| CES 2009 New Product Announcements |
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Amplifiers • We begin with the mighty REF1000MKII monoblocks. Best to let Stereophile’s Kalman Rubinson have his say from the March 2009 issue: “The Bel Canto Ref1000 Mk.II can be compared with the cream of the other amps I’ve had in my system: the Classé CA-3200, Mark Levinson No.433, and Ayre Acoustics V-6xe. Each of these distinguishes itself in different ways, and particularly with different speakers. Because of this, I think I must keep the Bel Canto Ref1000 Mk.IIs as a reference amplifier—an easy decision even when based solely on its sound, but also: in my living room, none of the others can be so easily hidden in plain sight.” Thank you, Kal. The input stage of the sweet-sounding REF500 monoblocks at CES feature the same upgraded power supply and input boards as the ‘1000MKIIs. The ‘500s are perfect for the less-than-totally power mad; 500 Bel Canto watts supply loads of headroom for firm grip and control. Learn more about the REF1000MKII and REF500 monoblocks here. Besides offering the refined stereo S500 amplifier, Bel Canto played the updated S300iUSB integrated amplifier at CES ’09 fitted with John Stronczer’s new 24/96 DAC board. Now this 300wpc powerhouse has the same 24-bit/96kHz performance as the standalone USB Link 24/96 offers, dramatically improving existing 16-bit/44.1kHz and, dare we say, MP3! Just add a laptop, speakers, and you’re in high end soundsville. We demoed a pair of the new, dynamic and engaging Joseph Audio RM-7XL on a Mac and everyone at CES loved the sound! Click here to read Stereophile’s online report about our 300iUSB integrated with one of many pictures of John Stronczer with his surprisingly cool-running, efficient and diminutive creations. You can also read about our upcoming FM-1 Tuner here in Stereophile’s show report. “Although it’s a called a ‘tuner’ the new FM-1 (price not yet set) from Bel Canto Design is much more than this label would indicate. How about a built-in DAC, volume control, digital inputs and outputs, and analog outputs on both RCA and XLR connectors? Yes, the FM-1 includes all that. It could very easily be the centerpiece of a high-quality compact audio system.” Joseph Audio played their new Pulsar stand-mounted monitors on Bel Canto electronics at CES including a CD-2, DAC3 and REF500 set-up. Standard and high-resolution music flowed from an Apple PowerBook outfitted with the new Bel Canto USB Link 24/96. Verdict: a knockout! The main Bel Canto room featured the elegant Joseph Audio Pearls. Digital • The USB Link 24/96 raised a lot of eyebrows; the must-have component for computer-based music systems. The ‘Link significantly improves the sound of high resolution recordings as well as 16-Bit/44.1kHz music, even MP3s! This inexpensive high-tech device converts the USB output from any computer – up to 24-bit/96kHz – to SPDIF and outputs the signal to a 75 ohm BNC. The USB Link 24/96 includes a Stereovox XV2 BNC/BNC cable with an RCA adaptor to feed the input of your audiophile DAC of choice – most likely a Bel Canto DAC3!
Click here to read Stereophile’s show report about it. Power • The VBS — Virtual Battery Supply. An intriguing upgrade for perfectionists offering the low noise, isolation and transient current capability of a lead acid battery without the lead, acid or the battery! Extremely high isolation and regulation from 100 Joules of energy storage and high current capacity ensure Bel Canto’s unmatched dynamics, powerful low-frequency foundation, and stability of image and sound irrespective of the power at the wall.
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