Bellari preamp?

[67rayson]

Wanting to purchase a preamp?
what is a good, moderate priced preamp?
I was looking at a bellari 130 ?
Any Thoughts?

[Tedrick]

I assume you mean phono-preamp, as the VP-130 is a phono-preamp only; it does not have a volume control or an amp section for connection to speakers.

I have not used a VP-130, but I owned its predecessor the VP-129. The 129 was (and still is) one of the genuine bargains in audio, a budget component that performs way above its pricepoint. The VP-130 was an upgrade/improvement over the earlier model, which had a tendency to hum in many systems. From all I've read, the VP-130 has largely eliminated this issue.

What you get in the 130 is a moving-magnet phono preamp with a single 12AX7 tube in the output stage to give a little of the tube warmth and glow. The 12AX7 is a common tube, and since the 130 only uses one, you can dabble in tube rolling without breaking the bank. The 130 has about 30 dB of gain, which is enough for most moving magnet cartridges and high-output moving coils of at least 3.5 or 4 millivolts output. If you plan to use low-output moving coils, you'll either need to add a step-up transformer or look elsewhere.

In the same price range as the Bellari, other phono preamps worth considering include the following:

• Musical Fidelity V-LPS (can do both MM and LOMC)
• Cambridge Audio Azur 640P (can do both MM and LOMC)
• Rega Mini
• Nerve Audio PH-1
• Pro-ject Phono Box S

[67rayson]

Thanks for the info!
Yes i meant a phono preamp.
I have also been looking at a a rotel rq9708x
any thoughts on the rotel unit?

[pivot]

What you get in the 130 is a moving-magnet phono preamp with a single 12AX7 tube in the output stage to give a little of the tube warmth and glow.

The tube is the INPUT stage not in the output.

There is a thread here that include a link to a schematic of the very similar 129.

viewtopic.php?t=20586


The 12AX7 forms the first gain stage the cartridge "sees". It is the gain stage before equalization is introduced. The rest of the gain stages, through the output, are solid stage IC chips.

The tube needs rolling and 30 db of gain seems a little low to me.

Google around and find that not everybody is a fan. I tend to suggest the Cambridge units at this price point.

If you gotta hear one I'd try the used market. You can flip it with minimum loss.

[jackfish]

The Cambridge Audio 651P ($230) has been getting good buzz lately. Probably don't have to look much further. The older Cambridge Audio 640P would be another good choice and can be found for around $180 right now. You would have to bump up to around $400 to get significant improvement.

[Tedrick]

The tube is the INPUT stage not in the output.

Just relaying information that I read elsewhere. The product descriptions on both Needledoctor (http://www.needledoctor.com/Bellari-VP130-Tube-Phono-Preamp) and Music Direct (http://www.musicdirect.com/p-3401-bellari-vp130-tube-phono-preamp.aspx) state that the tube is in the output stage.

[pivot]

Not to flog this to death, but the sales sites are incorrect.

Look at the schematic in the thread I linked to, or better, look under the hood of an actual unit if you have one handy. Input jacks to 47 k ohm loading resistor and then right into the 12AX7 triode. Outputs are dual section op-amp chips either for line or headphones. VP129 and VP130 are pretty much the same circuit.

Some other manufactures did take the "toss a tube buffer at an op-amp circuit and call it a tube preamp" approach but at least Bellari uses a tube as one gain stage.

[duficity]

I used the Bellari 530 for recording vinyl to hard disc. the 530 is basically the 130 with volume control, line in, usb out and headphone jack. Sound was more than acceptable and features came in handy.
I have also used the Cambridge 640p and Rotel, both are good at their price level.I preferred the Cambridge.

[Ianibby]

I have a vp 130 that I'm selling has 200 or so hours on it.