Anybody Heard Belles350a replacing a rogue 88

i have a 350a and it is an amazing amp---i have great difficulty imagining anything that can better it significantly in any area, and its $3500 retail,easily beating those 2x the money.

i haven't heard the rogue 88.

I was all excited about the 350A after reading a rave review about it, but when it arrived at home I was very very disappointed. Darkest piece that I've ever heard. Might work better with all silver cabling (including silver AC cord - which is the way I believe it was reviewed) but with my rig it was lame in every way & I sent it back. The piece did have some low hours on it initially but certainly had enough time to be broken in. Apparently it was a synergy issue because many other products have succesfully "plugged right in" to my rig. And others such as Rhyno can't compliment the 350A enough so go figure? A modded 150A didn't work well for me either, but from the reviews I could still be tempted to try one if I hadn't already.
Sorry I can't compare it to the Rogue though...

I cannot compare to the Rogue because I haven't really heard it. I can tell you, though, that my experience with the 350A has been quite different from Bob's. I use it with my beloved Mezzo Utopias and I chose it in part because, in my system, it is anything but dark. I find it a little cool and analytical; exactly the sound I am seeking in my music system.

That being said, I don't discount a word of what Bob wrote. Components interact in odd ways for complex reasons that we don't even begin to understand. For that reason, I am always dubious when some enthusiast says, "You MUST get the Ear-O-Phonic 2000, it blows EVERYTHING else away." Well, maybe it does...in that room...with that equipment...for that listener.

Listen a lot. Buy what sounds good to you.

Will

bob

what's your system look like? maybe it wasn't broken in (i.e. needs @ 200hrs in my experience). my system: pioneer pd-65 transport>belcanto1.1 dac> joule electra la-100mk2 pre> belles 350a> merlin vsm-m.

there's a shade of darkness in my overall presentation--but that's the joule's fault, not the belles.

i have great difficulty defining its character, as with the merlins. i would not agree w/ will re: cool and analytical at all...if anything, i'd say organic, spacious, in total control, and fast/clean. love it love it love it.

--which i guess proves will's point. listen for yourself.

feel free to search for extended comments i made on the unit on audioasylum general forum, search for belles 350a.

rhyno