Confused about Belles 350a Reference amp

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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,264
    edited June 2011
    I have an app for my phone so just recently I've been taking some unscientific measurements. On well recorded material I can hover around 80-85dB and then hit 92-95dB on a peak. On average in my listening position I'm right about 83-87dB unless I really am feeling it, then I'll start to move up to about 95dB w/peaks around 100dB. I get zero listening fatigue at that volume, but after about 30 minutes of listening and then go to silence, my ears are slightly ringing.

    I was just inquiring because concert levels can be in the 110-120dB catagory which even if the gear isn't stressed is really too loud to be safe for any length of time.

    As I've grown older, I realize how important taking reasonable care of my hearing is. This hobby would be much less enjoyable if I had limited hearing. Limited hearing being over and above what is normal as we get older.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,614
    edited June 2011
    heiney9 wrote: »

    As I've grown older, I realize how important taking reasonable care of my hearing is.
    H9

    What? What did you say? Good for you.

    I'm doing pretty good considering I started late in life with ear protection. Still, every now and then, I find Stranglehold (or something along those lines) at 110dB is a great stress reliever.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,157
    edited June 2011
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Concert levels is insanely loud, IMO. I listen at levels in the 90+ dB range at 5 feet away with peaks at 92-95dB. Concert levels are in the 100+ dB region consistently, not peaks. So I'd say you listen very loud. If I had to endure 105-115dB in my listening room (typical concert levels at the lower end) I'd be deaf by now :biggrin:

    H9

    Yes, Concerts require the use of EAR PLUGS! Home listening shouldn't be much over 85-90dB
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  • leftwinger57
    leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
    edited June 2011
    about the Adcoms thumping. Either I'm the luckiest guy around or this is one of those misnomers that just doesn't fly. I've way in the past asked about amp/spkr thump and explained it happened w/ high power MacIntosh 2100s and some JBL and Gauss speakers
    and was told it was just the powering up process and that all volume controls should always be off and be brought up slowly.Yes of course this is not a home set-up but in a band application, but I think some of the wattage the amps we talk about can produce the same effect. Happily I have no such problem w/ my Adcom gfa555 and either pre that I've used ,and levels are always on w/o any thump or popping at all .
    2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E

    H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-

    Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc
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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited June 2011
    Did someone mention Pass? I think it's the bottom one? :biggrin:
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited June 2011
    The Belles is one amp I could've called my last one. Of course that's never going to happen :smile:

    I got the 350 from George and sent it for upgrade to reference. It got the soft start. I never had any breaker issue, before or after the upgrade.

    If you can, get it. Really a very nice sounding amp.
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • dbaldus
    dbaldus Posts: 730
    edited June 2011
    Just bought the Belles - should have it Thursday evening.

    Keeping my fingers crossed I don't have any power issues - everyone wish me luck!! :)

    2-channel
    Squeezebox Touch| MSB Analog DAC | Audio Research Ref 40 Anniversary Edition| Pass Labs X350.8 | Wilson Audio Sasha 2

    Home Theater
    Arcam AVR 550 | GoldenEar Triton One | GoldenEar SuperCenter XXL | GoldenEar Aon 3 | JL Audio Fathom F113v2
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,563
    edited June 2011
    You'll be fine. If not, you know where to go. Congrat's.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • dbaldus
    dbaldus Posts: 730
    edited June 2011
    treitz3 wrote: »
    You'll be fine. If not, you know where to go. Congrat's.

    Thanks - I've really had my heart set on this one for a long time and am hoping there's no issues when it arrives.

    I figured if I didn't try it now, I'd end up trying it out someday anyways, no matter how happy I might be with my current amp. I'm hoping the Belles will really scratch my amp upgrade itch. But then there's always the source itch, the pre-amp itch, the cables itch... and so on.:tongue:

    2-channel
    Squeezebox Touch| MSB Analog DAC | Audio Research Ref 40 Anniversary Edition| Pass Labs X350.8 | Wilson Audio Sasha 2

    Home Theater
    Arcam AVR 550 | GoldenEar Triton One | GoldenEar SuperCenter XXL | GoldenEar Aon 3 | JL Audio Fathom F113v2
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,563
    edited June 2011
    Eh, if it doesn't work out [which I'm doubting it won't] maybe we can swap amps in the future. That way, you know what I'm talking about and vise-versa. Who knows, maybe you could teach me something or we could teach each other something? That's part of the fun of the hobby. On that note, enjoy the music and we'll get up later if you are willing to entertain the thought.

    'Till then...
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited June 2011
    dbaldus wrote: »
    Just bought the Belles - should have it Thursday evening.

    Keeping my fingers crossed I don't have any power issues - everyone wish me luck!! :)

    atta'boy
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited June 2011
    So, did the amp arrive yet? Did it pop the breakers?
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • dbaldus
    dbaldus Posts: 730
    edited June 2011
    erniejade wrote: »
    So, did the amp arrive yet? Did it pop the breakers?

    I got the amp and tried it out over the weekend. I plugged it in, held my breath, flipped the power switch and.... no circuits tripped! In fact, the lights didn't even dim or anything, so I think I probably have ample "space" on my 15 amp circuit.

    I'll post a more formal review after I've had some more time with the amp, but so far, it's great!

    2-channel
    Squeezebox Touch| MSB Analog DAC | Audio Research Ref 40 Anniversary Edition| Pass Labs X350.8 | Wilson Audio Sasha 2

    Home Theater
    Arcam AVR 550 | GoldenEar Triton One | GoldenEar SuperCenter XXL | GoldenEar Aon 3 | JL Audio Fathom F113v2
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited July 2011
    And?
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited July 2011
    The circuit breaker issue is waaay overstated.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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