Any owner thoughts on the Belle 350A amp?

belles is true plug & play (100k-ohm input impedance, so no problems there)---will work w/ ANY speaker. very organic, great imaging, excellent bass (really, excellent throughout the freq spectrum).

ultimately i sold mine for 2 reasons: 1) i got a CTC BBQ for less money (its a legitimate superamp retailing for $7k), and 2) the belles' biggest fault was stage depth, particularly when music got complex. the stage depth would collapse & run together. a problem w/ symphonic music, but for jazz, vocals, R&R, folk, the belles is a great amp.

but really, the reason i sold was b/c of #1. CTC gear is amongst the best in the world; belles is good/great, but not BEST.

oh, the 350 puts off NO heat. and physically small. also considerations worth noting.

i think marty at BoundForSound had a very good review of it.

rhyno

actually, i foudn the staging issue was resolved with the CTC amp. listen as the dynamic gradations run up & down from quiet to loud...the stage collapse does happen.

its still better than anything else out there for $3500 retail easy...i really liked that amp, but the CTC i got for the same money is in a different league.
best

rhyno

what's your rig bob?

i have a pretty revealing system: G&D transport into belcanto 1.1 dac, into G&D preamp into merlin vsm-ms w/ TG Audio cabling (silver) througout. never had the problems you did w/ belles gear...it was an excellent performer, but i'm curious as to what you're using that it didn't work for you.
best
rhyno