Review: Bellari VP129
- Thread starter Pure_Brew
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- Jun 12, 2010
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- Wasted Days and Wasted Nights
It's been almost 1 year since I started using this (VP-130), it is still going quite well. Most everything vinyl related to me is still a subject in experimentation and learning. Still I have a ways to go.
There have been a few changes since the first post. The SL-23 has been replaced with an SL-1800, which seems a nice step up in a more solid and consistent performance, including consistent speed.
Also, I've upgraded my crossovers in the Snell EII's. Just a recap and resistor swap. Same inductors. This really opened things up, as my Jolida 502brc really struggled with what seems to me as old caps. This cleaned up most notably piano transients which were really mushy unless I swapped over to SS amplification.
So anyway, I decided to post again on this as I flipped the Sovtek 5751 back in. I was using the TungSol 12AX7 for quite a long time and the Sovtek 12AX7LPS started acting up with some microphonic distortion. Larry's didn't last either. And now swapping over to 5751, it makes me wonder if the Bellari eats tubes, or manufacturing QC just ain't what it used to be.
Going back to the 5751 almost makes the TungSol sound, I dunno broken? Seems like I've had some odd channel balance issues, and/or a major lack of focus. If all the high frequency info is still there in the playback, but it lacks focus, the music tends to sound a bit harsh to me.
So now I'm back to everything sounding quite right. I really noticed this on Miles Davis's "Seven Steps to Heaven". Yes, he can be very loud and high pitched, but not to the point where you start wondering if you are mistracking. Now that he is back I focus, it's not nearly so fatiguing.
I could be wrong somewhere. Maybe it's just the better tube now after changes I've made. I guess time will tell.
Today I ordered a M97xe from B&H. I'm shooting for a warmer sound then the AT440mla. The Shure I tried had some issues so I'm giving it another go. Likely I will long for an SAS, since I doubt the Shure will track as well as this. When it is set up, I'll likely look into sending the AT in for service, as I should have done long ago for the hum issue.
There have been a few changes since the first post. The SL-23 has been replaced with an SL-1800, which seems a nice step up in a more solid and consistent performance, including consistent speed.
Also, I've upgraded my crossovers in the Snell EII's. Just a recap and resistor swap. Same inductors. This really opened things up, as my Jolida 502brc really struggled with what seems to me as old caps. This cleaned up most notably piano transients which were really mushy unless I swapped over to SS amplification.
So anyway, I decided to post again on this as I flipped the Sovtek 5751 back in. I was using the TungSol 12AX7 for quite a long time and the Sovtek 12AX7LPS started acting up with some microphonic distortion. Larry's didn't last either. And now swapping over to 5751, it makes me wonder if the Bellari eats tubes, or manufacturing QC just ain't what it used to be.
Going back to the 5751 almost makes the TungSol sound, I dunno broken? Seems like I've had some odd channel balance issues, and/or a major lack of focus. If all the high frequency info is still there in the playback, but it lacks focus, the music tends to sound a bit harsh to me.
So now I'm back to everything sounding quite right. I really noticed this on Miles Davis's "Seven Steps to Heaven". Yes, he can be very loud and high pitched, but not to the point where you start wondering if you are mistracking. Now that he is back I focus, it's not nearly so fatiguing.
I could be wrong somewhere. Maybe it's just the better tube now after changes I've made. I guess time will tell.
Today I ordered a M97xe from B&H. I'm shooting for a warmer sound then the AT440mla. The Shure I tried had some issues so I'm giving it another go. Likely I will long for an SAS, since I doubt the Shure will track as well as this. When it is set up, I'll likely look into sending the AT in for service, as I should have done long ago for the hum issue.