Bellari VP129 thoughts/experiences?

I have been using one for a few months now. Despite reading some negative user comments (here on audiogon I think) regarding excessive noise, mine has had no such issues and seems to be good overall. I am working out some TT issues so any other comments will not be totally reliable, but on an absolute basis, it seems to lack some transparency and resolution, as well as some of the subtleties of vial reproduction compared to more expensive units out there.

Bellari acknowledge the hum on their website (www.rolls.com). They say it is a grounding issue ( http://www.rolls.com/new/serv.html) and that you should connect the turntable to the "reciever" ground.

Hehehe, now that I have said that, I just realized the my Rega doesn't have a ground!

If any of you use the bluebook feature, I was hoping that you might tell me where I could find it listed. I looked under Bellari and Rolls but niether exist.

Thanks,

Lucas

It's not listed in Bluebook. I assume that's because Belari is actually a Pro electronics bus, not audiophile.

As for the hum problem, I had it big time. I sent it back to them twice, the second time they sent me a new one. I got it and the problem was still there. I finally rigged a jumper from the RCA ground (ie in addition to the ground post) on the Belari to my preamp ground - problem solved. Thinking about it in hind-sight, it sounds like there's something stupid wrong with the assembly.

As for price, I bought mine for $130 direct from Belari about 2 years ago. The list price at the time was $169, mine was a "b-stock". That these are selling used for over $200 is surprising to me.

Finally, when I owned mine I did not try alternative tubes. I wonder, would imagine that a good 12AT7 would really improve the sound.

I use them in systems with no issues. The manual even talks about how to correct any noise problems, but I haven't had any so it wasn't needed. I think they sound great, and you can't quibble about the price. Certainly the cheapest audiophile component I've seen.

From what I understand, the only shortcoming with the Bellari, is a slight lack of gain for some med output MC's. Tube rolling I understand greatly improves the Bellari. Just a cheap new New Sensor "Mullard" should do the trick. Mark