Critic's Corner

Discuss a review. Provide constructive feedback. Talk to the industry.

Return to Critic's Corner

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

Bellari 555 / FX 01

72.224.232.198
Posted on January 14, 2022 at 10:13:05
mark.korda@myfairpoint.net
Audiophile

Posts: 1253
Location: Maine
Joined: August 16, 2011



Hi,
There is a tube preamp out there made in Utah called the Bellari 555.It is stripped down to the most minimal controls.It's what I always wanted being a (strait wire with gain) type of Hifi hobbiest.It goes for 275 bucks and is made in Utah.
I can't find any reviews yet in Stereophile or Absolute Sound.It's been out for a while.Are they afraid to review it?
Prima Luna has an add in the mags. I just mentioned.They show the craftsmanship,quality of parts,and price of their best preamp.Then Prima Luna asks why other preamps reviewed cost megabucks compared with what was shown in the ad.I know their made in China but the parts are from the best manufacturers,Could the Bellari 555 be a giant killer?...I would like to know.

Sorry for all the gripes but I bought this thing before the pandemic called the FX-01 tube buffer for 35 bucks on ebay.Not only sonically does it blow all the other preamps away I've tried the power supply and tubes put on a nice light show, like a planetarium.
Can you guys think of other things that Stereophile and Absolute Sound might not touch but might win a blindfold test? Take care, Mark Korda


 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
I like those bespoke decoupling feet for the ST-70! ;) (nt), posted on January 15, 2022 at 08:57:31
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16017
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 enn tee

all the best,
mrh

 

Link, posted on January 15, 2022 at 09:08:57
viridian
 Link below

 

Maybe this year, posted on January 15, 2022 at 10:58:37
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37645
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 you'll pull the trigger. I recall your asking about this a while back.

What's a couple hundred to quench your thirst?

 

May I suggest a better subject line for this thread: "ATTENTION JIM AUSTIN!", posted on January 17, 2022 at 09:26:42
John Marks
Manufacturer

Posts: 7806
Location: Peoples' Democratic Republic of R.I.
Joined: April 23, 2000
 How about:

ATTENTION JIM AUSTIN!

Followed by:

Dear Jim, Bellari's 555 is something I think your readers will want to learn about. Hard to beat the price; I want to know about the performance.

Here's a link: www.etc.com

TIA,

me


# # #

There is no conspiracy going on that I am aware of, and I worked a total of more than 20 years at the two major US audiophile magazines.

There are so many products out there. Some times it takes a nudge.

And when I actually posted an invitation on AA (many years ago) for people to suggest things for me to cover, a surprising number of these new or small companies, for a variety of reasons, were not willing to send a review sample. "We're OK as is."

ciao,

john

 

Unwilling to send review samples..., posted on January 18, 2022 at 11:28:30
mlsstl
Audiophile

Posts: 1079
Location: Midwest
Joined: September 1, 2015
 >> And when I actually posted an invitation on AA (many years ago) for
>> people to suggest things for me to cover, a surprising number of
>> these new or small companies, for a variety of reasons, were not
>> willing to send a review sample. "We're OK as is."

I can easily see this response from a small company that is already providing a comfortable income, and where they have no ability and/or interest in ramping up production due to an increase in demand that could be transitory or draw a lot of tire-kickers who end up returning product.

 

About that comfortable income, posted on January 18, 2022 at 12:44:45
DAP
Audiophile

Posts: 668
Location: Toronto
Joined: January 1, 2010
 How many of those small companies do you think are providing that? I'd guess not many.

There's not too much downside to an increase in demand, they can always increase the prices, such is the nature of the laws of supply and demand.

Of course, a bad review would be another matter.

Daniel

 

Bad review? As likely as a leprechaun riding a unicorn. nt, posted on January 18, 2022 at 15:57:31
viridian
 Nt

 

RE: About that comfortable income, posted on January 18, 2022 at 18:41:51
mlsstl
Audiophile

Posts: 1079
Location: Midwest
Joined: September 1, 2015
 >> There's not too much downside to an increase in demand,

There certainly are potential downsides to a too-rapid increase in demand.

It can mean that you have to hire people which is a serious commitment, especially if you don't know the surge will stick.

Same thing with facilities and equipment -- operations may need to be expanded. Leasing or buying additional space and equipment is not something that is easily switched off after signing those contracts.

If the manufacturer chooses NOT to expand operations, that too has implications if demand shoots up too quickly. Long waits and unavailability may tick customers off. The increase in demand may cause customer service to suffer.

I'm certain other businesses will reach conclusions opposite to the above, but certainly there are some owners who might worry about too much, too fast.

 

Yes, but, posted on January 19, 2022 at 11:22:24
DAP
Audiophile

Posts: 668
Location: Toronto
Joined: January 1, 2010
 The fact that it's a small company that nobody has heard of might stiffen the reviewer's spine.

Daniel

 

RE: Yes, but, posted on January 20, 2022 at 14:44:16
mark.korda@myfairpoint.net
Audiophile

Posts: 1253
Location: Maine
Joined: August 16, 2011
 Hi,
John Marks,
Thanks for that note.I needed that.My obsession to see either mag review the Bellari 555 made me forget how the system of the reviews works.I never really knew how it worked to begin with.
Viridian, thanks for that link.E-Stat, you aren't the only one that told me of repeating myself, but I'm holding my own at Jeopardy every night.DAP your a real caulka as a Maine painter would say...thats good! Missti, If I had you for economics URI 1976 I wouldn't of flunked.You made it understandable,thanks.M Hardy,I don't know what enn tee means but it reminds me of high school where the last syllable of your name is what you got called.I was Da. Gary Harris was Ree Ris.Gary once bragged about his new speakers with the EMIT tweeter.When I pronounced like the fix-it man on Mayberry RFD we got in a brawl.....
Thanks you guys....Mark Korda

 

"I'm holding my own at Jeopardy every night.", posted on January 25, 2022 at 14:18:08
viridian
 Amy Schneider, is this you?

 

Page processed in 0.032 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]