Switch from Parasound JC-1 to Bel Canto Ref 1000?

The 1000M has better headroom than the 500M. But the 500M is using a newer generation of ICE modules which I think sounds very good. My friend and I were using the same speakers (Thiel MCS1) for centre duties but he was using REF1000Ms for all front 3 speakers while I used the REF500M for centre. The MCS1 sounded less lean and clinical on my system.

Bel Canto Ref1000Ms are based on the ICEpower 1000ASP module. The Mk.2 version features an enhanced pre-power supply rectification stage that I described in the technical section of my PFO review at:

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue43/bel_canto_ref1000.htm

"The engineering enhancements of the REF1000 MkII over the original model are exemplified by their newly redesigned power input stages, where high-speed,
low-noise rectifiers and high-voltage film and electrolytic filter capacitors are used producing energy storage capacity of 400 Joules—twice the energy
storage capacity of the original REF1000 version. The advanced design of the new power input stages convert the 120 AC 60Hz power from the largely unavoidably
noisy public electric grid into a clean, filtered, and buffered current at approximately 305V, before feeding power to the regulated switching mode power
supply of the 1000ASP module, which is compatible with DC input voltages as high as 385V. The optimization of pre-power-supply rectification is a general
methodology that is gaining favor among several manufacturers of switching mode amplifiers, including Bel Canto, Spectron and Rowland."

The rectification stage of REF500M is similar. REF500M is based on the ICEpower 125ASX2, which is a newer module. In spite of the 125ASX being a newer module than 1000ASP, having had both of these excellent amps in my own system, in the long run I have formed the opinion that the REF1000M review unit was not only comfortably more authoritative, but was also edging REF500M in sweet and open musicality... Granted, since then both devices might have undergone silent updates, and my early observations may not reflect current production.

G.

Send your 1000M's over to Destin FL for a hear!

Hi Glory, Sorry can't do... My REF1000 Mk.2s were review samples and returned to the factory. G.