Rich; organic true balanced amp w good detail $6k

Sutts, the Belles 150A Reference and 350A Reference amplifiers only work as monoblocks when their balanced XLR inputs are utilized. I assume this means they are fully balanced in this configuration, but I could be wrong. I don't know the difference between your definition of fully balanced and Belles' definition of balanced.

Most listeners who have heard the amps both as stereo amps (single ended only) and as monoblocks agree that the monoblock configuration is superior in all respects.

BTW, if I had the dough, I'd own Lamm 1.2 monoblocks...

Tvad- have you heard the Lamm's up against the Belles? If not, regardless of the comparison, what are your sonic impression of the Lamm 1.1/1.2 amps? I think my buddy got his Lamm 1.1 monos for just over $7k USD used- from what I understand a good deal...

Hey- I was just reading up on the 150A ref's- they seem like a great choice- how hot do they run though, and are they meant to be turned off when not in use? Do they do texture like tubes?

I've owned Lamm M1.1's and M2.1 and my friends fell in love with them but then I heard the VTL S400 releasized I needed some more clarity and also surpising the VTL went lower and deeper and it was definitely tighter.. I can't imagine the Belles comparing to the Lamm's as they are really addictive and some day I'm dying to get a set of Lamm ML2.1... If you run the Lamms in a home theater setup you better drop the center channel because there is no way you will find a matching tonal center channel amp... run Phantom Mode..

Sutts: The Lamm M1.1 versus M1.2 ..yes the M1.2's are better (not in a huge difference as he just used more currently available parts) and they provide like another 10 watts a channel. The biggest advantage are they are newer (since these run in Class A full time) Expect to see them listed for about $6000-7500 for Lamm M1.1's and somewhere north of 10k for M1.2's. Oh yeah and buy the 6922 input tubes from Lamm as they were like $25 each from them.... total no brainer bargain..

As far as the VTL amps.. 6550 tubes from VTL are about $60 each but you can get between 5,000-10,000 hours I out of tube the way VTL runs them... plus the best part is no matched pairs,quads, octets.... so way cheaper than ARC retubing... one tube blows, just drop in another. The new VTL450 signature has the computer controlled biasing which is awesome... similar tech to the S400 stereo amp. VTL no problem for home theater...

As far as Music Reference amps... I have owned the RM200 twice and I still regret selling it.. it's not as organic/seductive as the Lamms but it's more open on the top and crystal clear with even 2ohm control.. it only requires a Quad of 6550, or KT88's tubes which I recommend buying from Ram Tubes (Music Reference's company) especially the input tubes because they DC stress them which no one else does .. Music Reference amps aren't hard on tubes and tube that would be noisy in other amps are quiet in the RM amps.. The older RM9 required more expensive Matched Quads to achieve 100watts a channel or 125watt a channel in the RM9 MkII. These don't have the iron fist control of the RM200 (which can borerline on sounding similar to the high end SS Ayre amp in clarity and control) This might be similar to the Vac with the sparkle, and also without the constant repairs my friends have had with their VAC's (they sold them now and went back to solid state... after 3 roundtrips back to the factory..) Music Reference.. no problem for home theater.. Check out Audiocircle dot com for the Music Reference Forum, I'm sure you can post and find someone near you to hear these amps.. very minimalist but bulletproof design and they sound great!

I have not heard the Lamm amps in direct comparison with the Belles, but I would expect the Lamm amps to sound better...they ought to at more than three times the price. Please note I was referring to the Lamm hybrid design, and not the Lamm SET amps.

The 150A Reference amp and 350A Reference amp run cool. I have owned each, but I have only owned a single 350A Reference whereas I own 150A Reference monos.

I have been told that the Belles amps are meant to be left on, but I turn mine off each night. Energy consumption guilt. A couple hours of warm up gets them up to optimal sound, IMO.

Do they texture like tubes? That's a tough question. No solid state amps that I have heard sound like tube amps, but they do some things better than tube amps I have owned. The strength of the Belles amps is their tonal balance, sweet top end, bass control, and resolution.

The VAC tube amps I have owned were stunningly clear and holographic. However, they were not as tonally balanced and their bass, while excellent, was not as deep and solid. I also would not characterize them as warm because their top end has so much sparkle.

The designer of my Silverline speakers recommended Belles (or Pass Labs) amplification, and he was correct IMO. Have you asked Israel Blum what amps he would recommend for your Coincident speakers?

Cyto- thanks for the thorough comments/comparisons- didn't realize the VTL amps run their tubes that conservatively- a good thing. Question- you indicate the 'new' VTL450 signature has computer-controlled biasing. If one is buying these used, how 'recent' is this change? Also- are the 450 Sigs not 'room heaters'?

Tvad- thanks for Pass reco- was also thinking of their 30 watt XA-30.5. As for Israel, we talk often- he lives 10 minutes from me! There is no point though in even mentioning SS to him- he is a tube guy through and through-preferring SET's mainly...