2. amps-preamps
  3. 1052257755

Mosfet vs. Bipolar revisited and the Belles 350A

I have always favored bipolar outputs with mosfet drivers until I ran into the Belles 350A. I stated this preference in a thread sometime ago. After listening to the 350A, I have to do an about face (at least with this amp.) The 350A uses 3 gain stages and operates almost entirely in class "B" with a very little of class "A."
I have heard a lot of amps but never one so neutral, transparent, reveiling and most any other attribute. It also has unbelievable bass control, pitch definition and lower transparency. No Mosfet haze here.
I have been using a Theta Dreadnaught 4-ch amp biwired. I must say, this amp IS better with my Vandersteen 3A Signatures. You can actually not use the subs(pair of 2wq's) and not really miss anything. I have not found this level of performance in this price range before($3495) I finally get to really hear these speakers do their thing.
I have adopted opinions over the 35+ years I have been playing with this stuff but I have never run across an amp that totally changed my way of thinking like this one. This is the overall best amp I have found (so far) driving the Vandersteen's.
bigtee

Showing 1 response by rhyno

rhyno's avatar
rhyno
649 posts
 
personally i've never liked bipolars, as they sound a little synthetic / etched (typical SS sound) and lack liquidity, though they do exhibit amazing control.

mosfets ala the belles 350 completely bridge the gap in control w/ bipolars, though mosfets in less than class A (which the belles is) tend to have a warmth that smoothes over things, while lacking the liquidity known for a good tube amp.

perfect world: high power /current class A (to 100+wpc) mosfets. haven't seen it, but i am looking---the lamm hybrid looks nice--100wpc class A mosfet if i recall correctly, and lamm seems to make a decent product.
More to discover