Tweakers' Asylum: REVIEW: Power Modules Inc. (Belles) Belles 150A Amplifier (SS) by Will R

You might be wondering why this review has been placed in this forum. Well, I believe DIYers and tweakers will be able to appreciate the strenghts of this product and extract the most out of it.

This all began when I moved to a new place and finally have enough room for a dedicated studio/listening room. I have been away from Hi-Fi for a while, pursuing other interests. Well, now that I'm back, I'm in the upgrade mode. I was going to get the Atma-Sphere M-60s, but my SS Parasound 2200 II died, thank God! er, rather, damn! darn, !@#$%, I need to buy a new amplifier (like I needed somebody to twist my arm). Well, I did not want to spend. (I'll eventually get the M-60s, I need a new analog rig too!) I started out with Bryston 3b, McCormack DNA .5 Dlx, Monarchy SE-100 DLx, Belles 150A. The Bryston got nixxed at the dealer showroom. McCormack was good, but its a CJ company now! Got in touch with Steve McCormack, he doesn't sell amps anymore except for mods, too bad. I ended up taking the unrevised Monarchy SE100 Deluxe and the Belles 150A (Belles came upgraded with Vampire terminals and jacks) for home auditioning.

I got the SE-100s, several days before the Belles 150A. They were demos and were burned-in. These amps were small! no tiny! Well, it looks like a miniature model. But what it lack in size, it didn't lack in performance. The mid-range was glorious for a SS amp. It came close to my DIY 15w 6C33C-B SE by Borbely (i.e. when it is working - very unstable). But, no bass, treble distortion (sounds like a mistracking needle), 60 Hz hum (lots of it!), gets confused in loud and complex passages. Well, it gets you "there" and then jerks you back. Even with all its faults, I liked it and hoped that the new model has all these problems resolved, anyway I floated the ground and it took care of the hum. But then, the Belles arrived factory fresh.

Now, this looks like an amp, well a small amp. Its not heavy, actually light in comparison to what I am used to. I don't know whether that is good or bad. Out of the box, the unit sounded flat. The manual recommends at least 96 hours of burn-in! That's right 96. However, the bass sounds very promising, so.. stuck my portable CD with the XLO disk on repeat, got some 100 watt 8 ohm resistors, monitored output voltages and temperature and left it alone. Coming home from work, I would hook it up to my system to check on the day's progress. It was a week before I was able to listen to it. The bass was a good as my Parasound 2200 II (RIP). Good soundstaging, excellent treble, good midrange, nice pace, overall a typical good unit, that's it.. another "also-ran." But when, I replaced the AC cord with my DIY 12 gauge. It was a different amp! The bass was more articulate and sloppy (i.e. acoustic and electric basses). The soundstage widened and deepened, the instruments were very distinct. I was playing Sarah Vaughn, After Hours at the London House (Mercury SR 60020) On "Three Little Words" you can hear Wendell Culley started blowing (his trumpet) "Obligato" (as Mr. Jack Tracy Director EmArcy Jazz, so tactfully put it) from the audience. You can hear him as he comes forward, now and then turning away from the mikes until he is in front of her "Sassiness" a few feet below the stage. You can hear this on the SE100s but you lose track of Wendell as he is coming forward. Ahhh.. to be transported back in time, how I miss that! The glory and beauty of instruments are well portrayed such as the woody/resinous resonant sensation you get from a cello, well depicted in Janos Starker, Bach Suites for Solo Cello (Mercury Living Presence SR90370)(now, if he could only play with a little more "gusto") The SE100s came close, but no cigar. Another selection example, is Sheffield Lab 18, Strauss and Dvorak the violin was a tad better on the SE100s, but the piano was terrible! (my favorite instrument), it sounded like Mayorga was playing too far from the piano. However, on large orchestral movements the SE100 was better. Even though, the SE100 gets confused when it is time for fortissimo, I preferred it because of the wider, deeper soundstage and more importantly the layering of instruments. You were sitting around rows 8 to 15 on the SE100s, but midhall with the Belles, need I say more.

So, I was going to get the SE100s. (the new models) But, as fate would have it when returned the SE100s to the dealer, I bought the DH Cones and pads. When I placed these on the Belles, it shifted another gear! The soundstaging and layering that the SE100s had over the Belles was now surpassed! I'm at row 9 to 12 now. Plus everything good got even better! I noted that the bass got softer and more resonant, which is what happens when you move into a larger room. I was coming close to Krell territory. To cut the long story short I bought the Belles.

In conclusion, the way the Belles reacted to tweaks tells me that this amps is not the sum of its parts. Its parts do not do justice to its design, a tweakers' dream. Well, it seems logical given the $1195.00 price. I haven't opened the amp yet, I haven't paid for it. But, through the vent holes I can see quick connect terminals, ceramic wirewound resistors, etc. I am now anticipating what results I can get with Hexfreds, Black Gates, Holcos, Vishays, damping stuff, Cardas wiring, Cardas jacks/terminals, well you've got the point. I e-mail Dave Belles, and he says that the mains have splits in the primaries! So 240v here we come, hope it doesn't void the warranty...ya right! Hey, at this price I'll get two and bi-amp, no... I'll get the 3-channel and tri-amp!

Side note:
After about 2 weeks the amp became bright and etched. Unlistenable to a certain point. I cured the problem by replacing my stock Sovteks 6922 (3 yrs. old) on my Mod3A with Tungram 6922 from Kevin Deal. They have lasted 2 weeks now! Hope they last, the funny noises/burps stop. The Belles is even better now. I guess the brightness was due to the inherent glare of the Sovteks, which I never heard from my system BB (before Belles).

REVIEW: Power Modules Inc. (Belles) Belles 150A Amplifier (SS) Review by Will R at Audio Asylum