New Bel Canto Gear at RMAF

Hi to all,

I've recently purchased a pair of Andras by Eggleston Works. These babies can really rock but are innefficient at 87Db and combined with 2 12'' woofers + 2 6'' midranges are demanding for an amplifier. I have a Krell FPB 300c with it's running mate the KCT preamp. While the Krell is no slouch I was curious in trying something with more ''oomph''. So I got my hands on a pair of Bel Canto Ref 1000 which put out 500W/ch in 8 ohms and doubles into 4 ohms. Very surprising (pleasantly) for such a small package. These guys pack as much punch as the Krell and maybe a bit more. It's not a big difference but I'm still awed at the sound coming out of this pair. I will definitely go in that direction in the future. But I would like more power. I got info from the distributor that Bel Canto will put out a Ref 2000 in 2009, which will be 1000w/ch in 8 ohms. Now that's interesting in my case. This technology is great. Compared to the Krell it's smaller, lighter, no heat (the Krell puts out mucho calor when you crank it) and not too demanding from your wall outlet. Very interesting indeed.

All the responses after my post are interesting indeed. And yes iSanchez, I'm seriously looking at the Spectron in mono mode. But living in Canada (Montreal) there's no representation here and I really would like to audition in home before making a move. I think Spectron has a ''lead'' on everyone else since they've been at it the longest (class D) and make a lot of their own components. Cheers!

You're probably right Guidocorona, especially if you got it from the horse's mouth about no REF 2000's. I got this from the distributor in Ottawa (Canada), could be wishfull thinking at work here. Thanks.

Yes although I found the BC's interesting, something's missing, They didn't best my KRELL FPB 300c in sound, but most surprisingly not even in power. I was sure the 200w/ch advantage wcould've been heard, but not really. So the KRELL at 300w/ch is very conservatively rated. I'm looking for more power to drive my Egglestons, but without sacrificing the sound. It's a tall order to beat the KRELL I'm realizing. Maybe I should go for his big brother the FPB 700cx. Now THAT would rock. The problem with manufacturers not being represented here limits one's choices, and although a listening can be arranged in one's home, it's prohibitive by tha fact that you have to BUY it. And even if you can return it within a month, if you're not satisfied, you still pay shipping BOTH WAYS! That kills it for me. I'm not buying something ''blind'' without hearing it in my set-upp first, especially at those prices. I could buy a FPB700cx blind, like the one on Audiogon going for 6300$, because I own KRELL gear and know what to expect; I won't be dissapointed. But I'm curious about Spectron. D_ _n, why doesn't anyone up here pick up this line of amplifiers? Are they all asleep that they're deaf to all the buzz about these?

First of all, many thanks for all of your insights. Especially to Dob who favorably compares the Spectron in monoblock configuration as besting some of the best linear amps out there. And being a musician to boot! Now having some friends who are musicians themselves, I can state that they have the ''ear''. And those opinions to me really count. So what I've been suspecting all along that Spectron is presently KING of class D is looking more and more true the more I read up on it. I've tried out the Bel Cantos in their latest iteration 2 months ago, and for ''slam'' they equaled my Krell FPB 300c driving my Eggleston Andras. But musically, something was lacking. So Dob, I can tell you to go ahead and audition them, but they won't best the Spectron from what I can read here. And yes Dev, I intend to put something under the Andras other than the rubber feet I'm now using.

Hi DOB,
Yes I agree thtt I can't have a personal (emphasis on personal) opinion until I've had a listen for myself. But they don't sell them around my neck of the woods (Montreal) and the only way to hear one is to buy one. But a topic of discussion and dispute amongst audiophiles are just like the one between us. Shaddap until ya hear for yaself. But if I've never read anything bad about this amp either from owners and the hi end press there must be something about this. Everybody can't be B.S.ing all the time. So yes my curiosity is piqued and I doubt that I will be dissapointed when I do have a listen. Now, another thing I'm picking up is that preamp match up is also critical. I'm not sure my Krell KTC is the best match. A friend of a friend of a friend.. here we go again...said that he went thru the same quest as you. You've settled on a Joule-Electra preamp, he with a Supratek (I don't know which model), and apparently (hearesay again) he's ecstatic.