JOB, BelCanto, Perpetual, MilleniumDACs?

Subaruguy, that is a GREAT post! You really captured the morass I often find myself in when evaluating components. --Dan

Subaruguru I wouldn't say you are at all off base with your observations on this unit based on my early first impressions. I would however be interested in knowing the rest of your system. I too found the Bel Canto a little "laid back" in comparison with the Perpet tech P-3a unit which was too forward but ultimately it was the tonal problems with that unit that I really didn't expect would improve enough or mesh well with my system in the long run. I WELCOMED the laid back sound of the Bel Canto with my Merlin VSM-SE’s but still realized something was missing. I was using the stock cord and recently purchased a JPS digital power cord. Bingo. The sound REALLY opened up. It was a quantum improvement, more than I could have ever expected. Who says power cords don’t work, maybe in some systems in mine it was a WOW! Of course one would expect a lower noise floor, improved dynamics and the sort of things attributable to power cords. What really through me for a loop was the dramatic improvement in spectral balance, soundstaging and bass performance. In addition the subtle tonal qualities of the Bel Canto came to light in a way that was completely unnoticed before. Ambient retrieval of low level information was revealed through the blackness. The aspects of what makes live music live were truly revealed in this system for the first time. This with a power cord, no exaggeration! I have made numerous changes and improvements in my system over the past 5-6 months. This power cord with the Bel Canto has taken the system to another level or two. My previous processor the P.S. Audio Ultralink is no slouch in the resolution department, problem with it is that digital edge that brings attention to itself over long term listening plus it is TOO forward, but a lot better than the PT unit tonally, that is for sure. The Bel Canto is in a completely different league. With reference to piano, on some of my REALLY dynamic piano recordings (I am quite sensitive to recorded piano also) I noticed a marked improvement in the jump factor and a sense of realness, especially with the cord. As Danvetc states in his post, try different cables. The Bel Canto is smoooothe and may be perceived as laid back but don’t give up yet, it is a very resolving, dynamic, smooth sounding unit that makes me wonder how much more one would have to pay to make a notable improvement.

Subaruguru Sorry for asking in last post, I see your system above.

Thanks, Tubegroover, et al. Your comment's facscinating in that I spoke with Michael at Bel Canto before my demo and he said they were evaluating power cords for the DAC1, and found an $8 french cord they liked a lot (didn't say if it'd become OE, however). I must admit my eyes began to glaze over, as I didn't believe it could make a difference. My system (noted in the lead post?) consists of Verity Audio Parsifal Encores (amazing!), powered by Aleph 2s I suspended from the floor joists in the basement under the speakers (heat/WAF) fed by an Aleph P, all strung by Nordost Red Dawn balanced IC and Red Dawn II (2.5m). I'm using cheap power strips (w/o surge crap), yet have a totally quiet noisefloor, so assumed power-cord evolution would be fruitless. I'm taken by your observation of a spectral balance shift attributed to the DAC1's power cord change! Hmmm.... Was the evolution away from being uptilted toward neutrality? That's clearly what I need. As nice as those pianos sound on the 'Canto, it's clear that they (and most instruments) shrink in scale!...Steinway D becoming like M or even S! FYI I measured pinks in the AB's, and noticed the BelCanto to be 0.4dB LOUDER than the Rotel 855, so I'm sure the laid-back soundstage is a valid observation of the 'Canto's effect, and not based on a softer level. Also, a few cursory 1/3 octave sweeps verified no other level differences at ANY frequency band, once corrected for the 0.4 dB diff. In-room frequency anomolies of my system, ref pink=0: flat 40-63, +4dB at 80, +1 @ 100, falling to -3dB at 300; climbing to +3dB at 600; falling to -3dB at 3k, then climbing to +3 at 6k, then falling through 0 at 12k. So it seems I have a lean lower-mid and lean lower-treble. The room-related 85Hz bump was worse before I got the Aleph/Nordost stuff. The bass is actually quite wonderful... its the midrange/treble leanness that's bothersome...and seems WORSE with the Bel Canto, again, maybe because its cleaner treble drew more attention to itsself?? Hope I'm making sense. Ya think a power cord can flatten this perceived-or-real upramp? Thanks again. Ernie PS I got a Steinway B in the room, so I KNOW what THAT sounds like! Ric Shultz wrote me that his new Millenium will be way better than the 'Canto (his words...I wish he had time to be more explicit!). What do you guys think? Anybody getting the Millenium II soon?

Sugarbrie Whether there was a measurable shift in spectral balance, my guess is probably not, I mean can a power cord result in that type of change? The effect noted was purely subjective in my descriptions since I don’t have a spectrum analyzer to measure the real effects of what I heard, now that you mention it. The effect on spectral balance subjectively noted was the improvement in balance and placement of the elements without any of the frequencies giving rise or loss to the others relative to the recording venue. What was most apparent with the cord, to put it more succinctly is that the mid band frequencies appear fuller and more immediate as opposed to leaner and/or more laid back without the cord. (the Bel Canto is laid back relative to my recent experiences with digital) I hope I articulated this so you understand what I am hearing. The blacker background and immediacy certainly has something to do with the RFI filtering that is built in the JPS digital cord. I also spend a lot more time adjusting the volume from recording to recording. Microwave energy abounds where I live (near KSC/Cape Canaveral Florida). The cord has had a direct effect of allowing more of the detail at all frequencies to come through. That effect also is manifested in greater resolution of the recording venue. Recording variations are much more apparent now and that is quite impressive and a big deal to me. The realization of how good and system dependent these Merlin’s are is more apparent than ever. Their only limitations to my ears are low frequency extension, below 30hz. They are quite accurate/neutral transducers. The overall effect aurally especially on great recordings was more real and immediate as previously noted with greater micro/macro dynamics, again getting back to real. I did welcome the laid back sound of the Bel Canto initially but what I really was looking for in an upgrade was removal of digital edge. The Bel Canto succeeded well in this respect. The Merlin’s themselves measure flat across the frequency band according to all reports and measurements by the reviewers that took the time to measure. I don’t notice any anomalies with reference to peaks in any frequencies, a first for all speaker systems in my room. Their sound is immediate which makes system balancing more difficult. I have had a difficult time balancing all the elements with this system because of the immediacy and resolution. Too much and the sound has you pinned back in the listening position. This has been my problem up till now, the Merlin’s don’t have a problem with laid back, their not! I probably noted less change in the upper frequencies after the cord change but I don’t have a problem overall with leanness as you appear to with the Bel Canto. Massed vocals now have such a realness with greater inner detail resolution that I also attribute to the noise reduction brought on by the cord. The massed vocalists come into the room with a distinctness of individual voices and air that is breathtaking. I have heard this before on few systems. On mine it is getting closer to that ever elusive live sound. It is a first on any system I have owned at least relative to digital. Unfortunately for me I don’t have a Steinway in my house to compare directly but my aural perceptions of how a piano sounds are intact. Audio systems generally DO NOT realistically give the weight and tonality that a real piano has. I only heard it sound REAL once in a large system in a large room. Piano and vocal recordings are always used as a benchmark when I make changes. I am quite satisfied with what I am now hearing though there is always room for improvement (maybe an OTL amp?). So far as noise is concerned, I also thought my system was relatively quiet. How quiet is it in the middle of the woods with no sound but the crickets and creatures of the night? The cord may have helped me much more than say it might you, I’m sure that is going to vary system to system. After speaking with Joe of JPS Labs it is his finding that a greater effect can be noticed by an after market power cord in the DAC/CD player than any other component. He’ll get no argument from this camp. This is not the first power cord I have used but it has by far offered the biggest change (improvement). The gentleman who I purchased the Bel Canto from told me he tried the Shunyata Black Mamba mated with the Bel Canto and noted little improvement in HIS system over the less expensive after market cord he was using which would probably indicate that he doesn't have the degree of RFI grunge in his AC that I do. And on a final note there is the matter of tubes versus solid state. No leanness with my 80’s vintage ARC amp and pre-amp. As to this is better than that all I say to that is you never know until you hear it in your own system. I try to look for concensus in my buying decisions which is why I have found this forum so very helpful. In my system the Bel Canto is working out well. Synergy Ernie synergy, that's the ticket!! Good luck. Will