that is correct, the i-30 was the last class a/b primare - they went class d post the i-30 and the sound character changed... and not for the better according to most
The Belles Aria Signature Integrated Amplifier
The Belles Aria Signature Integrated Amplifier has landed at the Audio Connection in Verona, NJ. I think John said 120 watts per channel with a phono stage that supports both MM and MC cartridges. 3 Single ended and 1 balanced input and output. Sounds great even though the unit has less than 24 hours on it.
Showing 10 responses by jjss49
@gdnrbob couldn’t agree more in fact i voted with my feet (and wallet haha) my second system is an aria with node 2i/ayre codex driving harbeths (the codex purchased with your suggestion several months back, thank you) lovely natural rich coherent imminently listenable for long long stretches bought the aria used for 1500, codex for 850 -- the sq for dollars spent is just off the charts!!! |
@grdnrbob your advice is still good, no matter where you buy! audio connection has been there forever, they are honest, knowledgeable, welcoming - can't say that for many retailers in the biz, esp. ones with a large store and significant overhead buying used is smart as a way to try things without losing your shirt smart hi fi nerds trade that way definitely tough being a high end hifi retailer, no doubt about it, esp. away from big cities where there are people willing to spend big dollars for good sound |
FWIW, I have heard the Aria integrated, and, for the money, it really smokes just about anything you could think of trying. let me comment a little on grdnrbob’s assertion above... i have had the belles aria in house for some time... sold it to a hifi bud recently who wanted it -- agree that the aria, and david belles, are the real deal... excellent gear excellent ear, for a loooong time already -- for $1500-1600 used (going rate) the aria is a great value, quality of sound (strong and clear, if a touch energetic in the treble) and the mm phono stage on board is excellent, if you will use it -- i would say in an overall sense, a hegel (thinking rost or h90), a naim (nait xs) and a primare i30 are all worthy remote controlled solid state integrated amp competitors that are as good as the aria... all in the same used price range - all have feature set pros and cons versus the aria but all offer as good build and sound quality (though the tonality may be subtly different) |
Dynaudio is now owned by some Chinese company now I think. My view is this is a marketing thing and, if there is sustained demand for these speakers, there will be more. https://www.whathifi.com/us/news/dynaudio-acquired-chinese-company-goertek it is more an 'investment' thing... like geely auto in china owning volvo, and tata of india owning jaguar-land rover more innovative, world class new products out of volvo jag land rover than has been seen in decades before change of ownership... |
i have not had the aria sig (as yet) but i have had the regular aria, as well as an lfd le mk4 sig, and at the same time in house for comparison - drove a variety of speakers... proacs harbeths buchardts vandy sig 3a's among others over that period observations: - both had a similar sonic signature, which is a somewhat lively, slightly uptilted high freq response, very clear and concise midrange (not lean not warm), and solid rhythmic bass... both image reasonably well (for solid state) and both are free of grain, though they both bring some degree of ’sharpness’ to leading edges of transients - the lfd was a little brighter than the aria, both substantially brighter than a hegel or a pass or my longtime reference audiosector patek, they are simply voiced differently, to 'spotlight' the sound a bit more - the aria had maybe had a touch more low end drive than the lfd but both were very good - the lfd definitely has a minimalist, small-op, homegrown feel to it... the play here is minimalism and thus implied purity to the sound because of it, whereas the aria definitely has a more proper, grown-up, full featured feel to it... with onboard phono stage, decent remote control, etc etc - both of these amps do very well with more laid back/warmer speakers like harbeths, wharfedales, older vandys and spendors - they bring a little additional 'life' and punch to the music i don’t know whether the higher, more expensive belles sig or the ncse permutations of the lfd bring more refinement... have not had the chance to hear for myself as yet |