| Bel Canto
REF500M Monoblock Power Amp |
 by Ernie Fisher
If you believe that high-end audio is always expensive, you
are right — most of the time. There are, however, some,
or few exceptions. These monoblocks cannot be considered outright
bargains, but when one considers the price/performance ratio,
one of the few exceptions is this pair of amplifiers from Bel
Canto Audio. The price may point toward shortcuts taken to
reduce costs, but that simply isn’t so. The company and
its designers have a sound background in engineering and they
have gone to great lengths to create electronic components
employing the most recent and innovative advances in switching
technology. While this is important, Bel Canto haven’t
forgotten about the music their designs must recreate; after
all, loosely translated, their name translates into Beautiful
Song from the Italian language. As we shall see when you read
the following, there is evidence that the components under
review are capable of reproducing just that. Bel Canto has
been in business for over 11 years and is headed by John Stronczer.
Their earlier components included some vacuum tube designs,
but the amp under review is a noteworthy example of the relatively
new development of Class-D, or more precisely, a switching
amplifier design. This technology has evolved tremendously,
and whereas it was mostly used to power subwoofers, quite a
few serious manufacturers felt that it has certain advantages
over Class-A and AB topologies. Class-D guarantees high power
efficiency without energy losses encountered by standard designs.
It is known that the (theoretical) efficiency of Class-D designs
is 100%, though over 90% is more realistic in audio applications.
When compared to the efficiency of Class-B designs, which ranges
around 50%, a switching amp uses little operating power while
it provides oodles of output power.
Appearance
Most power amplifiers are large, cumbersome components with
which to impress the impressionable. The REF500Ms, on the
other hand, actually enhance a listening room’s appearance
because they are small, almost cute, and both units can
easily be accommodated on a shelf that usually holds only
one power amp. This may not be important to a hard-core
audiophile, but it would likely be important to those who
favor an uncomplicated system setup that also looks neat
and uncluttered. The faceplate sports one indicator light
mounted in the centre on a black background surrounded
by part of the chassis. The chassis is made of aluminum,
which wraps around the component resulting in an elegant,
modern design that will complement almost any décor.
The Sound
For the auditions, I had my own Ethera Vitae, the Reev Design
Aatma, Gershman Acoustic and Audio Physic speakers on hand.
The Allnic L-300 (tube) preamplifier, XLO and Argentum
speaker cables and interconnects and a CD playback system
with word clock, DAC and transport made up the balance
of the system.
 After I had “cooked” the amplifiers for a couple
of weeks, I began my sit-down listening to some of my most
demanding recordings, beginning with JVC’s Beethoven’s
5th with Fritz Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony. This
masterpiece of orchestral work has, in addition to 55 instruments,
the dynamic range of a bomb blast as well as the most delicate
whisper of strings and is quite difficult to reproduce. In
particular, the third movement demands quick transition from
pianissimo to fortissimo passages and I have found that many
amplifiers can’t handle this appropriately. However,
the 500Ms dealt with this astoundingly well, with exceptional
force and vigor at the forte and fortissimo passages and
admirable finesse at barely audible pianissimo segments.
Cellos and basses were clearly audible at stage right, and
there was no unfinished business at the low frequency scale — lower
than 160 Hz. That is bass energy done right, and confirmed
with later listening tests of Bach’s Toccata in D Minor — a
Dorian recording of the great organ of St Eustache. These
amps will reach as low and with absolute resolution as the
loudspeakers are able to reproduce, without a doubt some
of the best bass I have ever heard. While I expected this,
based on the design and previous auditions of the Bel Canto
integrated amp, the S300I, I was quite surprised at the monoblocks’ handling
of the other important frequencies — the midrange and
highs. Frequencies from 160Hz to about 1300Hz (midrange)
had liveliness — joie de vivre and spirit — that
conveyed the essence of human voice, the timbre of instruments
and the harmonic makeup of the music. It was not the best
I have heard — that is with very expensive amps — but
it was without edginess and/or harmonic shortfalls. My surprise
continued when I analyzed the amplifiers’ performance
in the very top frequency regions (from 5000Hz to about 10kHz)
where instruments, such as horns, violins perform and where
loads of harmonics live. With the less expensive Argentum
cable, this part was smooth, perhaps a bit too smooth to
call it precise, and also a little on the dull/dry/boring
side. However, when I changed to the XLO cables, the sound
became lively, involving and refined. At one time, I would
have said that the amps reproduce inner detail properly,
but after having re-evaluated the terminology I (and many
others) have used for many years, I would say that the Bel
Canto amp “does” detail sensibly composed, not
highlighting it, but presenting it with realism, well balanced
with all other musical information. This is, in fact, authenticity
rather than “enhanced reality” which caters more
to personal whim and/or the listeners’ partiality.
Most of my listening tests include material with various
brands pianos and I pay attention to the pianos’ sonic
makeup. The pianos I am familiar with are grands from Steinway,
Boesendorfer, Yamaha and Baldwin — and when I hear
them reproduced well, my music-lover soul delights and my
reviewer brain nods with approval. Well, I nodded a lot,
sometimes surprised, sometimes in admiration of the Class
D technology, which, in my opinion, has come a long way in
this design. All aforementioned loudspeakers used for this
evaluation worked well with the amplifiers, thus indicating
that the amps boast admirable sonic neutrality, which likely
marries well with all sorts of speaker designs. As my main
interest is not the technology used here, I am obliged to
point at the way technology benefits the music lover, listener — and
this is where the Bel Canto does the job very well indeed.
Synopsis & Commentary
In the business of electronics, sonic differences abound
and I believe that the job and obligation of a reviewer
is to make these differences known to the readers. It isn’t
enough to describe sound as hard, soft, mellow, strident,
glaring, smooth, masked, irritable, appealing, lush, bright,
dark etc., etc . . . What is important to know is how things
sound, that is the amplifiers (in this instant) — and
how it makes things/music sound. Well, these monoblocks
sound not only good, they also provide a fine listening
experience when one considers musical elements such as
detail, dynamics, sound staging and harmonics. I suggest
the use of a good preamplifier and source component as
well as premium interconnects and speaker cables so as
to make the most of the Ref 500M’s capabilities.
With a good system combination, these amplifiers provide
more musical entertainment than much higher priced components
I have heard. The price is right, the performance is excellent
and the entertainment value is off the chart. Great job
Bel Canto. |
| MODELS |
MANUFACTURER |
| REF500M Mono Amplifier |
Bel Canto |
| RATING |
CONTACT |
♪♪♪♪
|
www.belcantodesign.com
www.audiopathways.com
|
| PRICE |
$4,000.00/pair (CDN)
|
| Dimensions |
Size: 8.5 x 3.5 x 12[inches], 216 x 88 x 305[mm]
(WxHxD)
Weight: 15 lbs, 7 Kg |
|
 |
TECHNOLOGY
Bel Canto calls its design High Dynamic Range Audio Amplification,
which provides
“an unprecedented level of sonic accuracy and power” to
the loudspeakers.
The REF500M delivers 121dB dynamic range and 250 watts into
8 ohms, doubling to 500 watts into 4 ohms. The combination
of fully regulated switch-mode power supplies and analog
control circuitry results in tremendously wide dynamic range.
Switching amplification technology has many advantages including
low noise, low heat and low power consumption. Additionally,
it is said that the design is the most direct way to convert
electrical power into an audible signal — music.
The Ref 500M power input stage boasts high speed, low noise
rectifiers and large storage and filter capacitors that increase
energy storage while lowering noise and reducing sensitivity
to power line fluctuations. The input stage employs the most
advanced components including: Caddock resistors, Solid Electrolytic
ultra-low ESR decoupling capacitors and low noise regulated
power supplies. The switching output stage eliminates thermal
distortion mechanisms caused by changes in operating temperature.
Green, low-heat, ultra-efficient heavily regulated switch-mode
power supplies and switching output stage enables an eco-friendly
compact design with a heavy gauge, all-steel chassis that
prevents micro-phonic noise from corrupting the audio signal.
Now to the impressive specifications:
Maximum Power Output: 500W 4 ohms, 250W 8 ohms;
Power Output
1% THD: 450W 4 ohms, 225W 8 ohms;
Minimum Load: 3 ohms; Peak
Output Current: 35 amperes;
Frequency Response: +/-3 dB 1.5Hz-70KHz,
all loads;
THD+N: 0.003% 1W, 1KHz, 4 ohms; IMD (CCIF): 0.0003%,
1W, 14:15KHz, 4 ohms;
Output noise: 35uVRMS A-weighted 10Hz-20KHz;
Voltage gain: 27dB (single ended or balanced input);
Damping
factor: >1000;
Output Impedance at 100Hz: <8 milliohms;
Dynamic Range: 121dB; Input Voltage for Max Output: 2Vrms;
Input connections: Single-ended RCA or balanced XLR;
RCA
input impedance: 100Kohms; Balanced input impedance: 200Kohms;
Output connections: 1-set WBT Nextgen 5-way binding posts;
Power On usage: 10W;
Power Off usage: 0.0W |
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