JOB, BelCanto, Perpetual, MilleniumDACs?

Subaruguru, don't you think any piece of equipment deserves a little cable shuffling to see what's under the hood? I am using XLO Reference Type 1 and a 2 meter XLO toslink from my Pioneer DVD 525. I really am a fan of the sound I am getting. Also, did you try the DVD by itself to get a feel for it? I was surprised how well my 525 performed for its price, but fear that the low price might result in inconsistencies as a transport. So far, so good. Yeah... that's the ticket, you must have a lemon, or did you forget to plug the dang thing in? [:)] Good luck, Charlie.

Subaruguy, that is a GREAT post! You really captured the morass I often find myself in when evaluating components. --Dan

Subaruguru I wouldn't say you are at all off base with your observations on this unit based on my early first impressions. I would however be interested in knowing the rest of your system. I too found the Bel Canto a little "laid back" in comparison with the Perpet tech P-3a unit which was too forward but ultimately it was the tonal problems with that unit that I really didn't expect would improve enough or mesh well with my system in the long run. I WELCOMED the laid back sound of the Bel Canto with my Merlin VSM-SE’s but still realized something was missing. I was using the stock cord and recently purchased a JPS digital power cord. Bingo. The sound REALLY opened up. It was a quantum improvement, more than I could have ever expected. Who says power cords don’t work, maybe in some systems in mine it was a WOW! Of course one would expect a lower noise floor, improved dynamics and the sort of things attributable to power cords. What really through me for a loop was the dramatic improvement in spectral balance, soundstaging and bass performance. In addition the subtle tonal qualities of the Bel Canto came to light in a way that was completely unnoticed before. Ambient retrieval of low level information was revealed through the blackness. The aspects of what makes live music live were truly revealed in this system for the first time. This with a power cord, no exaggeration! I have made numerous changes and improvements in my system over the past 5-6 months. This power cord with the Bel Canto has taken the system to another level or two. My previous processor the P.S. Audio Ultralink is no slouch in the resolution department, problem with it is that digital edge that brings attention to itself over long term listening plus it is TOO forward, but a lot better than the PT unit tonally, that is for sure. The Bel Canto is in a completely different league. With reference to piano, on some of my REALLY dynamic piano recordings (I am quite sensitive to recorded piano also) I noticed a marked improvement in the jump factor and a sense of realness, especially with the cord. As Danvetc states in his post, try different cables. The Bel Canto is smoooothe and may be perceived as laid back but don’t give up yet, it is a very resolving, dynamic, smooth sounding unit that makes me wonder how much more one would have to pay to make a notable improvement.

Subaruguru Sorry for asking in last post, I see your system above.

Thanks, Tubegroover, et al. Your comment's facscinating in that I spoke with Michael at Bel Canto before my demo and he said they were evaluating power cords for the DAC1, and found an $8 french cord they liked a lot (didn't say if it'd become OE, however). I must admit my eyes began to glaze over, as I didn't believe it could make a difference. My system (noted in the lead post?) consists of Verity Audio Parsifal Encores (amazing!), powered by Aleph 2s I suspended from the floor joists in the basement under the speakers (heat/WAF) fed by an Aleph P, all strung by Nordost Red Dawn balanced IC and Red Dawn II (2.5m). I'm using cheap power strips (w/o surge crap), yet have a totally quiet noisefloor, so assumed power-cord evolution would be fruitless. I'm taken by your observation of a spectral balance shift attributed to the DAC1's power cord change! Hmmm.... Was the evolution away from being uptilted toward neutrality? That's clearly what I need. As nice as those pianos sound on the 'Canto, it's clear that they (and most instruments) shrink in scale!...Steinway D becoming like M or even S! FYI I measured pinks in the AB's, and noticed the BelCanto to be 0.4dB LOUDER than the Rotel 855, so I'm sure the laid-back soundstage is a valid observation of the 'Canto's effect, and not based on a softer level. Also, a few cursory 1/3 octave sweeps verified no other level differences at ANY frequency band, once corrected for the 0.4 dB diff. In-room frequency anomolies of my system, ref pink=0: flat 40-63, +4dB at 80, +1 @ 100, falling to -3dB at 300; climbing to +3dB at 600; falling to -3dB at 3k, then climbing to +3 at 6k, then falling through 0 at 12k. So it seems I have a lean lower-mid and lean lower-treble. The room-related 85Hz bump was worse before I got the Aleph/Nordost stuff. The bass is actually quite wonderful... its the midrange/treble leanness that's bothersome...and seems WORSE with the Bel Canto, again, maybe because its cleaner treble drew more attention to itsself?? Hope I'm making sense. Ya think a power cord can flatten this perceived-or-real upramp? Thanks again. Ernie PS I got a Steinway B in the room, so I KNOW what THAT sounds like! Ric Shultz wrote me that his new Millenium will be way better than the 'Canto (his words...I wish he had time to be more explicit!). What do you guys think? Anybody getting the Millenium II soon?