Day 2 Belles Reference 350A Amplifier

earlmarc · « **on:** 27 Oct 2005, 12:14 am »

I would like to share my initial thoughts about the Ref. 350A. This amplifier is so good, I hope I can do it justice with my review.

One of the first things that struck me about this amplifier is how completley silent its background is. Folks, I mean dead silent!

Second, is how extremely neutral the amp is. The amplifier is as neutral as the amp. is silent.

Third, is the amp.'s spatial presentation. Every performer has his/her own individual space, completely distinct from the other.

Fourth, is the amp.'s ability to extract every nuance from the performers' distinct spaces.

Fifth, is the amount of detail that comes from a silent black background. I have never heard a more detailed amplifier. Every detail is presented as true to life as I have ever experienced.

Sixth, is the amp.'s dynamic impact. You not only feel this amplifier, you are drawn into it.

There is so much more to say and in time I will try to put all the pieces together. Hopefully, doing justice to the most remarkable amplifier I've come across.

Stay tuned.

earlmarc · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Oct 2005, 01:38 am »

Throughout the years of an audio hobby, you obsess with putting together a system that brings you closer to the live performance. Its a frustrating hobby at times. In and out the pieces go, making steps closer and closer to the real. Completeness seems an illusion. Yet, somehow you know it when you hear it. And for those of us who heard it, the cost of admission is the most frustrating thing of all. Thank the Audio Gods for Dave Belles!
Dave's lastest masterpiece, the Reference 350A Amplifier is the answer for many of us who crave admission to the real, but afford the bill. $4000 is not a cheap admission, however, compared to the nearnest competition, the Parasound JC-1 monoblocks and the McCormack DNA-500, the Belles Ref. 350A is $3000 less. I have not heard neither of the other two amplfiers, but I know according to Steve Nugent at Empirical Audio that my EA-ZR1600 bettered the stock JC-1's. I trust Steve's professional opinion. And that being said, my EA-ZR-1600 doesn't approach the performance of the Belles Ref. 350A. Quitely frankly I would be very surprised if the McCormack DNA-500 bettered the Belles Ref. 350A. Anyhow, the point is that the price of admission to a complete amplifier that recreates a live performance is as affordable as it ever has been in my experience.

Review will follow after further experience.

DavidS · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 Oct 2005, 01:53 am »

Earl - enjoying reading and am watching for your future posts. This amp is probably double what I can afford but maybe a Hotrodded 150 is in the same ballpark soundwise as your new amp. Thanks

David

zybar · « **Reply #3 on:** 28 Oct 2005, 02:05 am »

Quote from: earlmarc

Throughout the years of an audio hobby, you obsess with putting together a system that brings you closer to the live performance. Its a frustrating hobby at times. In and out the pieces go, making steps closer and closer to the real. Completeness seems an illusion. Yet, somehow you know it when you hear it. And for those of us who heard it, the cost of admission is the most frustrating thing of all. Thank the Audio Gods for Dave Belles!
Dave's lastest masterpiece, the Reference 350A Amplifier is the answer ...

Glad to hear you are enjoying the amp.

I was recently able to hear the 350A as mono amps (I don't believe they were the most current version) and thought they sounded good.

Is the 350A better than the DNA-500? That really can't be decided by anybody unless they are both heard in the same system.

Since you haven't heard the DNA-500 at all, let alone in the same system, why say this?

Quote

Quitely frankly I would be very surprised if the McCormack DNA-500 bettered the Belles Ref. 350A.

I look foward to reading more of your thoughts as you spend more time with the amp.

George

earlmarc · « **Reply #4 on:** 28 Oct 2005, 02:36 am »

Zybar, I probably could have left that comment about the DNA-500 out. To say that I would be surprised doesn't imply that the Belles Ref. 350A is better that the McCormack DNA-500. The truth is, if the the McCormack is better, I would be surprised. That's not bad. If fact, I would welcome the McCormack if that proved to be true.

zybar · « **Reply #5 on:** 28 Oct 2005, 03:00 am »

Quote from: earlmarc

Zybar, I probably could have left that comment about the DNA-500 out. To say that I would be surprised doesn't imply that the Belles Ref. 350A is better that the McCormack DNA-500. The truth is, if the the McCormack is better, I would be surprised. That's not bad. If fact, I would welcome the McCormack if that proved to be true.

Between us and whoever is reading this...I would love to have the 350A sound better. I would sell the DNA-500, buy a used 350A and put some money in the bank!!

I think it is very safe to say that both are excellent amps with the 350A possibly being an even better value.

George

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #6 on:** 28 Oct 2005, 03:23 am »

George,

Chris[/list:u]

audiojerry · « **Reply #7 on:** 28 Oct 2005, 06:51 am »

I have heard some of Earlmarc's components in my home, and we have listened at length to a lot of music together. I respect his views, and if Marcus has a strong preference for the 350A over his modded Carver, then it must be an excellent amp. I've always read that the Belles amps have a tubelike smoothness to them. Too bad you've moved away, Marcus, I would have liked to give the 350A a listen. Are you still enamored with your 10A?

earlmarc · « **Reply #8 on:** 28 Oct 2005, 06:04 pm »

Hi Jerry, I am still enarmored with the 10A which works wonderfully with the Ref. 350A. Jerry I might be in Milwaukee this weekend. My kids want to visit some friends. If you are interested getting together this Saturday, let me know. I think you would like the Belles Ref. 350A.

audiojerry · « **Reply #9 on:** 29 Oct 2005, 04:31 am »

Sorry Earlmarc, I was occupied all day today (Friday). If you get this in time for Saturday, I'd like to get together, but I'm having a new furnace installed and work would not be completed until late in the day. When would you be able to make it?

Thanks much for the offer!

earlmarc · « **Reply #10 on:** 29 Oct 2005, 05:28 pm »

The 3D soundstage is wide and deep and has a refreshing air that is natural. Background noise and editorializing is non-existent. Neutrality is the flavor, but not the type of neutrality one associates with sterility and flatness. Quite the contrary, the presentation is natural, tube-like. Like tubes it has excellent depth and air and like solid-state it has superb impact and bass control. Almost a hybrid of sorts in its abilty to merge what we like about tube and solid-state amplification. A great achievement indeed, but this amplifier adds spice to its hybrid-like achievement by its transparency and natural detail retrieval. Easily the best I have ever heard. My EA ZR-1600 is no slouch in detail and transparency, however, the Ref. 350A surpasses in its natural detailed expression. There are several reasons why this is so:

First, the EA ZR-1600 doesn't extend to the limits of notes like the Ref. 350A. The EA ZR-1600 has a clean natural air about it, but lacks that last bit of extension that makes everything more real. The listener can follow palpable notes as they extend and fade away.

Second, EA ZR-1600 doesn't offer a silent black background which isn't smeared by additions or deletions. The EA ZR-1600 isn't as neutral as the Ref. 350A from top to bottom. Much more information is provided by the Ref. 350A without distortion.

Third, the EA ZR-1600 lacks the width and depth of soundstage of the Ref. 350A. It also lacks the spatiality and strategic placement of performers in distinct spaces. The Ref. 350A illuminates a larger more three dismensional soundstage that is well-defined.

Finally, the EA ZR-1600 doesn't possess the effortless speed, delicacy, dynamics, and tight-fisted bass control like the Ref. 350A. The only area that the EA competes with the Ref. 350A is in declicate expression, however, that expression isn't as natural sounding as the Ref. 350A.

Everything about the Belles Reference 350A is larger and more true to life than the EA Carver ZR-1600. I hope one doesn't come away from this review thinking that the EA ZR-1600 isn't a great amplifier, because it truly is. It is just that compared to the Ref. 350A, its a class below.

How do you describe an amplfier that has a neutrally uncharacteristic sound that seems as true to the source as imaginable? Words like "natural", "real", "faithful", and "life-like" come to mind. These types of words get thrown around so much in reviews it hard to know what to believe. I have never been more confindent about using them in this review. Bottom line, hearing is believing. It is my humble opinion that the Belles Reference 350A is the finest example of an amplifier that moves us from the seats of our music rooms to front row seats at the actual performance. Bravo Dave Belles! You have lifted me higher!

earlmarc · « **Reply #11 on:** 31 Oct 2005, 05:41 pm »

Further listening impressions:

The Ref. 350A is an open window. The air is pristine and scintillating. Images take-on form and voices breath. Piano and quitar notes ascend overhead and decay like a refreshing vapor. Cymbals chime and ring.......then float waway into distance. Bass quitar notes pluck and jab with round fist, forcefully. Drum notes attack with lighting speed and thunderous impact. The Ref. 350A has seamless speed. It brings together a startling dynamic performance.

Steve · « **Reply #12 on:** 31 Oct 2005, 06:16 pm »

Nice explanation of what you mean by neutral Marcus. Makes it easy to understand your point.

Quote from: earlmarc

The 3D soundstage is wide and deep and has a refreshing air that is natural. Background noise and editorializing is non-existent. Neutrality is the flavor, but not the type of neutrality one associates with sterility and flatness. Quite the contrary, the presentation is natural, tube-like. Like tubes it has excellent depth and air and like solid-state it has superb impact and bass control. Almost a hybrid of sorts in its abilty to merge what we like about tube and solid-state amplification. A great achievem ...

earlmarc · « **Reply #13 on:** 4 Nov 2005, 10:04 pm »

I have often wondered about the importance of utililizing reference equipment in order to properly evaluate other equipment. Spending time with the Belles Reference 350A has taught me just how significant a reference amplifier is to proper evaluating. Having a neutral source of amplification highlights the good and bad of the other components in a system. I have always thought that my preamplifier, CD player, and speakers were really good (SAS Audio Labs 10A, APL HiFi SACD 1000, and Maggie MG1.6QR), but never truly realized just how good they were until the Belles Ref. 350A entered the mix. What I have learned is that reference amplification is needed to determine the limits of any other component in a system and is therefore the most important part of any system. I feel secure in that with the Ref. 350A I can honestly describe the other components in my system much easier. For example, I can tell you with utmost certainty that the SAS 10A preamplifer is just as neutral and clean as the Ref. 350A and that the APL HiFi SACD 1000 is sweet and extremely detailed and that the MG1.6QR image superbly and have a midrange clarity like few other speakers. Many may already know these things about these components. But to truly know, one needs an amplifier like the Ref. 350A. Dave Belles has been designing amplifiers for 25 plus years, and I am not aware of any amplifier besides the Ref. 150A, (which received a Double Reviewers' Choice Award from www.soundstage.com) and the Ref. 350 that he has designated as "Reference". You would think based on how terrific Dave's Reference Series amplifiers are, he would adorn the amplifiers with Gold face plates with the word "REFERENCE" boldly standing out for all to see. The Reference 350A is "REFERENCE" in its truest form.

WEEZ · « **Reply #14 on:** 4 Nov 2005, 11:25 pm »

While it is not as neutral, even the 150A entry level amp is no slouch.

I can only imagine how nice the 350A Ref. sounds. Congratulations on aquiring the Belles amp....

WEEZ

fly_fish_nz · « **Reply #15 on:** 5 Nov 2005, 03:49 pm »

earlmac,

i just received a belles 150a reference here in madison and wholeheartedly agree with your enthusiasm for david belle's work. i'm driving devore gibbon 8's and very happy with what i am hearing so far. have fun!

chris

earlmarc · « **Reply #16 on:** 5 Nov 2005, 06:26 pm »

Fly-fish-nz, I happy to hear someone else is enjoying the Belles Ref. amplifiers. Enjoy! Give the amplifier a good 250hrs of break-in.

audiojerry · « **Reply #17 on:** 6 Nov 2005, 07:45 am »

Earlmarc was gracious enough to bring his 350A to my home and allowed me to listen for a couple of hours. It had no weaknesses that I could hear.
It was the finest solid state amp I've ever heard and may be the finest amp I've ever heard - period. I must give this amp a serious audition.

Thank you, Marcus.

zybar · « **Reply #18 on:** 6 Nov 2005, 01:06 pm »

Quote from: audiojerry

Earlmarc was gracious enough to bring his 350A to my home and allowed me to listen for a couple of hours. It had no weaknesses that I could hear.
It was the finest solid state amp I've ever heard and may be the finest amp I've ever heard - period. I must give this amp a serious audition.

Thank you, Marcus.

Thanks for the comments.

George

audiojerry · « **Reply #19 on:** 6 Nov 2005, 08:55 pm »

I was really surprised by the fact that I was listening to an SS amp and enjoying it so much. I had subconsciously built up a bias against SS from so many past disappointments that I fully expected to not like the 350A. But right from the get-go I was smiling and tapping my toes. In fact, I was so impressed, I began to second guess myself. Before I heap too many accolades that I may later regret being held accountable to, I want to try to arrange for a full audition.

I will state my first impressions of the 350A: powerful, excercising great control over my ProAc's, exquisitly detailed with instruments and musicians illuminated in their own individually defined spaces, lifelike, and extremely musical and involving.

Stay tuned.