Chu Gai
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2001
- Messages
- 7,270
And it would be appropriate to note that reviewing the power curves for the Bel Canto at Stereophile one will find in Figure 10 a graph of distortion as a function of frequency into different loads (8, 4, 2 ohms). Now the BelCanto is stated by the manufacturer as being a 120 watt unit (8 ohms). However if you look at the curve, it rather abruptly ends at around 90 watts. Peculiar don't you think? It's also unclear whether the rise in distortion is solely due to the switching frequency or something else. Work is being done by some manufacturers where a 'bullet' is sent out to the speakers which will blueprint their impedance curves. The information obtained will then be somehow used in the circuitry to make the amp more speaker friendly.
BelCanto uses the Tripath chip and that chip is also licenced to Sony. Offhand I don't recall who else (Sharp I think) is also using it.
So 10 grand or not, I wouldn't wet my pants dreaming about more expensive units. Bel Canto is a small player and their prices will be substantially higher. If I were to guess, I'd think Sony's R&D or Harmon's for that matter, to get digital right before others.
With all the problems you had with the Sony receivers, notably your mentioning of crosstalk, noise in your speakers, etc. why did you keep buying them and simply not return the unit to get your money back and try something else?
BelCanto uses the Tripath chip and that chip is also licenced to Sony. Offhand I don't recall who else (Sharp I think) is also using it.
So 10 grand or not, I wouldn't wet my pants dreaming about more expensive units. Bel Canto is a small player and their prices will be substantially higher. If I were to guess, I'd think Sony's R&D or Harmon's for that matter, to get digital right before others.
With all the problems you had with the Sony receivers, notably your mentioning of crosstalk, noise in your speakers, etc. why did you keep buying them and simply not return the unit to get your money back and try something else?