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Where on earth is the Belles Virtuoso?

I was under the impression that David Belles was supposed to release the Virtuoso 4-5 months ago. Life’s been busy, and I’ve been away. Anyone have any news?

128x128jtweed
audiozen
831 posts
 
UPDATE ON THE BELLES VIRTUOSO INTEGRATED...Spoke to Johnny yesterday at Audio Connect and he informed me that the production platform for the Virtuoso has finally been completed and set up just days ago and production, according to his recent talks with Dave, will start very
shortly. Johnny just got into his store the very first Virtuoso 2-channel amplifier. Look forward to getting the Virtuoso integrated when released and will hook it up to a pair of Quad Z-3's which will be a killer combo.
recroom
21 posts
 
Is the Belles Virtuoso ever going to be available in the marketplace and properly advertised on a website?  After three years of waiting, it seems like nothing more than a figment of one's imagination...
jtweed's avatar
jtweed OP
48 posts
 
@recroom , I’ve given up on Belles. Very unfortunate, but I now realize that chasing unicorns is foolish....
Shame, I was really looking forward to this ‘giant killer’. Whatever, life is full of surprises, and disappointment....
Jeff
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 

Up-to-date info.  The Belles Virtuoso power amp is finished and available for purchase through Audio Connection. @lobinero has one.  Next up will be the Virtuoso preamp, which is very close.  The integrated will follow, combining elements of those two.  Evidently, there have been delays in the development of this line, but it's a small company and David B. is a perfectionist.

Progress is also slow because of the success of the Aria line; in particular, the integrated sells very well indeed.

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
P.S. the original plan had been for the Virtuoso Integrated to be the first product in the new line to market, but once David had packed everything in there that he wanted to put in, the casework was so deep that it mandated some serious rethinking, and he is not a person to cut any corners.  Hence the revised plan.
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