Construction methods, Parts quality, incredible imaging and sonic quality (sweetness of tubes w/clarity and control of solid state)

Banana/pin covers extremely difficult to remove, documentation very short.

I Recently aquired Bel Cantos' EVO amplifier and DAC1. In order to separate the differences they would make in my system, I kept the amp in the box for the first month. The DAC1 is incredible. I used it to replace an Audio Alchemy DAC (which was very good). After growing accustomed to the DAC1 (I have never heard better), I set up the EVO.

My system:
Counterpoint tube Preamp
Ariston RD40 TT/ w/Sumiko Arm and Denon MC cartridge
Bel Canto DAC1 DAC, fed optically from a Toshiba DVD
Bel Canto EVO amplifier
Von Schweikert speakers

I was immediatly impressed with the increase in definition and imaging. Instruments gained dark space around them, making them easier to place and hear. Vocals became more pronounced (I could understand what Ricky Lee Jones was saying!). The entire soundstage became more defined and deeper. The difference was so pronounced that I found myself going back through my entire CD/Record collection, listening to nuances and sounds I have never heard.

With every combination of equipment I have ever had, there was always an album/cd or two, which did not sound good. Now there is not! I am enjoying music I have not enjoyed listening to for years. That is the best attribute of this amp, I am listening to more music, and less "electronics".

The EVO compares well to both Solid State and Tube amps costing many times more. Highly recommend as a "best buy" component. Lacks the listening fatigue problems of Class A Amps, yet retains the honesty. Has the effortless and transparent sound of a good tube amp, yet has the control accuracy, and authority of the best solid state amps. This is a neat trick for us old guys who love tubes (shortcoming notwithstanding) but are weary of hunting down tubes for replacements.

WARNING: You will find problems with your system, that you never heard until installing this amp. I identified issues with my preamp and my turntable/arm/catridge alignment. I actually heard tracking errors from my cartridge, wich I had never heard before (small, but significant, tracking weight correction solved the problem)

Final note: This amp takes several days (Bel Canto recommends 40 hrs) to brake in. The quality of sound, straight out of the box is incredible, but it grows progressively better for several days. Sound becomes more liquid and unrestrained as the amp breaks in.

Similar Products Used:

Krell, CJ, Audionics, Hafler, AR, Mcintosh

Strengths: very musical, micro/macro dynamics, neutral sounding, highly detailed, precise soundstaging, non fatiquing

none

System:

Sony SCD-777ES SACD
EVS Nude Attenuators, rca
Bel Canto EVo 200.2
Eggleston Andras
Nirvana S-X ic
Analysis Plus Oval Nine spk cable
Black Mamba pc on 777, Siderwinder pcs
PSAudio P300 w/ ByBee internal filter
Argent Room Lens

"The EVo is a new approach to audio power amplification uses sophisticated Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and latest generation power switches to produce an amplifier with very low distortion,
very high efficiency and sonic performance which transcends past amplifier technologies. The Proprietary Algorithms that manage the Digital Signal Processing remove the inherent flaws with Class D
amplification through newly applied methods of controlling the switching operation. The DSP within the EVo architecture manages the switching of the two rugged N-channel output devices by
learning the characteristics of the output transistors. Then, based on the analog input signal, the switching output transistors are exactly timed to eliminate ground bounce, output transistor
mismatches, dead-time distortion and residual energy from the oscillator in the audio band". This technology does not suffer from the traditional analog output stage concerns of bias and crossover
distortion.

Continuous RMS power per channel 1% THD N: 120 watts 8ohms, 200 watts 4ohms. Bridged Mono operation: 360 watts 8ohms. 800 watts of short-term continuous power into a bridged 4ohm load.
RCA type and XLR / balanced inputs, gold plated 5-way binding posts that can accept banana, spade or bare wire connection.

Other strenghts: No AC coupling capacitors in the signal path, high efficiency allows ½ transformer size for a given level of performance, i.e. 500 Watt transformer performs like a 1000 Watt
transformer in linear amplifiers, dual-zone star grounding and double- sided ground plane fill combine with ground bounce correction, and first watt is as linear as the last watt.

So ... what does it all mean Bazil? Tube sound without the tubes, solid state driving capability without the size, mass, heat, distortion, and colorations. It has sound decay and throws a big soundstage like tube amplifiers!!!!

This can hold its own against any solid state amp of equal power output but at a much lower cost.

For a fair deal, contact goldmanaudio.com. While waiting for the EVo, John was willing to send his own amp for me to borrow since I sold my DNA2 LAE.

Similar Products Used:

McCormack DNA2 LAE

Very realistic and natural music deliverly. No edge, compression, constriction, grain or veil based on its use with proper power conditioning.

Mandatory use an isolation transformer or other quality power conditioner such as PS Audio.

This ampifier has an extremely natural and realistic music portayal. It has great macro and micro dynamics and, is neutral and clean. Frequency extremes are covered well and the entire spectrum is without edge or veil assuming power conditioning is employed. Image placement and dimensionality are also excellent. All other amplifiers that I have tried seem to fall short by comparison in one sector or another, usually including a fine veil or slight constriction with their delivery. Highly recommended but quality power conditioning is mandatory. Maybe the next generation will solve this issue. Right now any price comparisons should include the cost of a power conditioner with this unit however, keep in mind that the Bel Canto EVO is not alone in its need for a power conditioner.

Similar Products Used:

Adcom, Krell, Muse, Monarchy, Bryson, Audio Analog, etc. Mostly solid state.

Great retrieval of details other amps miss, soundstaging, solid bass, impressive handling of transients even at high volume.

Harmonically undernourished? See below.

Having read about the Tact, the Spectron, and the EVo 200.2 digital amps, I was more than a little curious to hear a digital amplifier. My first experience with the EVo in an audio salon was not particularly impressive, but hardly any listening experience is positive in such places. Unfortunately, it seems that far too many audio salons do not seem to be places designed to provide a profound musical experience.

[To digress, it is not at all clear that most sales staff understand how to get the best from the equipment they sell, and/or they are saddled with horrendous rooms that do nothing positive for music reproduction. End of digression.]

I was encouraged to borrow the piece for a few days to see what I thought of it. I was assured that the amplifier had been broken in properly and could only assume that this was, in fact, true. I had read all of the reviews at this site and it was with great anticipation that I took the amp home and hooked it up to my system. I should add that I also took some Analysis Plus Oval-9 speaker wire home and this went into the system first. My impressions of this wire were immediately favorable, followed by a rolling of the eyeballs, dropping of the jaw, and utter amazement at the clarity this one change had upon a system that was already headed in the right direction. IMHO, the Analysis Plus wire is a tremendous bargain. If you audition this wire, it is doubtful that it will leave your system! If I could only afford the interconnect....

After listening to my system with the new wires for a few hours, I dropping in the EVo 200.2. It was quickly apparent that this was, indeed, a special piece of gear. The depth of field and image specificity on minimally-miked recordings like "The All Star Percussion Ensemble" and Reference Recording's "Trittico" were both impressive. Low frequencies--here I'm thinking about recordings like "Trittico" and the Mission Impossible I soundtrack by the Elfman--were handled admirably with excellent pitch definition. In fact, it was in the nether regions that I thought this amplifier was remarkably detailed; more so than I have ever heard from Krell, CJ, Mark Levinson, Cello, etc. The overall transparency of this amp was really very good; the EVo was doing all of the things that most audiophiles want from an amplifier, yet, I also found the EVo rather harmonically lean--this possibly caused by insufficient break-in.

Even though the images produced by the 200.2 were quite specific in their placement, they were not as three dimensional as I have heard. The music did not have the palpability or richness of tone that makes it sound alive rather than reproduced. In this respect the digital amplifier could not meet the standard set in my system by my Sonic Frontier SFS-80. The SFS-80 is a push-pull tube amplifier with Sevetlan 6550C output tubes and Siemens on the inputs. It has also been treated with foil provided courtesy of Peter Belt to good effect. Switching amplifiers was a sharp and startling juxtaposition; for example, notes pouring forth from a harpsichord were harmonically right with the tube unit and the air of the recording space took over the room. It was as if I was eight feet from a stage upon which the performers were playing for me! With the EVo, the air was diminished and tonal quality of all the instruments shifted with less body as a result. It was still impressive, but not at all as realistic sonically.

The EVo 200.2 is a really fine amplifier and I did enjoy listening through it. I was informed that many purchasers are using two in mono configuration and that this makes a significant change, not just in dynamic headroom, but harmonically, as well. This seemed a bit implausible to me, but, hey, it may work. None of the other reviewers seemed bothered by the leaness of the amp,and truth be told, if I had not heard my tube amp I would have thought myself in a heaven, of sorts. I really wanted this amp to be the one, but the quest continues.

My system:
Audible Illusions preamp(Belted)
Martin Logan Aerius speakers
Sonic Frontiers SFS-80 amplifier(Belted)
Townsend Elite Rock turntable/Rega arm
Pioneer PD-65 Elite CD(also Belted)
Pioner DV-525 DVD player
TDS-II audio processor(another unbelievable bargain, but be advised, you will hear any warts along with any enhancement.)

Similar Products Used:

None. See below.

Great soundstage and very quick.

Bass could be a little deeper.

This is by far the finest amp I have ever owned. Out of the box it was very impressive. The sound is very natural and detailed. I still have yet to hear the best from this amp. Will be purchasing a second one to run them bridged. If you have a dealer near you this is a MUST listen! The Claytons are good amps but cost 5600.00!!! You can get two of the Bel Canto Evo 200.2 for less than that.

System:
Bel Canto Evo 200.2
Martin Logan Requests
Audible Illusions Modulus 1
Monster 2.4 Bi-wire (for sale)10ft.
Monster Interconnects(for sale)
Toshiba DVD transport

Similar Products Used:

Clayton M70 monoblocks,Krell,Pass Aleph 5