Bellari PA550 phono preamp

[Gleach]

What's you opinions?

In all honesty I built a budget system and was going to buy the dj pre2 but found this PA550. Because I need the volume control its a convenient feature and about the only preamp I could find at a decent price with a volume knob, plus I thought it looked nice. I picked it up on amazon normally priced 130$ but I was able to get it for 90$ with a 50$ rebate after signing up with the credit option.

My system will include:
Dual 1019 TT (paid 30$ in near mint condition)
Mackie MR5 powered monitors (got for 85$ used)
Bellari PA550 phono preamp (100$ new amazon regular price 129.99$)

Amazon reviews are great on this unit 50% 5 star and 42% 4 star the rest are 8% 2 star it didn't Get any 3 star or 1 star reviews. I haven't seen anything in depth on this. I am curious what you fine people have to say about it. Keep in mind I understand you may not have one but below I posted the unit specs and the companies explanation of this unit? Amongst the negative reviews on amazon were things like the power light being to bright and no off switch, these seem to be common negative features amongst reviewer's. I didn't see much in terms of sound quality.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Gain: Line 16.4 dB gain@lkHz Phono 56.6 dB gain@IkHz
Input Impedance: 22k line and 47k Phono
Output Impedance: 8 to 600 ohms Headphone,47 ohms RCA
Frequency Response: 3Hz to 36kHz
Eq ualization : RIAA +/- I dB, 14Hz to 23kHz
THD: .005% @IKHz
S/N Ratio: )94 dB unweighted
PWR: 15 VDC
Size: 5.5"w x 3.5"d x 1 .25"h
Weight: .8 lbs
Indicator: I Power LED

PA550 – Three Channel Preamp with Phono

The PA550 is a sleeper. Its smaller compact design may lead you to believe that it is just another pre… but…

IT IS A MONSTER, it has so much gain potential that it will drive any amplifier made with ease, and not even break a sweat.

The amount of headroom available in the PA550 can only be rivaled by pre’s that cost enough to drain anyone’s bank account.

The PA550 tone is full bodied, letting you know right away that all frequencies are covered and nothing is masked. It never gives you the impression that it is making the treble too shimmery, or that the bass response has been overly fluffed up.

This is an all american, bold, strait-forward approach to reproducing your music.

The phono input has a lot of surprising overtones that will truly bring your vinyl to the next level, designed to be used with Moving Magnet or High output Moving Coil carts. The most surprising feature of the 550 is when you plug your phone into it (yes, we know phones have over-compressed formats that don’t ever qualify to be called “high end” or dare I use the word “audiophile,” but, for us, sometimes you just need the convenience of plugging your phone in and streaming something!) This is truly where the 550 makes its living. The improvement of substandard formats is what the 550 will be know for. Plug your phone into the 1/8″ on the front panel, adjust the tone controls, and away you go. YES, tone controls, the purist’s worst nightmare… the audiophile’s reason for not even acknowledging a piece of equipment. The reality is that when reproducing some music you need to boost the treble a bit or pump up the bass. Sure, you could sell your current speakers and buy some that cost a lot more OR you could just adjust the controls to your liking, and bring your listening experience to a higher level.

 

[Pnstafford]

What's your thoughts on it now after 7 months with it?

I got one coming my way.

 

[Jcbluesman]

I have one. It fit my needs at this time. I had nothing but a TT after some ear issues and had to start somewhere. It is great with my setup. Not being an audiophile, just like listening to vinyl, I've got it paired with a miracord 46 TT and a presonus Eris e8 speaker set up in mono. EQ treble and bass do work for tweaks and I had to have volume control with a powered monitor, no receiver, just TT, pa550 and studio monitor. For 130 bucks it's a no brainier for my needs. Sure may upgrade later, cart, monitor, tube buffer, don't know. Good place to start though

 

[Theron D]

bump for more reviews

 

[gnusound]

I recently received the PA550 to try out as a preamp for my Allo Volt+D class D amplifier. Speakers are 87db Vifa dual drivers (6" poly driver and 1.25" aluminum tweeter). The source for the PA550 is a Topping E30 which is getting digital signal from both a FireTV 4k Max and a raspberry pi with HifiBerry Digi+ module. Looking for a clean, warm sound that helps out the Volt+D -- if I go without the preamp the Volt can make music on my rather inefficient speakers, but it is pretty rough and strained. How does the PA550 fare? Listening observations to come.

For now, here's a picture of PA550 internals. Looks like they are using JRC op amps - a solid if low cost option. Love the absence of micro components -- only normal sized circuit board components. Hopefully hardier, and also easier to fix if something breaks.

PXL_20221007_121436039

• gnusound
• Oct 10, 2022

Inside view of Bellari PA550

 

[gnusound]

First take on the PA550

1) Let it burn in! The first few minutes of playing were not pretty. Took a little while for it to start to smooth out. Initial impression of vocals was "wow this is grainy". It did smooth out however. Give it 10 or more hours of burn in.
2) Rock and jazz music seems to be no problem for this amp. Detail, punch. A tweak on the bass or treble tone control might make the difference for you. Don't overdo it - I understand that these are both shelf controls => bass is 60hz and down. Treble is 3500hz and up. If you want more control, get the EQ570 to go along with it.
3) Classical and acoustic music, on the other hand, is more challenging for a preamp. I'm coming from a tube preamp, which I know is underpowered for my needs. Although the tubes lend a lovely texture to most instruments and vocals, they mask a lot of detail too. The PA550 has uncovered the detail. But it doesn't give up too much in the tone and timbre of the instruments. I find that solid state can make strings and vocals sound cold and heartless. The PA550 does not do that. Vocals are pleasant, strings have texture and airy quality. It has a neutral-to-warmish sound. Comparing from memory, I find it to be a more natural than the Topping L30. Both are similarly priced, and the L30 seemed to be a bit flat for my tastes. Maybe too accurate? PA550 has soundstage and dimensional depth (not crazy big, but it's nice). A little bit of contour with the midbass control of the EQ570 and your speakers pretty much disappear. I find the timbre of instruments to be enjoyable. Not tube-like, but good nonetheless.

I'm liking the detail that this little preamp is passing on to the Volt+D. It seems to keep up well with complicated symphony pieces (not an easy chore). Plenty of power for me (I normally don't play too loud anyway). It seems to fulfill the main objective -- to give Volt+D enough input power to be able to keep up and sound good.

Who is the PA550 good for? I hesitate to call it an outright replacement for an audiophile preamp. It's not that. It's not a terribly refined sound. Vocals are pleasant, but not lush. But it is fun, detailed, and there is meat on the bone. You might want to pair it with something warmer (seems like there are people on the internet that are happy using this in front of a tube power amp). I tried some warmish RCA cables between PA550 and the Volt, which I think helped may have helped make vocals sound more natural. But not a large difference.

Pros: Very solid build, classic retro styling, made in USA with quality (but not premium) parts, repairable. Tone controls for less-than-stellar sources. Turntable preamp. 3.5mm input for your phone. 3.5mm output for your headphones. Very flexible. A working class preamp.

Cons: Stay away if you need more inputs, hate the red color, or are don't like the lack of a power switch. Obviously not for those who are religiously opposed to tone controls or must have premium op amps and capacitors.

 

[gnusound]

A couple weeks in, here's an update on the PA550. First, I added a Bellari EQ570 to the setup, routing my 2-way monitors through the EQ570. A few tweaks on the EQ570 to increase the mids (go gentle on the knobs) and a little tweak up on the PA550 bass control.

The result is increasingly pleasant to my ears. Nice detail, seems warmer than when I first started, and plenty of power. Has burn in helped this device? Or maybe my ears have burned in? Either way, it's a very good sound, and I'm not left wanting anything different. I think the addition of the EQ has helped the overall presentation -- mids have dimension and depth. Tried going back to my tube preamp -- it didn't last long. A quality preamp. Let it burn in.

 

[HiFiJeff]

I have this pre coming in on Friday. I also have an Allo Volt+D but that was replaced by two Fosi Audio ZA3’s running as monoblocks. Really like them! I like the Allo too but a little more juice and lively with the Fosi’s.

 

[HiFiJeff]

Just got mine tonight. Will post more once I spend more time with it. But it is replacing the Aiyima T-1 Pro. And from what I am so far hearing, super clean compared to the Aiyima.

 

[HiFiJeff]

But how do you turn this thing off?

 

[HiFiJeff]

More listening. It’s just a smooth as butter easy listen. It’s not a push everything in your face pre amp.

 

[HiFiJeff]

First take on the PA550

1) Let it burn in! The first few minutes of playing were not pretty. Took a little while for it to start to smooth out. Initial impression of vocals was "wow this is grainy". It did smooth out however. Give it 10 or more hours of burn in.
2) Rock and jazz music seems to be no problem for this amp. Detail, punch. A tweak on the bass or treble tone control might make the difference for you. Don't overdo it - I understand that these are both shelf controls => bass is 60hz and down. Treble is 3500hz and up. If you want more control, get the EQ570 to go along with it.
3) Classical and acoustic music, on the other hand, is more challenging for a preamp. I'm coming from a tube preamp, which I know is underpowered for my needs. Although the tubes lend a lovely texture to most instruments and vocals, they mask a lot of detail too. The PA550 has uncovered the detail. But it doesn't give up too much in the tone and timbre of the instruments. I find that solid state can make strings and vocals sound cold and heartless. The PA550 does not do that. Vocals are pleasant, strings have texture and airy quality. It has a neutral-to-warmish sound. Comparing from memory, I find it to be a more natural than the Topping L30. Both are similarly priced, and the L30 seemed to be a bit flat for my tastes. Maybe too accurate? PA550 has soundstage and dimensional depth (not crazy big, but it's nice). A little bit of contour with the midbass control of the EQ570 and your speakers pretty much disappear. I find the timbre of instruments to be enjoyable. Not tube-like, but good nonetheless.

I'm liking the detail that this little preamp is passing on to the Volt+D. It seems to keep up well with complicated symphony pieces (not an easy chore). Plenty of power for me (I normally don't play too loud anyway). It seems to fulfill the main objective -- to give Volt+D enough input power to be able to keep up and sound good.

Who is the PA550 good for? I hesitate to call it an outright replacement for an audiophile preamp. It's not that. It's not a terribly refined sound. Vocals are pleasant, but not lush. But it is fun, detailed, and there is meat on the bone. You might want to pair it with something warmer (seems like there are people on the internet that are happy using this in front of a tube power amp). I tried some warmish RCA cables between PA550 and the Volt, which I think helped may have helped make vocals sound more natural. But not a large difference.

Pros: Very solid build, classic retro styling, made in USA with quality (but not premium) parts, repairable. Tone controls for less-than-stellar sources. Turntable preamp. 3.5mm input for your phone. 3.5mm output for your headphones. Very flexible. A working class preamp.

Cons: Stay away if you need more inputs, hate the red color, or are don't like the lack of a power switch. Obviously not for those who are religiously opposed to tone controls or must have premium op amps and capacitors.

In regard to the power switch, do you just leave it on 24/7? I do.

 

[HiFiJeff]

Where are all the Bellari people? I have had it for a week and am pretty impressed. I am like gnusound, wanted to boost the midrange/midbass on my system, so I also have the SE 560 coming in today. Had a hard time choosing between that and the straight up eq. But from what I have been reading, people seem to like the SE 560 more than the EQ570. We will see. But after a week of listening to this, I am super impressed with what $122 buys you these days.

 

[gnusound]

Where are all the Bellari people? I have had it for a week and am pretty impressed. I am like gnusound, wanted to boost the midrange/midbass on my system, so I also have the SE 560 coming in today. Had a hard time choosing between that and the straight up eq. But from what I have been reading, people seem to like the SE 560 more than the EQ570. We will see. But after a week of listening to this, I am super impressed with what $122 buys you these days.

Super late reply, but I'm back. I've also moved on from an Allo ... to a Fosi V3 amp. Bought a handful of opamps for swapping (and almost all were better than the original op amps). The Fosi has more power and pairs better with the Bellari preamp. It's been working for me, but I have been curious about what would happen if I go back to a class A/B amp. Curious about the Bellari PA5200 which was just announced in November. (Is it even available yet? I don't see a single review online)

I have not tried the SE560 - just the EQ570. I use the EQ570 to trim down my somewhat bright speakers and also tweak bass for a better transition from my two-way speakers to sub. Slight adjustments only. I like that it is active. As for the SE560 -- they don't really describe what it is doing to the signal - maybe it's proprietary

 

[synthlegend]

Curious about the Bellari PA5200 which was just announced in November. (Is it even available yet? I don't see a single review online)

This!!! I am super eager to see some actual reviews and test data on this amplifier. It seems on paper to be exactly what I'm looking for. Anyone, got a connection at Bellari?