[Bill Baker]

When the Bella EXtreme 3205 MK II Reference was introduced a couple weeks back, it was an AC member that grabbed the first unit. This is obviously the power amp version and is being supplied with 6550 outout tubes. Face plate is 1/2" Cherry. Now here it is burning in before being packed up and shipped to it's new owner.

[arthurs]

Good lookin work Bill!

[2bigears]

  that's some real fine lookin' gear,WOW  WOW....

[TomS]

Looks really nice with the Cherry front on it.

Which 6550's are those?  I just ordered up some of the Shuguang KT88's to try in place of the EH's that came with it. 

Tom

[Bill Baker]

Thanks for the comments guys.

 Tom, they ship with Sovtek 6550WE output tubes as everyone seems to have a tube preference  . I have always found the Sovtek 6550 to be durable, reliable tube and I like to have the amps go out with a tube I can trust. Besides, with the 400+ hour break-in required on the Reference and Platinum, who wants to burn up expensive tubes during this period.

 I do like the Shuguang tubes and think you wil be very happy with them in your Platinum 3205. Let me (us) know your thoughts.

[TomS]

Will do.  They should be here for the weekend, but I shipped all my Bolder stuff back to Wayne for the latest spa treatment    Maybe a few weeks after that.

[DavidS]

Wow does look fabulous Bill.  Cool to see my new amp burning in - only thing better will be sitting in my rack in front of me here.  It is going to be matched with a maxed out Audio Note Dac 2.1 that Bill built for me in September, a factory built Audio Note M2 preamp, and Ellis 1801s.  Currently running the 1801s with a 16 watt kt88 amp that mostly sounds great (very easy and sweet on the ears) but just doesn't have enough power to keep my Ellis' heading consistently in the right direction so looking forward to what the Bella will bring to my system ... and the looks of the cherry bella are real sweet!

Bill what are the feet under Bella - is this the stock footers or isolation you use?

[Bill Baker]

Hello David,
 Glad you like the appearance of the amp and obviously hope you enjoy the music it (re) produces. By the way, how is the DAC sounding?

The cones you see under the amp in the picture are solid aluminum pieces that are actually on the rack itself as I wanted to see how they sounded compared to the Audio Points before it sold. Audio Points are standard on the rack (It is a Sistrum Rack by Star Sound).

 The Aluminum cones are an option on amplifiers and they come standard with stock footers.

 Here is a picture of one of the amps with the Aluminum cones installed:

[zybar]

If those are the cones that are under my Bella Extreme 100's, they are beefy and solidly built.

George

[Bill Baker]

Yes, these are the same cones that are under many of the Bella 100 amplifiers.

[satfrat]

So Bill, have you gathered a comparison yet between those aluminum cones and the most reliable Audiopoints? As an Audiopoints and Sistrum Platforms man, I'd be curious. 


Cheers,
Robin

[Bill Baker]

Hello Robin,
 I would have to confess and say the Brass Audio Points are the better choice. For coupling, brass is simply better than aluminum IMHO. The Aluminum cones do a very nice job and we have chosen them as a more affordable alternative. Unfortunately, they do not match some of our products such as the Audio Note Custom which has gold lettering

 The aluminum pieces are also designed so that no coupling disc are needed.

[satfrat]

Thank you Bill. 

[larbo53]

Bill, have you considered the wood front for the Bella Extreme 100?    aa

[Bill Baker]

Yes I have Lloyd, in fact I have some Black Walnut faces at the shop now with matching Black Walnut 'toppers' to go atop the tranny overs. Would you prefer this on your amps? They could be ready to ship next week

 The wood face plates do not have any engraving on them as I have not yet taken the time to get with the engraver on these.