New Bel Canto Gear at RMAF

Hifipete,

I hear you, I'm located just North of Toronto area and also have interest in the mono blocks only and would like a audition in home before committing but a broken-in pair. Just so you are aware 6sonsaudio in Winnipeg, MB is now a dealer so you could contact them.

There is lots of "BUZZ" about the new MK2 Bel Canto's so if I was you should check them out and compare.

I personally use to own the Andra 2's which are marvelous speakers and while owning them bought a few class "D" amps to see what all the hype was about. You can check out my previous threads for more detailed info. but in the end I found the over all sound were not for me, were not emotionally evolving in comparison to traditional amps. After aprox. 8 months of listening to "D" amps I found my self not listening as much, jumping from song to song and not listening to the entire piece, not a good sign.

I then installed McIntosh 501 mono's while still owning the Andra's and WOW!, I was impressed. Had those for some time and really really enjoyed them but then had a chance to get some Pass X600.5 monos. Still had the Mac's in my system for about 6 months and installed the Pass amps, well another WOW! just couldn't believe what I was hearing, not to knock the Mac's though. My pre-amp with all of these pces was the Audio Research Ref3 hooked-up in balance mode.

Re-installed Jeff Rowland 501 monos, Bel Canto 1000's and lastly Nuforce 9's to compare, well they just couldn't compare and preferred by a large margin the Mac and Pass so I sold all of them.

The Pass through off allot of heat, the Mac's no heat.

I ended up with the Pass, my suggestion to you if heat is not an issue is to get some of the Pass XA.5 CLASS A amps to demo as I believe they would be an ideal match with the Andra's but that being said the Spectron in mono block configuration only could be very interesting. I have to say I'm still skeptical though due to my experience to date with class d amps.

Keep us up dated and enjoy those Andra's. Just a heads up put some Systrum SP1 platforms underneath them, you will be amazed with the improvement and well worth the money, bass, stage and just over all sound improves.

Dev, I agree with you that Rowland 501 monos, and even NuForce, and by all accounts the original Bel Canto 1000 Mk.1 may not yield the ultimate musical involvement. On the other hand, since then designs have been evolving rather rapidly, and some of the most recent class D designs, including the Bel Canto Mk.2 devices discussed here, have IMO reached a level of subtlety and involving musicality worth a new listen. Granted, top performing class D amps are not necessarily all inexpensive any longer, as the Rowland 312 stereo, and well appointed Spectron monos are in the same ballpark as the Pass X600.5. Conversely, The Mk.2 versions of the Bel Canto Ref500 and Ref 1000 are still more modestly priced. Yet, all of these devices have now reached performance levels that have little to do with switching amps of old. . . meaning of just 2 or 3 years ago (grins!) G.

Hello HiFiPete:

"Yes although I found the BC's interesting, something's missing, They didn't best my KRELL FPB 300c in sound, but most surprisingly not even in power. "

The real power of the amplifier is NOT in its rated rms as you will be normally using 5-10% of it.

The real power of the amplifier is in its headroom which is mostly defined by its power supply and Krell is good there (just look at its weight - mostly its transformer and heatsinks).

If you want "explosive" power then the fastest and having greatest power in the world is the pair of Spectron monoblocks ( 7000 watts over 0.5 seconds) More powerful then any Krell and more importantly much more MUSICAL (and I am professional cellist). Agaid - MUSICAL - involving, seductive etc. Matched with right preamplifier and you are in heaven. I am biased ...may be - I own the pair and it is better then any amp I have auditioned including MBL 9002, Plinius Regerence mono etc - except one amp - $60k Rite of Passage by Joule-Electra - if you are in high maintenance of OTL amplifiers.

All The Best
Rafael
P.S. All other American class D amps (with exception of Jeff Rowland 312) are using inferior switching "weak" power supplies which do not allows great headroom for the feeling of power and effortlessness. Bel Canto including... I am afraid

Hi Rafael, please tell us more about your misgivings of Bel CantoRef Mk. 2 series. G.