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BELLES VIRTUOSO INTEGRATED UPDATE

Its been over a year since the Belles Virtuoso integrated amplifier was supposed to be released, and according to my Belles dealer, who spoke to Dave Belles yesterday, heres' the current situation. Dave and his engineer's are still working on the Preamp section, and will go into production in the very near future. In the meantime, Dave has released the 2-channel Virtuoso amplifier which is available to purchase. The current version is without meter's and price is set at  $ 5495.00. The meter version will be available in the near future and retail for $ 6495.00. The amp weighs 44 lbs. and puts out 200 watts rms @ 8 ohms. Dave mentioned the preamp section is superior to the Aria preamplifier. Still waiting and looking forward to purchase the integrated. After all, patience is a Virtuoso!
audiozen
marqmike
839 posts
 
Thanks. I am looking forward to hearing it and maybe more than that. 
teo_audio
2,197 posts
 
I still have..uhm... at least three Belles amplifiers in da house. 2x modded out 450’s and a modded out 200. Always liked Dave's designs, I guess......
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
Judging by those power amp prices, the Virtuoso integrated will be a significant price point up the ladder from a combo of Aria preamp + 2 Aria monoblocks.
audiozen OP
831 posts
 
One note of importance I neglected to mention regarding an interview I read online with Dave Belles and the Virtuoso line in late 2017. David Belles is retiring and his home in New York which is also his corporate address for Power Modules, is up for sale. The Virtuoso component line are Daves' best design's ever, beyond anything he has produced in the past. These pieces will be Daves' Swan Song as he slips into retirement.
Daves' end game. I predict the Vrtuoso integrated will become the new bar standard globally and will blow out the window the SS integrated's from Gamut, Gato Audio, Cary and Levinson. 
facten
2,877 posts
 
@audiozen

" I predict the Vrtuoso integrated will become the new bar standard globally and will blow out the window the SS integrated's from Gamut, Gato Audio, Cary and Levinson. "


Since you don't have a Virtuoso, and therefore could not have done any A/B listening with the other integrated amps you mentioned let alone any others that's a pretty ridiculous prediction

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