The Belles Aria Signature Integrated Amplifier


The Belles Aria Signature Integrated Amplifier has landed at the Audio Connection in Verona, NJ. I think John said 120 watts per channel with a phono stage that supports both MM and MC cartridges. 3 Single ended and 1 balanced input and output. Sounds great even though the unit has less than 24 hours on it.
joey54
i have not had the aria sig (as yet) but i have had the regular aria, as well as an lfd le mk4 sig, and at the same time in house for comparison - drove a variety of speakers... proacs harbeths buchardts vandy sig 3a's among others over that period

observations:

- both had a similar sonic signature, which is a somewhat lively, slightly uptilted high freq response, very clear and concise midrange (not lean not warm), and solid rhythmic bass... both image reasonably well (for solid state) and both are free of grain, though they both bring some degree of ’sharpness’ to leading edges of transients

- the lfd was a little brighter than the aria, both substantially brighter than a hegel or a pass or my longtime reference audiosector patek, they are simply voiced differently, to 'spotlight' the sound a bit more - the aria had maybe had a touch more low end drive than the lfd but both were very good

- the lfd definitely has a minimalist, small-op, homegrown feel to it... the play here is minimalism and thus implied purity to the sound because of it, whereas the aria definitely has a more proper, grown-up, full featured feel to it... with onboard phono stage, decent remote control, etc etc

- both of these amps do very well with more laid back/warmer speakers like harbeths, wharfedales, older vandys and spendors - they bring a little additional 'life' and punch to the music

i don’t know whether the higher, more expensive belles sig or the ncse permutations of the lfd bring more refinement... have not had the chance to hear for myself as yet
@jjss49 I've had the Aria integrated for a few years now. Your description is spot on. 
Just so yawl know, I think very highly of the Aria Sig., I made my choice, but if it doesn't pan out the Aria Sig. is standing in the batter's box. :-)
@jjss49 ,
Great observations. Thanks for sharing.
I am awaiting an Aria Signature Preamp, as soon as Mr. B. can make one.
bob
Looking through this thread and wondering if anyone has compared Belles to Rega integrated amps.

I have an Elex-R, really love the Rega sound but the Belles amps are very intriguing to me. Have a pair of DALI bookshelf speakers, but might try Spendor, LSA-10, or even new stuff from Canton soon.

FWIW, I have gone with Rega over comparably priced integrateds from Hegel, Musical Fidelity, Denon, and Naim.