though I am open to a all in one unit. 

I believe Mytek can be hooked up to a separate power supply as well. Though I feel the Mytek  Brooklyn + has way too many features which could potentially impair the SQ. I’m very much into a simple UI. Clean lines. Less is more. Etc..

Thank you for your input. 

J


jred
cnb3
3 posts
 
@goldprintaudio 

Thanks for the input - appreciated.  I did buy the 3.7 with VBL - it’s in route! 

As a dealer, do you happen to know if the Innous Zen Mini MK3 will connect well to the 3.7, or if I will need a Ref Link or mLink - neither of which Bel Canto appears to still make?  The Zen Mini MK3 seems very well thought of and just perfectly fits my remaining needs all in one fell swoop - streamer, CD player (and ripper), and music storage.  (And size-wise almost perfectly matches Bel Canto.)
goldprintaudio's avatar
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goldprintaudio
502 posts
 
@cnb3   I don't really know much about the Innous options, but a quick look appears to show it has coax and toslink out, so you should be able to use those.  If you want to use USB out, you will want a RefLink/ULink/MLink.

Taylor
www.goldprintaudio.com
cnb3
3 posts
 
Thanks Taylor!  Yes, it has both optical and coax S/PDIF.  Is there any reason to think there’d be any difference between using optical S/PDIF output, coax S/PDIF output or (I guess with a convertor) USB output?  Put slightly differently I guess, what is the point of the RefLink/ULink/MLink other than, I suppose, to address a sich where only output option from device to 3.7 is USB?  
jred OP
94 posts
 
@cnb3

Hello,

Apologies for the late response. My system has changed a lot since this post.

Congrats with the 3.7. 
Feel free to message me. I’d be rambling way too long on this thread to explain all that you are questioning / potentially need. 



bunkertoy's avatar
bunkertoy
55 posts
 

Hi All, I know this is an old thread, but wanted to reach out to fellow Bel Canto 3.7 owners.

I was wondering if my 3.7 was getting old and behind the curve.

I reached out to Bel Canto about upgrading my Power supply from VBS to VBL.

They got me in touch with Matt Cramer of Ace Audio Tomato Audio. I believe he was an engineer with Bel Canto. After chatting on the phone with him, I sent my DAC from Toronto to Minny for some upgrades. I chose the "Reference" upgrade apposed to the "Statement " upgrade. There were many more upgrades Kimber wiring etc..., but I had to stick to my budget.

I’ve had the DAC back for about 3 weeks and I’m extremely happy with the results.

I didn’t have enough $$ for the ref umbilical cord, which I hear is also as nice upgrade.

Just wanted to share this recent upgrade with other Bel Canto owners. Not many owners here in Canada. Maybe others can chime in, if they have had upgrades etc... Always great to hear other thoughts about people’s impressions of the Bel Canto DACs

Thks

My System:

Bryston 3B Cubed, VTL 2.5,Bel Canto 3.7, Revival Atalante 3, Transporter

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