[Bill Baker]

Greetings and happy holidays.

There have been several inquiries on the progress of the Musica Bella stand along phono stage....Bella Phono. I currently have two prototypes up and running in the shop with the latest utilizing a new power supply that I have been working on with a custom mains transformer that has been designed for the application.

 The Bella phono stage uses a single 12AX7 for the input stage and a 12AU7 for the output as well as utilizing a host of Mundorf Silver/Oil capacitors for coupling.
 The power supply is built using numerous high voltage poly capacitors.

 There will be two versions at two different price points. There will be a more affordable version that does not use the custom transformers or Mundorf capacitors in the power supply or coupling positions. Power supply caps will be high quality electrolytics and coupling capacitors will be SoniCap Gen II. The circuits will use Elna Cerafine or better for cathode bypass.

 I am still undecided on the chassis for the affordable version but may offer a few special offer introductory pieces in a 2" aluminum chassis.
 
 

[Mariusz]

Any word on the prices????
I will be looking for 2nd phono in the near future.

Thank You
Mariusz

[Bill Baker]

Hello Mariusz,
 I am still working on the figures for the Bella Extreme but the pricing on the standard (affordable) version will be as follows.

 Regular selling price $1750.00
 Limited introductory price in aluminum chassis --- $999 through January 2009 for AC members only.

 I believe I have 3-4 aluminum chassis left and they will be supplied with hardwood face plates. (I may have 1 or 2 aluminum face plates). Regular production EXtreme units will be housed in custom hardwood chassis with teh Standard in custom veneered Baltic Birch chassis.

 

[Mariusz]

That is really very tempting......
I will stay tune for the specs.
I have two......... actually three (one is in the works) analog setups but the phono that I am looking for will be used with Moarch UP-4 tonearm/CartridgeMan Musicmaker III with "isolator" tweak and my DIY "Red Devil" belt TT.
The second rig will include modified Lenco 75, SME 3009 II Improved and most likely Shure V15 or Goldring 1042 cart.

Any special on the reference phonostage?
And can you describe the sound characteristics as well as the differences between the two?

Thank You in advance and Marry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Regards
Mariusz

[Bill Baker]

I will stay tune for the specs.

 I have to do some more measuring and will post the specs when ready.

I have two......... actually three (one is in the works) analog setups but the phono that I am looking for will be used with Moarch UP-4 tonearm/CartridgeMan Musicmaker III with "isolator" tweak and my DIY "Red Devil" belt TT.
The second rig will include modified Lenco 75, SME 3009 II Improved and most likely Shure V15 or Goldring 1042 cart.

 The 1042 MusicMake III have higher output at something around 4.0 and 6.5mV so this would be no problem. The Bella phonos will also have MC capability using Audio Note step up transfomers but obviously not needed in these applications. I am running a standard Audio Note cartridge now with average output with plent of gain going through my Musica Bella Perfetto linestage so I end up with a total of about 50dB of gain.

Any special on the reference phonostage?

 I have every intention of offering a limited number of Bella Reference Phonos to AC members. However, it will only be about 2-3 pieces in custom hardwood enclosures as we are having custom enclosures designed for Purity preamp, 3205 MK III amplifier and Bella Reference Phono. I have the "numbers" on my desk at the shop and will figure out pricing tomorrow and report back.

And can you describe the sound characteristics as well as the differences between the two?

 The differences are primarily in the power supply and coupling caps of the phono circuit. The circuits are the same but the Reference uses all Mundorf Poly power supply capacitors and Silver/Oil capacitors in the phono circuit. With teh Reference, you will experience a bit more warmth and 'tone' as well as a much lower noise floor (although the standard Bella phono is dead quiet). The Reference also moves up to a custom designed mains transformer.

Thank You in advance and Marry Christmas and a happy New Year.

 And a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours

[Bill Baker]

Hello Mariusz,

 I have numbers and details on the upper end models. There is the Reference as well as EXTreme with the differences being in the power supplies. The Reference, as mentioned aboved, uses a custom solid state power supply while the EXtreme uses a full tube rectified, tube regulated and choke filtered supply.

 The computer that houses my website is down (dead) so I cannot update the information on my website. I do have information on these two units available on a newsletter done on a word document. If you want to send me an email at Response34@aol.com I will send you the two documents.

 I will be offering the Reference and EXtreme at introductory prices for a limited time. Once or new custom enclosures are designed, these two units will only be available through a select dealer network.

 Current introductory pricing:
 Reference $2,749
 EXtreme $5,295
 Standard $1,750

 Special AC member pricing -- only 5 pieces total will be available (through January 2009 only)

 Reference $1,650
 EXtreme   $3,179
 Standard  $999
 Regarding the standard versions; I currently have 4 aluminum chassis available. They are 16" w x 12" d x 2.5" h. Two are black and two silver. Only wood face plates (your choice) will be available.

[Bill Baker]

Here are a few pictures of the prototype that has been running smoothly in the showroom for some time now.







And here are a few pictures of some Standard Bella Phono enclosures. You would have your choice of having the tubes exposed through the top (as above) or enclosed and out of view.

Black aluminum chassis. Face plate is 1/4" Cherry with 1/8" Curly Maple.



Aluminum chassis. "lid" is Cherry veneered 1/4" Baltic Birch. Face plate is 1/4" Cherry with 1/8" Curly Maple.



Here is a picture of a Standard Bella Phono paired up with one of the original prototype Musica Bella Purity linestages (still going strong in the showroom).



And here is the upper prototype making beautiful music.

[Mariusz]

Is this the prototype of the standard Bella?????
Tubes expose are:
for one cool looking
and two easy access for some tube rolling
I really like that

Current introductory pricing:
 Reference $2,749
 EXtreme $5,295
 Standard $1,750

 Special AC member pricing -- only 5 pieces total will be available (through January 2009 only)

 Reference $1,650
 EXtreme   $3,179
 Standard  $999

These are great savings and exclusive AC discount must be appreciated.
Thanks on the behave of the AC community.




Baltic Birch would go nicely with the rest of my room.

Can the standard version be upgrated to lets say..... Reference unit in the future ???????

Thanks again for great looking products
Congrats

Mariusz

[Bill Baker]

Hello Mariusz

Yes, the first unit with exposed tubes is the prototype of the Bella Phono standard. Unfortunately, I do not have any more of these enclosures except for one other that has been used to prototype other products and has been drilled in various places on the back and bottom panel.

The photo below is of an empty chassis. As mentioned, you can have the tubes enclosed within or exposed through the top as in the prototype.



Baltic Birch would go nicely with the rest of my room.

This piece has the aluminum aluminum cover plate. The front of this is not Baltic Birch, rather Curly Maple over Cherry. A Baltic Birch front panel can easily be done though. Here is a custom table running with the Bella Phono prototype that I built a Baltic Birch chassis for.



Can the standard version be upgrated to lets say..... Reference unit in the future ???????

 No, not completely as the transformer used in the Reference will not fit into this chassis.


 Thanks again for great looking products
Congrats

 Thank you.

[Mariusz]

Thanks for the info Bill.
Will stay in touch.

Regards
Mariusz

[Bill Baker]

No problem Mariusz,

 I still have to get some photos of a fnished Standard Bella chassis. I have a very nice all Cherry piece, Cherry veneered Baltic Birch cover with solid Cherry front done in a high gloss urethane. Protruding tubes.

 I was cleaning out my basement at home yesterday and came across several sheets of veneer I had forgotten were down there. They have been down there since the mid 90's. Ash, Oak, more Cherry and a few sheets of Rosewood.  As time allows, I think I will build a new high gloss Rosewood chassis for my Bella Phono Extreme.

[Bill Baker]

Here are some of the pictures I promised.

We have also updated the website for the Musica Bella phono amplifiers;

Purity Phono MM/MC    http://www.bellaextreme.com/bella%20phono.htm

Bella Phono MM/MC optional (Bella Standard)     http://www.bellaextreme.com/bella%20phono%20standard.htm