Description: Roon Ready streaming D/A processor/ preamplifier. Inputs: coaxial and TosLink optical S/PDIF (supports 16- and 24-bit PCM 44.1–192kHz); 10/100 Ethernet (supports 24-bit PCM up to 192kHz, MQA, and DSD64); USB2 (supports 24-bit PCM to 192kHz, MQA, and DSD64/128 in DoP format); and USB Type A port for use with external FAT32-formatted storage devices. Analog inputs: 2 pairs unbalanced line (RCA); 1 pair unbalanced MM/MC phono (RCA). Analog outputs: 1 pair balanced (XLR); 1 pair unbalanced (RCA); 1 pair unbalanced subwoofer (RCA); ¼" stereo headphone. Maximum output level: 5.5V RMS (balanced); 2.75V RMS (unbalanced); 4.5V (headphone; minimum load 32 ohms); 4.5V RMS with Bass Management (subwoofer). Analog input impedance: 10k ohms (line); 47k ohms (MM phono); 50, 100, 500, 1000 ohms (MC phono). Analog output impedance: 100 ohms (balanced; minimum load: 600 ohms); 100 ohms (unbalanced). Line input maximum input level: 2.2V RMS. Line input THD+N (1kHz): 0.003%. Line input dynamic range: 110dB, A-weighted 20Hz–20kHz. Phono input sensitivity: 2.5–5mV (MM); 0.25–0.5mV (MC). RIAA accuracy: 50Hz–15kHz, ±0.25dB. Phono input THD+N: <0.01% at 1kHz, A-weighted. Phono input S/N ratio: >70dB A-weighted. Supplied accessories: remote control, manual; Bel Canto Seek app is available for iOS devices.
Dimensions: 17.75" (451mm) W × 15.75" (400mm) H × 3.25" (83mm) D. Weight: 14lb (6.4kg).
Finish: Black-anodized aluminum.
Serial number of review sample: 10131, "Made in the USA." Firmware version: 1736.12. App version 1.1.21.
Price: $6800. Approximate number of US dealers: 30. Warranty: 90 days without registration, 5 years after registration.
Manufacturer: Bel Canto Design, 221 1st St. North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401. Tel: (612) 317-4550. Web: belcantodesign.com.
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COMMENTS
Well, a tilt control is nice, and I approve. But what if you want to increase bass, and INCREASE treble at the same time? As long as they're providing a tone-control capable device, why not give us the real thing? I get so tired of waiting for actual tone controls.
Have a look at the RME ADI-2 DAC FS. It sounds good, has close to state of the art performance, gets regular firmware updates to improve performance, has a powerful headphone output, is reasonably priced and has full tone control capabilities.
Thanks for the information; I'm interested. I guess a year or two ago Stereophile reviewed a Weiss DAC that does have tone controls, but I'm not willing at this point to pay that kind of money ($6-7000+ as I recall). My question was also partly rhetorical, aimed at all the people who are, apparently, just philosophically opposed to tone controls. Including manufacturers. So many imperfect recordings from the 40s, 50s, 60s, and onward can benefit from a bit of adjustment that I have no way of understanding their objections. Thanks again
It got pride of place above all in digital processors for 2022??
"A+ Bel Canto e1X: $6800"
I'm sure I read other dac's that got better sonic reviews and measurements than this did??
Cheers George
It got pride of place above all in digital processors for 2022?? I'm sure I read other dac's that got better sonic reviews and measurements than this did??
Note that entries in Recommended Components are listed in alphabetical order. That's why the Bel Canto is at the top of the list.
John Atkinson
Technical Editor, Stereophile
I stand corrected, with the "pride of place comment"
It's still A+, with that not so attention grabbing review/measurements. That uses a dac chip from 2004!!!
Cheers George
It's still A+, with that not so attention grabbing review/measurements. That uses a dac chip from 2004!!
I felt the Bel Canto's sound quality was definitely Class A+. And note that as implemented in the e1X DAC, that 18 year-old DAC chip offers slightly greater resolution than the high-performance RingDAC in the dCS Rossini Apex.
John Atkinson
Technical Editor, Stereophile
otherwise intelligent folks can't seem to accept that later iterations of DAC chips primarily offer greater flexibility by means of more complexity and not better sound. Cirrus, TI, Wolfson, AKM, ESS sell far more chips for computers and cell phones than audiophile equipment. The manufacturers' priorities are in line with the intended customer. It takes guts for a higher profile producer like Bel Canto to admit that they rely on an old design that they know well and have fine tuned over many years. Kudos to them.
Agreed.
That's why I'm a big lover of the sound of older well implemented R2R ladder dacs, chips, or the discrete new ones like the Holo May KTE which also got A+ rating, they sound sound better to me, more meat on the bones like great vinyl does except with far better channel separation, not like what Delta Sigma does "thin and sterilized", which from what I understand this is, even when it's converting PCM Redbook it gets "Delta Sigma'ized". https://ibb.co/ZJDsY9Z
Cheers George
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