[pacifico]

Hi everyone,

Received my Music Bellas yesterday. After just an hour or two with them, I really like them. I know things will get better with break in so I am holding off on any type of review. I have a simple and very general break in question: Will the speakers get louder after hours of break in? The Bellas are reported as 90db sensitive yet I am driving them with the dial on my amplifier at the same position used for the 87 db speakers I used to use. Am I making some type of mistake between current draw and power by assuming that dial postion on the amp is proportional to power? Just curious. Thanks everyone.

[bgewaudio]

It is actually, if you are using the same amplification and the same pre/pro etc.  Statistically your new speakers should have an increase in SPL of about 3 db (which is a doubling in power) in comparison to your old ones, unless your new speakers have a higher impedence than your old ones.
 
As far as break-in period is concerned, depending on storage conditions and the amount of time the speaker was actually sitting around doing nothing, break-in period should be complete within the first 24 hours of listening.  This is usually long enough to break in the crossover network and loosen up driver suspension.  Longer break in times have been reported in the past, but I think this has more to do with just getting used to a new sound as opposed to the speaker being broken in.

[woodsyi]

Mine did not get any louder.  They got better.  If Bill used V-caps and external x-over, you need 500 hrs.  I put them face to face anti-phase and ran tuner static on a cheapo Audiosource amp for 2 weeks before listening to them.  Look forward to hearing your impression.  I use a 6550 based 48 watter and they sound good together.

[pacifico]

Was really impressed with what I heard last night. They already have many of the things I was looking for and I do anticipate tham getting better. I don't have the out board crossovers and I am powering them with a solid state NAD. Tube amp next year. Thinking rogue.

[Bill Baker]

Hi Pacifico. Sorry I missed this thread somehow. You speakers do utilize V-Cap capacitors throughout which will take quite a while to open up and perform at their fullest potential. My demo pair has about 1000 hours on them now and these are used daily for evaluating and testing our new amplifier designs.
 Upon break in, they will not get any louder but will allow more information to come through as well as more definition in the lower regions.
 Keep in mind that they are a sealed design and do like a little more power/current to make them sing and bring out their dynamic potential. While I do have customers running these with 20 watt tube amps, I find 50-100 watts, tubes of course, is preferred. The only solid state amp I have used for any length of time with the Bella speakers is the Luminance KST 150 and was a very nice combination.
 One of the best, affordable tube amps that many customers are enjoying with these speakers is our Signature or Platinum 3205 at 50-60 watts depending on tube choice. On the upper end of the scale, the Bella EXtreme 100 amps do wonders with them.

 As I mentioned previously and during our phone conversations, they will require a lengthy burn-in period. 200 hours is the minimum to start realizing their potential. Please do keep me informed as you continue to build millage on them.