2. amps-preamps
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Belles 21A standby mode?

Hi,

I recently obtained a 21A and wonder if any 21A owners experience the same. I noticed after plugging the unit in that the tubes glowed as if the 21A was powered on. The manual makes no mention of a standby mode. With the unit switched off, the tubes appear to still have voltage on them. Just wondering....thanks.
jman66
jman66 OP
54 posts
 
Dave Belles stated that a couple of units went out the door with a missing jumper. Mine could be one of them.
With the 21A powered off or powered on, there's no change in "glow intensity" of the filaments.
I also have a 20A and the chassis above the tubes gets slightly warm but there is no visible glow in any of the 4 tubes.
bigtee
803 posts
 
There is not going to be a change in intensity of the light emitted from the tube filaments. The power to the filaments remains the same on or off. It's the other circuits you change.
1markr, care to comment on the comparison between the L-2 and the Belles 21A sound wise? I also have the L-2 but looked hard at the Belles. I didn't get to demo the 21A. I'm using the AI with a Belles 350A.
jman66 OP
54 posts
 
If that's the case, then I probably shouldn't worry.
Thanks everyone for responding !!
1markr
594 posts
 
Bigtee...I'm not quite prepared to comment on the either the L2 or 21A, other than they both sound very nice and I could easily live with either of them. I just got the L2 less than a couple of weeks ago, and the 21A a week or so before that. These replaced a very highly regarded 51SE, which just did not work well in my system at all. In my system, to my ears, either of these preamps sound much better, at a quarter of the price.

In a few weeks, I should be able to formulate a meaningful comparison, as I'm going to keep only one of the preamps when all is said and done. I'm working on rolling the best tubes into these two preamps now.
The 21A, so far is just a tad noisier than the L2, but that could be tube related, thus the tube rolling.

I'll keep you posted.

I'm still trying to find out if the 21A has a standby mode, and if I'm missing a jumper.
bigtee
803 posts
 
1markr, I received my L-2 Christmas day(actually arrived). I'm very impressed with it and feel it was a definite improvement over the L-1 I had previously.
Why don't you call Dave Belles and talk to him about your questions. I would think that it would have a standby mode that at least keeps the filaments heated like the AI.
Let me know about your final decisions on the preamps.
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