BEL 1001 amp...does it deserve the hype?

Yes, it does deserve the hype and MORE! I believe this is one of the finest amplifiers ever produced in the world. I have swapped out almost all of my solid state amps and preamps for SET tube gear with the exception of the BEL. My main speakers have remained Magnepans powered by a single BEL 1001 Mk III. The BEL is currently fed from a McIntosh C220 tube preamp. I have periodically tried a variety of power tube amps with the Maggies and none ultimately performed as well as the BEL. This is an extraordinary amplifier but is extremely difficult to find.

I've used a pair for at least 18 years, probably 19. Flawless performance, and as far as I can tell after nearly 2 decades, sonically invisible.

I owned the MKII, MKIII, MKIV, and MKV in mono blocks. I had the Thiel 3.6 which was very power hungry. Back then, I tried Classe, Krell, VTL 225. None of these amps could drive the 3.6s to my satisfaction. The BEL MKII mono blew all these amps out of the water. A single BEL at 50 watts per channel was already great sounding. With mono set up, it was another world. All BEL amps I believe can drive speakers down to 1 ohm.

I agree that BEL MKII was on the lean and mean side of neutral. The later versions were getting warmer and sweeter like tube. The MKV was the best sounding like tube and yet retaining all the good things a good solid state amp offers.

Lots of folks ignored these amps because of its industrial, honest look. In addition, there weren't much inside the chasis due to its simple design. And yet, its sound was simply spectacular.

Unfortunately, the designer Richard Brown passed away and I don't believe anyone out there continues his work.

I owned one for about 12 years. It performed perfectly that whole time and the sound was fantastic. I have owned many highly rated SS & tube amps since and wish I had kept the BEL. It was that good.

I have one for sale. Had it for twenty years. Still perfect. Hearing loss now.
Anyone interested?