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Need help on the quality of electronics

64.12.116.16
Posted on November 1, 2009 at 15:33:37
John B
 Hi, I'll try to me this quick and hope to get some good guidance from the amp asylum pool of experienced audiophiles.

Due to a passing in their family, a relative of mine is going to be selling some electronics. I had offered to purchased a set, but do not know which of these units would offer better performance. I believe the make and models are as follows: (I am taking this off of the units and their boxes)

1- a Butler 5150 150 watt amp
2- a Belles Ref 150A 125 watt amp
3- a B&K 4430 200 watt amp
4- an Anthem AVR 30 Pre/amp
5- a B&K ref 50 pre/amp.

I do not know much about these units, but was told if I was interested I would be offered two units of my choice. They were going to get rid of the other units through the family along with some speakers.

I am current using an old marantz receiver and was wondering if anyone could help me decide if one combination is better than another and if it would be a step up from my receiver which is the SR 7000.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
RE: Need help on the quality of electronics, posted on November 2, 2009 at 11:35:53
Nglazer
Audiophile

Posts: 196
Location: New york
Joined: June 22, 2003
 Take the Belles. Excellent, sweet & musical amp.

Neal

Not about the quality of the electronics, posted on November 1, 2009 at 19:33:41
Bill the K
Audiophile

Posts: 2324
Joined: June 3, 2006
 Posts of this nature, of an audiophile's passing, makes me sad.It appears most of the time that the children are not quite audiophiles and the carefully bought and lovingly nurtured high class equipments become orphans.Audiophiles should mention in their Will who inherits the equipments,somebody who would take care of these wonderful amps and preamps and if sold, it should be to somebody who appreciates the value.

Hafta take mine with me......, posted on November 2, 2009 at 08:25:27
Marc Bratton
Audiophile

Posts: 4582
Joined: June 15, 2000
 ...since I'm in that boat. Have to start learning to do some heavy lifting, NOW, with my astral body, since my signal chain weighs a lot more than I do, and I have thousands of LP's.

I'm open to the idea of adoption, Marc... :) (nt), posted on November 3, 2009 at 14:41:17
VynylTap
Audiophile

Posts: 1124
Location: USA - SouthEast
Joined: November 16, 2007
 :)


"I'll play it and tell you what it is later..." - Miles Davis
RE: Need help on the quality of electronics, posted on November 1, 2009 at 17:30:59
DKL
Audiophile

Posts: 531
Location: Orlando, FL
Joined: November 20, 2001
 I've owned a Belles Ref 150A for over two years, and it sounds great with my Merlin VSM-MXe speakers, which are known to sound best with tubes (I do run a tubed preamp in my setup). Great amp, and a keeper.

RE: Need help on the quality of electronics, posted on November 1, 2009 at 16:00:29
Frank I
Audiophile

Posts: 745
Joined: December 9, 2001
 Keep the bells amp and Anthe, preamp sell the rest.

Ditto- Belles and Anthem...nt, posted on November 2, 2009 at 16:20:24
Dman
Industry Professional

Posts: 3844
Location: Southern Ontario
Joined: January 28, 2001
 nt
"We ask our artists to be true. Actually, we demand that our artists be true. When poets, storytellers, & singers lie to us for money, our culture is diseased & in decline."
-Robert Fripp
RE: Need help on the quality of electronics, posted on November 1, 2009 at 19:44:35
John B
 Thanks guys for helping to decide which direction to go. It shows I needed some guidance as I would have thought the B&K amp with the 200 watts would be a better amp, but it seems, based on your comments that the lesser watt amp (the Belles) is the more favored amp.

Thanks again

Think of the B&K amp as a Chevy with a big block..., posted on November 2, 2009 at 02:48:05
Allen Wright
Manufacturer

Posts: 4737
Location: Schaffhausen
Joined: January 31, 2002
 ...the Belles as a Mercedes - but with a slightly smaller (but still more than enough) V8 engine.

Regards, Allen

RE: Think of the B&K amp as a Chevy with a big block..., posted on November 3, 2009 at 07:42:28
jult52
Audiophile

Posts: 169
Location: Philadelphia
Joined: May 27, 2009
 A bit harsh. I'd say the B&K was like an Acura while the Belles would be like a Mercedes or Lexus.

RE: Think of the B&K amp as a Chevy with a big block..., posted on November 2, 2009 at 14:47:29
Ron Oehlert
Audiophile

Posts: 4649
Joined: December 18, 2003
 Yep, watts alone is a poor Hi-Fi selection criteria. Just as horsepower alone is a poor selection criteria for automobiles that have to turn corners vs simply go in a straight line.

Agree---NT, posted on November 1, 2009 at 16:36:31
lancelot
Audiophile

Posts: 1232
Joined: March 23, 2001
 NT

I'd say the Belles, posted on November 1, 2009 at 16:00:18
Metralla
Audiophile

Posts: 6417
Location: San Jose, California
Joined: January 30, 2001
 Nice power amp.

Regards,
Geoff

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