I think you are right that small independents are where breakthrough designs/products are usually made. When brands go big and corporate, that is often when they get lazy and start making compromises. Most hifi starts off being made by enthusiasts who want to make the best product they can. A big brand often gives a safe and good sound, but the best is usually the small, specialist brands. As technology moves forward, this situation may change.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Good points. Thank you buddy 😊

Another fine review and comparison to your two integrated amps discussed. We get a real feel for anticipated sound from your reviews.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Michael. That was exactly what I was hoping for 😊👍

What a gem indeed. Very good to see equipment like this still being made, sold, and enjoyed. Thank you, Sir, for highlighting this fantastic system. Take care and all the very best to you.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you kindly Simon 😊👍

Belles flies way under the radar; it's nice to see a reviewer finally acknowledge that this brand, and the Belles Aria Integrated amp in particular exists and that it's more than worthy for consideration. I've had this Amp for over 5 years and I still marvel at the sound quality every time I listen to it. This review, like all your others is exceptional in every way; I'm glad I discovered you and I have to say that you are a go to source for me and have been for a while. I have the Belles paired with Vandersteen 1Ci speakers and its a match made in heaven, at least to my ears.The 1Ci speakers are rarely reviewed - would love to hear you opinion of these speakers that also merit "old/older school gem" status! I'm curious about the Aria dual mono amp from Belles, the next one up from the basic Aria that has not been formally reviewed by anyone to the best of my knowledge.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Steve. Very kind of you to say. I hope to review the Monos at some point 🙂👍

Hi Tarun. I'm gratified to see the review. "Whew, You liked it!" It sells for $2500 in the US so the UK price is a comparative bargain. I have a pair of his 112 watt mono -block Aria amplifiers and couldn't be happier using a Rogue Rp5 hybrid preamp so I can do some minor league tube rolling ( 4-12AU7). A good match with Dynaudio Special 40s. David Belles must be immune to Hifi fashion trends because the volume knob has not grown to the size of a Hockey puck..

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Jim. I appreciate you switching me on to the brand. It is great that these companies still exist 👍

@nymarty

Жыл бұрын

I also have the monoblocks paired with a Schiit Freya +. Fantastic amps. You described the sound signature very well.

Thanks for th review Tarun. Nice finding these little hand built gems that very little of us know about.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you buddy. I am pleased to give Belles some well earned attention 😊

@kevincorr2985

5 ай бұрын

I learned of it from the Steve Hoffman hifi forum and took a chance based on the reviews there.

I owned a Belles Aria integrated just before getting my current Aria Monos. I bought it used and when I sold it on, a fellow almost beat down my door to get it. No haggle, just cash and carry. A friend had told him about Belles products and he was exceptionally keen. I do have a David Belles Story. I bought one of my mono amps used and one new. The used amp came in a not standard box so I called Belles asking if I could purchase a shipping box for the amp. There was a silent pause on the line. David seemed confounded and after some thought said he didnt think that would work. We decided I'd make my own box up. Ha.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Jim. I hope you enjoyed the review. Cool David Belles story 😊

Thanks for reviewing Dave Belles’ amplifier. I have three of his amps (an Aria preamp, a power amp that’s a bit older and a Belles One power amp that is at least 35 years old). He is quite the brilliant fellow and a gentleman. Another small builder is Frank van Alstine. I have a preamp and a power amp of his that perform beautifully. Both Mr Belles and Mr Van Alstine have web sites and build in the US.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Bill 👍

Yet another excellent, off-the-beaten-path review and feature of a unique offering. Thank you for shining light on smaller companies that engineer differently. Maybe not entirely small, but definitely unique company to me would be SPL. I just purchased their Elector preamp, and have to say that it is the most special piece of equipment I’ve ever owned. It does impart a signature, but in a such a subtle way. Expressive and very dynamic, wide, deep, clear, hint of warmth, but still gets out of the way of the recordings. Having that pro audio heritage (Neumann/Gier) and their Voltair tech kind of sets it apart in a few ways.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you John. I appreciate you sharing your experiences 👍

Thank you, Tarun for another outstanding review. Your comparison of the Exposure and Willsenton amps seems like the classic tubes vs solid state contrast. I own and enjoy a tube preamp and (mostly) class A solid state monoblocs manufactured in the state where I live. I truly enjoy their sound, and what the heck, it puts money in my local economy. And lest we forget, the whole High-end industry was founded by people working by themselves or in small groups to advance the state-of-the-art beyond mass market "perfection".

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. Very kind. I think you are absolutely right. The Exposure 2510 Vs the Willsenton R8 fall neatly into the virtues of solid state Vs tubes. I am still looking to have my cake and eat it. My XXI Preamp and XVIII Super monoblocks get me close but nothing is perfect 😊👍

Great review. Belles aria was on my list when upgrading my amp but was difficult to find somewhere to audition and went for a sugden. My phonostage is from a small US company called Darlington labs. I think it’s one man, hand built in his workshop. Exceptional bit of kit.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing TV 😊

Really well build Amplifier, love minimalistic approaches

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

I agree, it was nice to spend some time with the Aria 😊

I applaud the effort and performance of the small amplifier manufacturers. Thank you for highlighting Belles here. May I suggest that you try a Benchmark Media AHB2 stereo amplifier. This is a small, pro oriented design which is a sort of current dumping design and of great refinement. If you can obtain two of these from the distributer, try it in a single stereo configuration and as a bridged pair. The entire Benchmark product line is excellent. Thank you for your work here. You are of great service to the listening public and to the companies producing the products we see here as well.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you John. Very kind. I have been hoping to get some Benchmark gear in. I shall look into it when my schedule clears 😊👍

Great review. You are as good as it gets here. I've been looking at this amp for some time and this is the kind of review that gives me the confidence to give it a go. My Croft is in the shop and I've been looking for another to have around in the same ballpark and the Belles ticks all of the boxes.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

That is great. If you get one, please let me know how you get on 👍

Hi Tarun, that is a great review. The Belles Aria looks like a piece of art.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Hugo. Much appreciated 😊👍

Another great review. As to experience with small independent audio equipment makers, I have enjoyed my Croft Acoustics Phono Integrated Amplifier and my Caintuck Audio Betsy Open Baffle speakers for many years.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you buddy. I still hoping Glenn will send me an amp to review 😊

Insightful review as always!I've recently become interested in the LFD line of amps.The Mistral looks very intriguing.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. Two brands that I would love to check out when I get a chance 😊

I’m with you! I love the smaller “boutique” hifi companies. While some of yesterday’s boutique companies are actually rather large, many of them still operate just as they did when they were founded. Handcrafted products with a greater focus on sound than aesthetics and with only occasional lineup changes from one year (or decade) to the next. Personally; I own a Conrad Johnson “control” (integrated) amplifier and it’s just fantastic. Although it’s only a year old, it could just as well have been made 30 years ago. Three inputs, no remote. It’s truly old school in every way - but it’s a modern design with a modern-ish sound. I love it!!

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing Dan 😊

@AT-wl9yq

Жыл бұрын

You must have the tube integrated if its that new. I've has many different components from CJ over the years. The shame is, CJ's solid state gear is exceptional, yet they stopped making it. Either way, its really hard to screw up with CJ products.

@dannyfannyfoodle

Жыл бұрын

@@AT-wl9yq yes, it’s a current model. The CAV-45 S2

Hi Tarun, another great video. I decided to go with Pass Labs for my preamp and amp. Nelson Pass is a legend in audio community and very generous with hid DYI projects he offers to everyone. I am addicted to class A. Talk about playing at low volume and hearing full bodied sound with every minute detail. I could not have asked for more. I would like for you to review a Pass Labs pre and amp combo and see what you will think. By the way I wish you and your fans very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Hope to see many amazing audio products in 2023.😊

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you my friend, much appreciated. I agree, Nelson Pass is a legend and has been a great servant to the audiophile community. I would love to review some Pass Lab amps but they aren’t readily available in the U.K. I will have to try to find out who is the U.K. distributor 😊

Hi Tarun - I can think of two examples in my experience of small companies producing very high quality kit. They are Border Patrol and EAR/Yoshino. I own the Border Patrol DAC SE-i and the EAR 834p phono stage. I've used both for years. They have a quality that makes them special to me: I don't think about them when they're in use. I just listen. They do a great job without calling attention to themselves. Thanks for another brilliant review.

@fletchermunson6225

Жыл бұрын

I have curiosity about that DAC A friend is now auditioning one. I await his opinion.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Gary. I am familiar with the brands but haven’t heard them myself. I appreciate you sharing 😊👍

@wouterkolkman

Жыл бұрын

@@fletchermunson6225 indeed an excellent phono stage - it was also special to meet Tim de Pavarinci:-)

appreciate the intro, there's definitely something special about my old QED A240 Super Analogue "Britigrated." it's still here, in a second system, and the Belles Aria integrated has since moved on

@abritishaudiophile7314

8 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing 😊

Here in the Twin Cities (MN) there is a company call Audio by Van Alstine. I bought a used amplifier from them to try out with my Magnepan LRS (another MN company) and haven’t looked back. I kind of enjoy having the primary components of my HiFi being Minnesota companies. The high current of the Belles Aria would probably pair well with my Maggies. I like the idea of having a monitor loop too so one could slip a Minidsp with Dirac room correction if one was so inclined. Thanks for another fine review Tarun.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Bryan. If you get to try the Aria, please let me know how you get on 👍

Excellent review Tarun 😊

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Atri 😊👍

By hand, that is where true craftsmanship lays. Uncompromising, attention to detail. These are the earmarks of what the small boutique manufacturers are primarily about. May not be everyone’s to die for gear, but it isn’t throw together either. AGI comes to mind as far as I am concerned. Not a mass producer, but it had wide bandwidth and addressed transients better than any other piece of solid state gear until Spectral Audio came out with their DMC10. It was the one that robbed it out of the transparency king position, but not brutally. It was the Spectral preamp of it’s day. I have two and their both getting an upgrade as well as an update. Really enjoyed the interview Tarun. Cheers!

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Mark. Always great to hear about your experiences 😊

Love the Belles Aria! Have heard it several times, and will buy when I am ready to part with my hybrid Copland CSA 28 (also a small excellent company) with a matched pair of 6922 preamp tubes, which is 25 years old and slowly going the way of all flesh. As another commentator has said, Leben is also a great small company as is Conrad-Johnson. C-J might be a bit bigger than the others, not sure, but it is still a old building facility that is friendly and nowhere near a big corporate outfit.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Joseph 👍

Thanks Tarun. Another really insightful review. I really enjoy your technical insights! I am learning so much from them….ok I still don’t think I could talk to friends down the pub with confidence about this stuff ( not that they would want me too…..perhaps revenge for football talk😂) but I’m starting to understand what a good amp design has. Thanks again. Looking forward to the next ABA online get together…..

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Phil. That is very kind 😊👍

I love my Belles Aria Integrated now paired with Penaudio Cenya speakers. I bought those speakers on advice from Sonneteer to go with their Orton Integrated amp which was my all time favorite but when I moved from the US to Asia I had to start over with 240 volt and David Belles converted my amp voltage for me. So the Belles got to make the move. The Sonneteer Orton was slightly more revealing but the Belles has a few features that the orton does not, such as phono preamp, and a headphone amp and the correct voltage. Before I moved the Belles was paired with a pair of floor standing Spendor A6 which was a nice match too. As for the comments about the high frequencies, I understand your comments because I added a Schiit Lokius EQ to the system and tweaked the high end that way. Another way is with a digital eq built into your streamer. Sometimes I move the Lokius EQ to another system and I still enjoy the Belles as is without EQ.

Thanks for covering low level listening capability of the amp ❤️ To many amps just dont do this well and too many reviewers dont talk about it 😊 Agree the 2510 is great in this regard. The Rega Aethos even better, but I wouldn’t mind trying the Aria!!

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you buddy 👍

@adamcfada5071

Жыл бұрын

Agreed - low level listening is really important IMO

@spooner1

Жыл бұрын

I also agree. LLL has always been a concern.

@egis7908

Жыл бұрын

I also agree. My Hegel H390 does not really come alive until 70+db. 😢

@steveo8015

Жыл бұрын

I can attest to the Arias low listening level capability. On the other hand, my entry level Vandersteens absolutely flourish with the 75 watts/ch and I have never turned the volume even close to half way. Everything Tarun says is spot on in my opinion, based on many years of blissful listening to this outstanding amp.

Excellent review! I've been in contact with a guy who sells Belles this morning. I'll let you know what I purchase. Great stuff.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Charles. I will look forward to hearing from you 😊

You asked for my experiences with small companies. 15 years ago I bought a Music First Classic passive pre amp. I borrowed it for a weekend from a dealer and it sold itself - I had never heard such transparent and unstrident sound. The only problem that I had with it was that it had no remote volume control. Earlier this year I emailed Music First to see if they could retrofit remote volume control, and they gave me two options. Option 1 was to spend £950 to upgrade my existing pre amp, and option 2 was that they would give me £1350 in part exchange for the pre amp that I bought for £1500 15 years previously and send me a Classic V2 pre amp with remote volume control (not a standard feature). I chose option 2, and I am delighted with the result. That is what I call a long term relationship.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Cool stuff 😎 thank you for sharing 😊

Very interesting discussion i/r/t independent hifi producers, it's indeed nice to know that they're still around. Is it me, or are these independents some of the only producers that appreciate the value of a *well made* pure-analog integrated. I'm sure I'm not the only one that wants the world in that regard at a AXA35 price point, but I'm glad to know that companies like Exposure and Belles remain committed to upper-tier all analogs. 'Still think that both of their respective integrateds would benefit from tone controls, but that's conversation for another day [grits teeths]. Well done Tarun, thanks.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you André. I appreciate you sharing your perspective 😊

Was loaned the Belles Aria which I had in my system for a few weeks and a nice amp it is - lively, energetic, punchy - nice. Was tempted to keep it but ultimately I wanted even more weight than it's good 75wpc offered. The Plinius 9200 caught my radar, nabbed one and haven't looked back, better in every way for me, effortless delivery, natural textures, timbres, depth, lovely bass weight, you get and feel the music and everything in it.

@abritishaudiophile7314

7 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing 😊

Great video as always. Thanks for reviewing the smaller, less known brands. Your conclusion sounds exactly like my type of amp. 👍 I'm interested in the Zin Amplifier. Small UK company that provides DIY options at various levels as well as fully built amps. They have an integrated which combines a tube pre and mosfets giving 100w into 8ohms. I'm planning to build the power amp first as it has a volume control. Prices are very reasonable for all their products. Would love to see a review. 🙏

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Ada. I appreciate the suggestion 😊

I heard this amp with B&W 706s2 book shelf speakers. Had no problem driving them. This little amp has a lot of heft and indeed, lots of current capability.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Cool. Thank you for sharing 👍

@tacofortgens3471

Жыл бұрын

Look at the caps and transformer! I bet those speakers soind awesome with the amp

Hi Tarun. I just recently purchased the Belles Aria Dual Mono version of the Aria integrated amplifier. It is an exceptional upgrade of the standard Aria. At only 85 WPC, that doesn't tell the whole story. Inside, it has two beefy power transformers with independent mother boards for each channel and this thing has that industrial black 70's-80's styling with the most muscular 85 watts I have yet heard. It has a Mosfet output stage that I think is more dynamic with more life than the host of amplifiers with bipolar transistors I have owned over the past decades. I'm a fan of dynamic drums and deep bass and this amplifier is voiced to showcase both in spades. You mentioned in your video that the Aria is a good choice for low level listening and yes, the Belles Aria Dual Mono is another great low level listening amp. What is surprising is it also gives the listener enough sparkle up top. At $1000 USD more than the standard Aria integrated, if you can swing it, it DEFINITELY is worth the extra investment! Currently, it's driving a pair of Spendor D7.2 floorstanding speakers and boy did the Belles Aria Dual Mono integrated wake up these Spendors! For anyone in the USA, I recommend buying Belles gear from Gene Rubin Audio in California. He's been a dealer since 1979 and he is a trusted resource that delivers the best customer service in the business. Good review Tarun, as usual! You are one of my favorite reviewers on KZread! Thanks also, for reviewing affordable gear that's within the reach of many enthusiasts!

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you my friend. Great to learn about your experiences 😊👍

@fletchermunson6225

Жыл бұрын

Hi LP, Great news, Congratulations. As I mentioned, I'm a Belles fan. Also a Gene Rubin fan. I have known Gene from the 80s when he was selling from his apartment. A real gentleman and honest dealer. I recently contacted him to catch up. I was gratified to see him doing well. I wouldn't mind living in Ventura myself away from the LA reminder games.

@lpspinners8736

Жыл бұрын

@@fletchermunson6225 I stumbled unto Gene Rubin online when I was thinking of picking up a croft integrated - for fun - and what a stroke of luck, Gene was just out of stock. We got to talking, and after discussing my speakers, the sound I like, etc., he pointed me in the direction of the Aria Dual Mono integrated. I sold a lot of my separates gear and just wanted to get back to a simpler audio rack with a lot less "boxes". I absolutely love this integrated amp and it takes me back to something in the sound that reminded me of another fun amp from my past (1980), the Hafler DH-500 kit that I built over several days when I had free time. I let Gene know that I really appreciated him pointing me in the direction of Belles amplifiers. It's nice also, to see such a great sounding amp built here in the USA and not sell for stratospheric prices. It's always best to visit and audition the gear personally, but now I live 200+ miles from my trusted audio dealers and it's nice to find an honest, trusted dealer like Gene. What's also great is that he allows returns if you are not happy with your purchase. Who can argue with that?

@fletchermunson6225

Жыл бұрын

@@lpspinners8736 It reminds you of what we've lost with the demise of the brick and mortar dealer. Not all of them, heh, but some of them. My best wishes to Gene h deserves it.

I’ve guided two friends to buying this amp, they’re both over the moon in love

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

That is great Edward. It is rather special 😊👍

Tarun, I understood you to put Exposure in this category, and so, as I’ve said before, I love the 2510. Beat the pants off the Audiolab (not a fair price comparison, but it’s what I had). The only problem (happily) was the 3 blue LED lights which blinded me during low light late listening. Tiny squares of translucent scotch tape fixed that 😂

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Jeremy. My 2510 has Red LEDs. They are bright 😊

Great review thanx for that, small builders earn usally good reviews, like the Modwright kwi 200 integrated I own. Purely based on some outstanding reviews i got interested, and the amp finally ended next to my other hifi_stuff, it has power and smoothness, the sound, looks and build quality are just topnotch!

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing Hans 😊

I love small brands. My system is a full Lector one. Lector is a small Italian brand, a "cottage operation" as you put it. They're well reputed in Italy and have some foreign distribution ( I know they're available in the US, in the Netherlands and some Far-East Countries but I don't know about the UK. Very good value for money and reliable products.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

That is great 😊

nice one Tarun, had never heard of the company before, have a great weekend

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you buddy. You too 👍

Thanks Tarun. I like the idea of looking under the hood and reviewing small dedicated manufactures. In this regard, I would love to see a review of the Criton 1tdx loudspeaker kit from css audio. I am rather curious how they measure next to some of the big brands you often use in your reviews.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. I appreciate the suggestion 😊

Tarun, there is a new updated version of my favorite/reference power amp coming out within a week or so; that I mentioned in a comment a while back. And that is the AkitikA (say AH-kit-tee-ka) GT-104. The previous version (that I own) is the GT-102 Z4 - and it is a chip amp that uses the TI LM3886. (Which is what the Cambridge Audio AXA35 uses.) The GT-104 is an all discrete design, and as such is now rated 50W/ch into 8 ohms and nearly 100W/ch into 4 ohms. It has a unique feature (as far as I know) that is a thermal feedback control of the bias - so the bias current stays *very* stable no matter what temperature the output MOSFETs are. You can either get AkitikA amp as a kit, or assembled at the factory - by hand in Alabama. Chassis quality is ordinary, but sturdy enough steel to do the job. Sound quality is outstanding, bottom to top. They are a runaway value!

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Neil. That does seem to tick a lot of boxes. I hope to get to it in time 😊

@adamcfada5071

Жыл бұрын

Cheapaudioman built these and loves them.

@NeilBlanchard

Жыл бұрын

@@adamcfada5071 Right, that is where I was introduced to AkitikA. I am building a PR-102 preamp, now. It will have to take on my Audible Illusions Modulus, but I am going to find out how it compares.

Great review Tarun. As per the specs the belles aria has a damping factor of over 2000!!

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Gus 👍

I'm also big supporter of independents as well as try to buy local whenever I can. Therefore I got myself a Heed Lagrange - a small hungarian producer with pretty unique tech inside. I would be quite interested watching your review of one! I think you would be the first in UK to review one.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Julien. I shall look into it 😊

Nice! I like (smaller) builders in general. My valve amp is from one guy and I loved it. Same with Leben (seriously it’s fabulous), Exposure (the local audio store specialised in modding the Exposure amps to great success), and perhaps bigger: Harbeth, dCS, old Thorens, van den Hul.. All really good .. But I have heard about people having issues with the equipment and having a hard time getting it resolved. Especially after 10 years or so.. Low level listening isn’t really an issue for me as I live alone in the countryside..

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing Erwin 😊

Yes! Would be awesome to see more videos like this on the smaller independent companies. Do you plan on reviewing any of the Alchris speakers in the future (UK company)?

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

In the pipeline. Alan is currently working through back orders 😊

@jmgoodmanuk

Жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Looking forward to that! They have a nice range, very easy on the eye (and the wallet!)... Hoping they sound special too

Is this a new era for the small hifibrands? In the days of written reviews not much attention was given to them. Also some DIY brands like CSS for instance gain more acknowledgement. A good evolution because I'm sure there are many gems out there to be discovered . 👍

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

I am hoping to discover more 😊

@Mrhifitunes

Жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 me too. I'm counting on you 😁👍

I just enjoy your reviews. I have a feeling that I am listening the hifi component you describe.. I also expect reviews of the Atoll In 100 signature and the speakers you often mention the Proac RESPONSE DB1

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you my friend. Very kind 😊👍

Charming review, Tarun…I have all separates….but have no "cottage industry" type components in my system….I do find the idea to be intriguing though. 👍🏼

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Bob 😊

Hi Tarun, how is your AC power setup? Tips: Upgrade your AC line to your amplifier. 1-40 feet use 10 AWG wire, 40-60' 8 AWG, 60+ 6 AWG. If you need to run 6-8 AWG wire, run to a junction then short 10 AWG wire to receptacle. Use a Hospital Grade (or PS Audio) receptacle on a 20A breaker. Preferably, your new breaker should have silver or silver tungsten contacts. Dedicated line for amp is potentially better, but not necessary, could have all audio gear on the same circuit. The heavier gauge wire is the important part, the goal is lower resistance (vs typical 12-14 awg). If you do have other audio gear that is on another circuit, ensure that the breaker is connected to the same leg in the panel (same phase), this will mitigate any potential RF interference. Use McMaster-Carr Silver paste on all AC connections (including back of breaker) to reduce contact resistance. This AC line upgrade will very likely yield more improvement to your sound quality than a high-end to high-end amplifier upgrade.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

That is very interesting. Thank you 😊

Still using my AVI Laboratory Series Integrated amp that i bought brand new. Great little British made amp.

@hanssipkes8179

Жыл бұрын

Fantastic amp nice example of a great amp by a small company, loved all their products

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Cool 😎 thank you for sharing 😊

I've always been most attracted to integrated amps from small companies. The best time for them was in the 90's. They sound and often times look unique. Larger companies would never take chances like the smaller ones did on those two regards. Take a look/listen to the Alchemist Kraken or the Audio Innovation Alto as examples. I've owned/own integrated amps from Alchemist, Audio Innovations, Magnum, Rega, Exposure, LFD, Croft, Sugden, Shearne, Moon River, Creek, Naim, Audiolab, Arcam, Linn, Acurus, YBA, and others. Some are large companies now but back in the day they were much smaller.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Wow! That is some list. I bet you have some great stories to tell 😊

@Coneman3

Жыл бұрын

Myryad were very good, as evidenced by their products sold on eBay for good prices even now.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

@@Coneman3 I remember selling their products many years ago 😊

@Coneman3

Жыл бұрын

Cool. I bought an MI120 and MA120 as my first proper amps in the mid 90s. Still have them in my second system. I also bought one of their preamps and another MA120 not too long ago off eBay. Great value, well built gear.

@yippie6862

Жыл бұрын

@@Coneman3 I remember demo'ing the Myryad MI 120. The sales guy told me Myryad was started by a few ex-Arcam employees. If that's correct? I remember liking the sound. The almost flat and cone shaped volume knob was interesting. Magnum was similarly started by a few ex-Rega employees. Those were the days!

Great review and interesting amp. Are you planning to review the Naim Supernait3? Would be very interesting to get your insights on it and comparing it to your current references

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. Got a Naim amp review coming soon but not the Supernait 3. I will keep it under wraps for now 😊

As a proud owner of a Belles Aria integrated amplifier, I have to say that your review is right on point… My Aria is paired with Klipsch Forte IVs, and the phono stage is connected to a Project Classic Evo turntable (very nice phono stage!). Streaming is accomplished by a Bluesound Node 2 . I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting David (despite the fact that we both live in Pittsford, NY), but I am happy for him that you reviewed it and gave it your “highly recommended” designation! Thanks!

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you David. Great to learn about your experiences 👍

@craigcoughlin1834

Жыл бұрын

My wife’s from Fairport! I may have to visit when we’re up!

Great review! I have had the best experiences with smaller HiFi makers and sellers; in particular Vinnie Rossi and High Water Sound in the USA. Both have been responsive when I’ve had questions and offer wonderful products. SONY, on the other hand, well, just forget about customer service.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you 😊

The only product I currently use from a small manufacturer is Orchard Audio's Pecan Pi. V impressive with ifi ipower X. Detailed, the right amount of warmth and body etc

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing 😊

Great review, Tarun! I just might have to put this one on my shortlist as it’s the sound signature I most like. Not easy to find in Canada though.

@lpspinners8736

Жыл бұрын

The Aria is a great amp. Worth trying to find one. There also is an Aria Dual Mono integrated 85/135 (8/4ohms) wpc for $3495 and an Aria Signature integrated 125/225 wpc for $4500. Fantastic, fun amplifiers. They all have great current output and love driving tough loads.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. Availability across markets is always going to be an issue with these small markets 😊

@MH-rl9ep

Жыл бұрын

@@lpspinners8736 I wonder how much of the magic is attributed to the preamp section and how much to the amp. I’ve seen the aria monoblocks available from time to time and could mate with my Hafler or Apt-Holman preamps for the time being.

Wonderful review. I have a couple of thoughts for integrated amplifiers to review: a French Lavardin integrated vs possibly a Japanese Accuphase integrated.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you James. Working on it 👍

The most neutral, detailed, with natural sound integrated amplifiers i know of for my passive system, are from the 90's, and are my AVI'S S2000MI integrateds that I use two of them for separate left and right monoblock duties for my own modified as a two way only sealed designed monitor audio GR20. Using one channel only from each of my two AVI 2000MI's gives me true total monoblock seperatation of Each channel, while giving twice the current capicity from the main inlet capacitors, as well as twice the heat sink capacity from only using one channel from each amplifier. They were designed for high quality passive studio monitor amplification for efficient sealed infinite baffle designed loudspeaker monitors, by Martin grindod who was an ex defence avionics engineer. The amplifiers do not put a foot wrong, and are the true straight wire with gain approach. You hear every difference with every audio components. The AVI S2000MI still has a higher level of sound quality than the ATC SIA-150 integrated amplifier, which I bought brand new a few years ago, but didn't last long in my passive system, because it was not as neutral, smooth, or as colourless as my two AVI S2000MI's i still own today. Distortion at a constant 50 Watts output is only 0.003% at minus 96db, and below that at 1 watt or less is 0.001%. Seperatation is better than - 80db. Frequency response 5hz - 100khz. 4-16 ohm rated, with 18 amp current capability, with a true 100 Watts and 175 Watts continuously into 8/4 ohms. Damping factor 100. Input sensativity 500mv. The two transformers in each amplifier are rated at around 370 volts each, which each transformer can put out an easy 375 watts into 2 ohms with out breaking a sweat. They also do not need no protection circuitry, other than the 4 fuses. They are silent with no hiss. They are a DC signal design., with extremely low distortion. They do not possess any colour of their own, they are totally colourless. They only use one large sanken device for the in and output signal, and each with their own heatsinked driver transistor. They are detail excavators. I also bought in the past the new when released musical fidelity M6 500 amplifier, and the AVI'S still uncover more detail information from the source, even though they are not as specified as or as ultimately powerful as the musical fidelity amplifier M6 500, the AVI'S just excavate more small signal micro /macro background detail from the source signal. Also they make known all sonic attributes of any rca / speakers cables for the good or bad influence they have on sound quality, and which the musical fidelity M6 500 cannot show the differences of signal detail and harmonics from the signal source. The AVI'S are 25 years old, and still going strong. To get the same level of detail from new amplification today, it would have to be something sonically akin to the class AB gato single mosfet transistor designs. Also the chord electronics and naim amplifiers are not as neutral either as the AVI S2000MI's.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing Ian 😊

hi tarun. great review as always. I've used sugden amplifiers before also audio innovation valve amps.nva and a few other artisan brands,they all offered something special but different.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Paul. Always a pleasure to get your perspective 😊

To me personally the biggest surprise was the super skinny pre/power combination from Dayens Audio…Ampino Pre and Ampino Power. I heared them with a small sealed bookshelf speaker from Xavian and a Magnat turntable..never again i had the chance to listen to such a musical and dynamic set, a specially under 4k€. This was amazing…

@abritishaudiophile7314

6 ай бұрын

Thx for sharing 😊

I am writing to thank you for your review of the Belles Aria. When I viewed that video I was coming off a negative experience with a Prima Luna EVO 300 Hybrid Tube Integrated amp. I had purchased it based on rave reviews by the US distributor of Prima Luna products, as well as other reviews. I wouldn't have been in the market for an integrated amp at all except that I was not enjoying every aspect of my recently upgraded home theater AVR, an Anthem MRX 1140. While the sound of that AVR is very good, the unit has an audible fan system to cool its eleven amplifiers, and I found the sound of that fan system to be very annoying. I intended to use the Prima Luna as my music integrated amp and use its home theater bypass mode when watching movies. Sadly I found the Prima Luna to be very tiring and unpleasant at higher frequencies at anything above moderate volume levels through my GoldenEar Triton 1 speakers. One of the things you mentioned in your review of the Aria was that the highs are just a bit rolled off to avoid unpleasantness. That's just what I was looking for, so I ordered one through a dealer here in California. There was a bit of a problem with the unit when I first received it - it made a clicking noise when I used the remote control to change problem. But I sent it back and it was taken care of. I like the sound of the Aria very much. In a way I could say that it seems to have no characteristics at all. When I'm listening to music I don’t even think about the Aria, which of course is the way it should be. I just listen to the music. I’m not saying that I don't think about the speakers or turntable or any of the other components of my system - I am a sort of audiophile, after all! But the Aria just seems to be there, not drawing any attention to itself. So, again, thanks for your review!

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. Great to learn about your experiences 👍

Two days ago, I picked up a pair of speakers from a small, obscure little audio company, with a ridiculous naming convention for their products. They named it a very weird set of numbers, 4429 and insisted on calling them 'studio monitors'. Kidding asides, I do have an obscure pair of "handmade Italian speakers" which I love. The Chario Silverette 100. These tiny bookshelfs have a down firing port (I've never seen that before on a pair of small speakers) and have a lovely warm sound, albeit with the top end rolled off quite a bit. The bass from them is a big surprise though, considering how tiny they are. Very enjoyable, and for what they sell for, a complete bargain. I wasn't kidding about the 4429s though. I did get a pair and people are starting to wonder what the heck I'm grinning about at all the time.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing. Glad you are enjoying your 4429s. I reviewed their little brother 😊

@goodboid

Жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 You're crazy if you think I missed seeing any of your videos. You are my favourite reviewer by far.

Nice review..pls keep up the great job. I would like to hear your views on EAM labs amplifier sometime.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Amit. I appreciate the suggestion 👍

I always enjoyed the Bob Carver amplifiers back in the day.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Hans 😊

Amazing this is in my backyard! I’m in Buffalo NY. Never even knew

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching 😊

Valve Audio is also a small manufacturer of hand built quality amplifiers, based in Pretoria, South Africa. Their Exclamé is probably more or less equivalent to the Aria, in general specs at least.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Cool 😎 I wonder if they are available in the U.K.? 🤔

@mauritsvw

Жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 I doubt it, unfortunately.

The Belles 150A HOTROD amplifier and Audible Illusions Modulus 3A preamplifier was a match made in heaven for the ProAc Response 1SC's...

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Gerry 😊

@arte2arquiteto

Жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 I had a few questions to ask you about your ProAc 1SC’s. Firstly, have you ever replaced your tweeter foams that adhere to the tweeter assembly? Have you ever had to replace any crossover components on your 1SC’s? And finally, what did you settle on as a coupling substrate between your 1SC Monitors and speaker stands? I use the Target R1 Stands with the supplied rubber adhesive strips. The age of the rubber has caused it to flatten and lost some of its coupling properties to keep the monitor secure to the stand. My best to you and yours!

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

@@arte2arquiteto I did have to replace the tweeter foam surround. The late Stewart Tyler (ProAc founder) told me himself that the crossover parts (even the caps) should last 40 yrs + and I Sue a sound absorption pad between the 1SCs and the Target R1 stands 😊

Check out Feliks Audio from Poland, mostly headphone amps, I have their Arioso 300B integrated. It is a work of art inside packed full of quality components, extremely well designed and built case. A small family run firm like you describe with fantastic customer service. As always, thanks for your great reviews.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Simon 😊

on the matter of smaller manufacturers i can't recommend Rowen (swiss manufacturer of amps and bi-polar speaker systems) enough. As far as i know, they dont really sell their products outside of switzerland. But definitely worth a try, if you can get your hands/ears on it.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the heads up 😊

Great stuff as always, Tarun. Yours is in the top division of audio channels on KZread! Are you sure the name is pronounced "Bellies" though?! 😄

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you my friend. I am not sure about the pronunciation as I had to guess 😊👍

@vandemon9643

Жыл бұрын

I always thought it was "Bells".

@spooner1

Жыл бұрын

I have known Mr Belles for over 38 years. It is pronounced BELL - S or BELL - ESS

Thanks! Small ones are the movers and shakers I have found. The guys who excel at start up lose the excitement once the Corp. gets too big and many times they sell it.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Lonnie 😊

Given your tastes, I’d love to get your take on Conrad Johnson. Not inexpensive and maybe not as small as the founders still hand soldering, but essentially a garage operation here in Northern Virginia.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Craig, I hope to get to it in time 😊

I really liked this review. I have been looking for something like the Aria to tame my Fyne 501sp. For a small company making great speakers check out Jern Speakers. They make cast iron casings,. The only company I know that has model numbers defined by the speaker weight in kilos.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Robin. I will check them out 😊

Great video Tarun. I would love to see a review of the AVM30 A 30.3 from Germany. Maybe you can make that happen.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. I appreciate your suggestion 😊

@adamcfada5071

Жыл бұрын

Just had a look at their website. Very nice.

Hi Tarun,perhaps you ought to try out the NVA amplifiers and Sonneteer amplifiers.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

In the pipeline 😉

I have as soft spot for smaller manufacturers. I liked my Conrad Johnson PV10 preamp which was replaced with a Rogue RP5 preamp a few years ago. I prefer tubes in my preamp and solid state for the power. The Rogue is dead silent and uses top flight components. That said the CJ had a better phono stage.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing your experiences 😊

Thanks for the video, I confess I'd not heard of this brand before. I wonder how they'd pair with my Goldenear Aon 3s, also from the USA with a sparkly ribbon tweeter. I'm very happy with my Iota VX PA3 amp (purchased after your, and other reviews) but if I were to upgrade, I'd like to know if the Roksan K3 would be a worthy step up. There's not many reviews of Roksan products on KZread. Cheers.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Alex. The K3 is a significant step up from the PA3 😊

Another great and detailed video, Sir. Thank you. One question, however: Are you certain that the brand name is pronounced 'Bellies'? For the past couple of decades, I thought it was either 'Bells' or Bell-less.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. I had to make a guess as to the pronunciation 😊

@BadMonkeyFinger_Audio

Жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Oh, I see. I thought maybe you had the inside scoop. :) Cheers from Toronto.

I've got separates from croft acoustics and have to say these are my endgame pre and amp. great to be able to email the actual designer. my headphone amp is from a small polish maker, Feliks audio, which I will keep forever as well

@dannyfannyfoodle

Жыл бұрын

Both excellent companies!

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Great Matthias. I appreciate you sharing 😊

@martinscase3904

Жыл бұрын

Seems to be an indefinite wait for Glenn's amps these days... I've had a preamp on order for many months, but even my dealer can't get hold of him. Let's hope he's ok and that the wait will be worth it.

Thank you Tarun, for another excellent review. This amplifier also seems to be an excellent amplifier for my Totem Sky Tower, but unfortunately I can't buy it in Portugal. The store that sells the Exposure 2510 also doesn't know when they'll receive it, so maybe I'll have to think of another solution. Do you think the Hegel H95 would be a good mach for my Totems too? I think the H120 may not be as suitable as the H95 because it has a less warm sound.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. The good think about Hegel is that they work well with a wide range of speakers. The should do fine with the Sky. The only way to know is to try but I would suggest to not buy anything your can’t demo first 😊

@PauloFerreira-hh6zv

Жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thank you so much for your help Tarun, my only concern with the H95 is that the power is only 60w, but I think the most important thing is the current it delivers, because I only use moderate volumes when I listen to music.

Another great product from a small company is the Tubadour III SE by Audio Mirror. I have this DAC and I just think it is something special. Would be interested in your thoughts if you could get your hands on a review sample.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the heads up Mark 👍

You should take a look at Rogue Audio especially their Sphinx V3 !! A small company located in Pennsylvania, USA

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. I am familiar with the brand but I don’t believe it is available in the U.K. 😊

I love the Outlaw RR 2160 integrated amp. 👍👍

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Rohit 😊

@jeffr1568

Жыл бұрын

I would have to agree. I have the Mk II and enjoy it quite a bit.

Hi Sir, another great review from this great channel !!! I see that you reply to all of the comments no matter how many ( thats really rare !!! ) and decided to ask a question as well if you don't mind. I am looking for the deepest punchiest gutsiest amplifier and dont care about it being too much or bleeding through the mids but i do mind brightness a bit and so i was wondering if you could give me your input based on amplifiers you have reviewed or from personal experience. I have found a good deal on an old naim supernait 1 and a hegel h390 but i am not sure those fit my requirement.... Now i realise that is speaker/source/cable dependant as well but at least i wanted to be covered amplifier wise and not purchase an anemic one and regret it. Thanks in advance !!!

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you my friend. Very kind. If you are getting a good deal on the Hegel H390, I would go for it. It has excellent power and control. It isn’t bright and works well with a wide range of speakers. The Naim will be brighter and more picky when it comes to speaker matching 😊👍

Hello Tarun and thanks for the interesting video, please spend a couple of words to compare this amp with Hegel sound

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

The Hegel H95 has similar resolving ability, a more neutral sound but can’t match the drive and full bodied sound of the Belles Aria. The H120 may be a fairer comparison but I haven’t reviewed that yet 😊

Hi Tarun, great video again. Any plans to review the Cyrus Classic integrated amplifier at any point?

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Neil. I am waiting for the promised Bluesound integration with Cyrus products. Then will review one of their amps 😊

@neilparry14

Жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 I hadn’t realised they’re about to upgrade it. I might hang fire on my purchase decision!

Didn’t Belles have that hot Rod amp? Anyway I love products like this also, that’s why I bought the Willsenton. Great review man

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Doug. I am not up to speed with their legacy products as this was a recent voyage of discovery 😊

Hi Tarun, thanks a lot for your wonderful review. This is just the amplifier I am looking for, warm and full sounding for stereo listening in my HT setup. My speakers are Dali Oberon1. Can you please let me know 1) Whether I can connect a Marantz cd 6006 cd player which has an inbuilt dac to the Belles Aria. 2) Assuming I connect the powered subwoofer ( Rel HT 1508 with no high level connection) to the preout of Belles Aria , since my fronts are small and lack bass. 3) Would the Belles Aria be acting as a poweramp in HT bypass mode ? Apologies for the long list of questions as I am not a very technical person. Thanks a lot for your time. 🙏

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Nitin. Answers as follows… 😊👍 1) Yes you would connect the analogue RCA output of your CD6006 to one of the analogue inputs of the Belles Aria. 2) Yes, connect the Aria’s preout to the RCA input of your REL HT1508’s. 3) In HT bypass mode the Aria effectively becomes a power amp for your receiver. I would use it to power the front left and right channels.

@nitinkanchan5294

Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot for clearing my doubts. Your channel is really wonderful in providing guidence especially for a novice like me.😊

Btw, I still own a pair of B&W speakers, made in Blighty, when the company was still owned by Messrs. Bowers and Wilkins. Too big for my current abode, but taking up precious storage space in my apartment. To my ear, vastly superior sound to the current offerings from the current corporate product.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

That would be a cool comparison. Old 800 Series Vs the current one 😊

Bravo. I have a soft spot for these small producers as well. Given that, how about five minutes with LTA Linear Tube Audio (z4O+)last time I checked there’s about 10 guys that operate this company up in New England and they don’t really build the unit do you ring them and ask them for one

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. That is another USA brand that I wish was easier to get get hold of in the U.K. 😊

@paulroscelli2545

Жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 It would be really fascinating to hear your take on their unique technology and their approach to producing amplifiers an integrated amplifiers

To your question - I think I may have a fetish for niche hand-built components from small companies. Currently I consider a class a power amp. I am negotiating about an Accuphase, but I'd much go for a small domestic brand (a Gryphon would be interesting to audition, but they are hard to find used - I rarely buy new analog gear). In the recent past, your videos have given me an itch for products from companies like Atoll and now Belles. Hand-built in the western hemisphere seems to be a trigger for me.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you my friend 😊

Many of today's USA giants started as a small from the garage company. JBL stands for john b. Lansing of course and the Audio Research was Bill Johnson. I believe that part of the draw to the vintage gear is that they were born in a day by small companies with an actual individual driving it forward.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you JK 😊

One’s owned a integrated and loved it, control and grip like 30.000 dollar amp

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Cool 😎

I have heard this amp in NJ a few years ago and really liked it with some Vandersteen tower speakers that also took my breath away. Heard Belles 2 upstream models also, the Signature and the Virtuoso. Really great stuff. I was targeting purchasing the Signature when they discontinued that model and brought out a dual mono version of the Aria. Pandemic and stock market reversal put all that on the back burner and I am finally looking at what I should buy. I am running Kef R300s and Ohm Walsh 2s. I have not heard this amp with either but this reviewers comments about the forward nature of the highs now has me a little concerned as the Kefs, which I love, can be forward and a little bright...they are very much like the original LS50s but with a nicer cab and more low end. Anyone have experience with the Belles and say LS50s? It is the high end that is concerning me.

@abritishaudiophile7314

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing 😊

I love my Decware Zen Triode. I think that counts as a small company.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you. Most definitely does 😊

Great review as usual! Like many who have responded I too will prefer forming money to small shops where I often get to directly communicate with the people running the show. I went through many amps for my home office and my SE400s. Then I found a small company called Linear Tube Audio. And now I'm sold. A great balance of clarity, warmth, not piercing with some not-great-recordings. Many benefits of tubes without the heat that can be a deal breaker.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Keith. Great to learn about your experiences 😊

Hi Taryn l have always gone for small manufacturers I ran a Crimson Electric per and power amps for thirty years with great success. Currently I have a Lejonklou Boazu integrated amp a small company from Sweden. The designer Fredrick Lejonklou has his own approach on design and build. Have you come across or heard of this company? Love the channel and you approach to reviewing keep up the good work. Mark Co Down

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Mark.Very kind. I am aware of Lejonklou but never heard one. Hope to remedy that someday 😊👍

Hi Tarun, yesterday I went to a live concert of the prog-rock band Airbag. I specially paid attention to sound dept/height and position of the musicians on stage.... just like you often refer to in your video's when describing hifi gear. Well, in a live concert there is absolutly none of the above imho. There is a wall of sound coming at you, even stereo (left/right) isn't noticeable. But, the instruments and the 'punch/power' of the kick-drum and bass are so much more noticeable! So, why are the sound-items that are mentioned in reviews of hifi, so much different then we hear in live music? Best regards, Jos (NL)

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

The PA systems at live gigs normally have to battle with poor acoustics. The objective is to try to provide a consistent sound across many listeners rather than the high fidelity experience of the band positioned in front of you 😊

@tillaard61

Жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks Tarun for your swift reply, I know what you mean but isn't it strange that hifi equipment at home sounds só much different then the sound at a live gig. The way that the bass-drum hits your chest would be my dream-sound in my living 😀 Greatings and letting you know i'am a huge fan of A British Audiophile channel.

I'm wondering how the Belles Aria would compare with the Atoll IN80 Signature. Reviews suggest a similar sound signature - both received a "highly recommended" on this channel. I'd be interested to know if much separates them, particularly at low listening levels.

@abritishaudiophile7314

Жыл бұрын

Two similar amps. I would need them side by side to compare 😊

@hifiaudioreview

Жыл бұрын

@@abritishaudiophile7314 Thanks for replying, Tarun.