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Bellari VP129 Grado SR60e Combo Not Loud Enough

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Posted on October 14, 2014 at 11:28:36
Vinylized
Audiophile

Posts: 378
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: July 18, 2006
 So I finally got my hands on a pair of SR60's and was looking forward to putting them to use with my Bellari phono stage but the combo just isn't working. I have the volume control on the Bellari turned all the way up and the volume level is what I would consider half-way from a dB standpoint.

I'm not sure what I am doing wrong, if there is something amiss with the Bellari or if this is all the Bellari is capable of. I'm thinking the latter is not the case as I have read numerous posts about how good this things sounds. I originally bought it as a phono pre but with only 30dB of gain had to turn to a "real" phono pre (the Jolida JD9) to be able to listen to anything (glad I did, btw). I kept the Bellari thinking it would work as a headphone pre, but same probably, low anemic sound. My TT is a Pro-ject Debut III with a Ortofon 2M a MM that puts out 5.5mv. The 32 ohm SR60e's are relatively efficient for all intents and purposes.

Any suggestions? Would switching out the stock tube in the Bellari make that much of a difference? I wouldn't think the stock tube would be unusable.

Thanks, in advance.

 

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RE: Bellari VP129 Grado SR60e Combo Not Loud Enough, posted on October 14, 2014 at 11:50:59
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37565
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 Would switching out the stock tube in the Bellari make that much of a difference?

It wouldn't do zilch for a couple of reasons:

1. You could go the other way with lower gain 5751s but I'm not aware of higher gain equivalents since a 12AX7 is pretty much at the top of the chart.
2. Understand the single dual triode is there more for show as a simple buffer. All the heavy lifting is done by two op amps per channel.

You really need a high output cartridge to run it solo.

 

RE: Bellari VP129 Grado SR60e Combo Not Loud Enough, posted on October 14, 2014 at 12:47:16
Alex F.
Audiophile

Posts: 877
Location: Florida
Joined: February 29, 2004
 "You really need a high output cartridge to run it solo."

Unfortunately, his Ortofon phono cartridge (presumably the Red or Blue, both rated at 5.5mv) is already at the top of the heap for rated output.

 

Well then..., posted on October 14, 2014 at 13:54:54
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37565
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 perhaps there's not a good answer. :)

I had a VP-129 for a couple of years myself, but never used the headphone jack.

 

Say what?, posted on October 14, 2014 at 16:26:20
bare
Audiophile

Posts: 1878
Joined: April 14, 2009
 You claim 30 db Pre Gain and 5,5 mv cart output and No/low sounds?
How? is that even possible?
Both are massive output in My experiences.
There is Something Seriously! wrong there.. somewhere.

 

RE: Say what?, posted on October 15, 2014 at 06:45:01
Vinylized
Audiophile

Posts: 378
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: July 18, 2006
 I would agree 5.5mv out of the cart is high output. I think the problem, once again, is the 30 dB out of the Bellari. I guess those figures are somewhat subjective; but for comparison, my Jolida JD9 puts out 70dB and absolutely blows the Bellari out of the water.

 

Bellari Home Decor - For That Vinyl-Loving-Bachelor Tube Motif, posted on October 15, 2014 at 06:55:53
Vinylized
Audiophile

Posts: 378
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: July 18, 2006
 I think the most telling phrase here is "I had...". I'm still trying to figure out what the Bellari is actually useful for: as a pre-amp plugged into a power amp; useless (see link below, to past problems) as a headphone amp (disregard what is written RIGHT ON the damn thing); useless.

I'm thinking it's some sort of "Yuppie, look at my glowing tubey paperweight/vinyl rig that I can't listen to/home decor thing" maybe?

 

I found that for not much more..., posted on October 15, 2014 at 07:32:23
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37565
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 I was able to buy a used NAD C-160 preamp. Since it has a MC input, I was able to bring an 80s vintage Shinon Red out of mothballs and have it retipped by Soundsmith. That worked much better than the Bellari/Shure M97E.

That lasted for a couple of years until I replaced the main preamp upstairs and moved an older ARC SP9 to the garage system.

 

RE: Bellari VP129 Grado SR60e Combo Not Loud Enough, posted on October 15, 2014 at 17:52:21
ph5y
Audiophile

Posts: 178
Location: DC
Joined: October 30, 2010
 Is it possible the model was designed for CD and the phono stage was thrown in as an afterthought?
It's never too late to turn back the clock.

 

RE: Bellari VP129 Grado SR60e Combo Not Loud Enough, posted on October 16, 2014 at 10:33:38
Mechnutt
Audiophile

Posts: 17
Location: Woodbury MN
Joined: October 15, 2014
 It sounds like you may need a new phono pre.

I just got back into vinyl and use a Vintage Thorens TD-145 TT with a Nagaoka MP-200 cartridge and a Bellari VP-129 that some one gave me. The stock EH tube is crap. I rolled in a 1950's Raytheon shiny black plate which sounds great. It is dynamic, full bodied and leans a bit on the warmer and dark side. Second place was an NOS Mullard long plate. It is warmer sounding and would be great for a brighter sounding system or music. I tried a few other NOS tubes and some newer tubes but nothing sounded as good as these 2. The only one that I did not get to try was the Sovtek LPS which people seem to like.

Incidentally, my TT came with an Ortofon 2M red which was very dynamic but too bright. It played very loud in my system The Nagaoka is much better with a fuller sound and it is much quieter with a blacker background and more detail. I paid $215 from Japan. It sells for $345 here in the U.S.. You may want to consider upgrading the cartridge. On a budget a Grado Prestige Silver or this LP gear Audio Technica AT-95-sa are excellent cartridges.

http://www.lpgear.com/product/LPGAT95SA.html

Here is a nice review on it as well as several others-

http://www.analogplanet.com/content/nine-cartridges-compared-reviewed-and-voting-results

You may also want to consider upgrading the opamps to some BB OPA627's. I am going to do it and see how far I can take the 129 until I buy a Jolida or Pro-Ject tube box DS

 

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