class d - anyone compared bel canto/CI/wyred4sound

Hi Guido,

The BC Ref 1000 Mk2's and JR kit have been in my home system recently, though not side by side and my notoriously fickle audio memory [all 2000 milliseconds of it] was therefore aided by written notes of observations of reproduction of reference music. In a nutshell i did find the BC more refined than the JR mono's. Both amps have remarkably quick leading edges to notes but i found the BC better at fully developing the harmonic tail [decay, sustain and ultimate release] of notes. IMHO both power amps benefit from tube pre-amplification - though that is admittedly a matter of personal taste. I can't comment on the Capri + BC overpass of the bypass :-) but if the net result sounded anything like the JRDG 500 continuum then i'd be worried that the solution was so wrapped up in the uber reality high definition means of musical delivery that it forgot the meaning of the message.

Kiwi

my contenders give a clue of my budget - around 2 grand for a new or used amp. from all the posts i learn that i should probably go with BC which i can probably get for 2.2 used.
DOB - i currently own the Lector Zoe - a tube pre which I really like.

Icarem, Kiwi and I are suggesting the Mk.2 version of the BC Ref 1000. The mk.1 version does not have the current rectification front end that is probably responsible for at least some of the musical subtlety of the MK.2. If the Mk.2 exceeded your budget, I believe upgrades to Mk.2 may be later requested from the factory for original models.

I have heard the Lamm ML2.1 in someone else's system. We listened for an hour and a half switching between my Playback Designs CD/SACD player and another highly rated CD/SACD player. At least I had a familiar source and I did come right home and plug the PD into my own Rowland system that night. Since it was a same-day kind of evaluation with a common source, I think my comparison has some validity.

I'll say this, anyone that would prefer the Lamm would not like the Continuum 500. They aren't even from the same planet, IMHO. The Lamm had a character that I'd call soft and artificially warm. The Continuum 500 is open, transparent, dynamic and honest, with no added euphonics.

Some people like more syrup on their pancakes. That's fine with me, just don't make me eat it.

As for the Bel Cantos, I heard them in another system and thought that they were very high potential. I haven't heard them in my own system or a system near enough to mine to say anything more than they're worth a serious listen.

I don't understand why Lamm was even brought into this thread. I can't believe that anyone preferring the Lamms would like either the Bel Cantos, Rowland or Spectron. Lamm is also at a much different price point.

Dave