Bellari VP530 Tube Phono Preamp with USB Output

I have seen better phono pre-amps but the Bellari VP530 is all you'll ever need as it has all the features you will ever need. Controllable gain. RIAA or non-RIAA EQ, of course, computer-based vinyl ripping to your heart's desire.Just a word of caution, don't judge this until sufficiently "broken-in". Tubes and components need some time to reach optimum performance. It wouldn't hurt too to do some tube-rolling and replace stock Russian tube with NOS US made ones which bring them to a higher level of enjoyment. My only gripe is perhaps they could have increased amount of gain possible to really make your records sing. How about adding another 12ax7 tube Bellari? Then you will truly have a winner!

The analog portion of this preamp sounds great. Unfortunately, the USB direct outs didn't work on 2 consecutive units. The audio from the USB output is a garbled mess, and only one channel passes signal. The documentation has no information whatsoever about hookup, drivers, compatibility; there's not even a USB cable included with the unit! Rolls/Bellari customer support was awful: the fellow actually said to me: "we don't support the computer end of things; we just make analog devices." I reminded him that a unit with an A/D converter and a USB out is, in fact, a computer device, and he just seemed confused by that. He could tell me nothing at all about the unit. I'd stay clear of the Rolls/Bellari USB devices: if a manufacturer is going to enter the digital world, they need to offer support. If thay can't do that, they should stay over in analog land where they belong.

I am not an expert on free standing phono preamps. This is the first one that I have owned. But I have condsiderable experience with tube preamps that have phono sections.This little beauty compares very favorably in sound quality to top notch tube preamps. The bass frequencies are particulary strong, and the high end is nice and warm, like a tube preamp ought to be. The output level adjustment is very useful for recording purposes. The headphone jack is a feature that would otherwise be very hard to find in most tube preamps.Highly recommended.

This thing creates a really horrible ground hum, and there is nothing I can do to get rid of it. To make matters even worse, it even comes with a sheet with (obvious, common sense) suggestions as to how to eliminate the hum, but making it clear that the manufacturer will not support the product directly to consumers, and so if you didn't buy it from a full service dealer (e.g. you bought it from Amazon), you're on your own.This definitely isn't a problem with my turntable or cartridge. I've tried it with two other preamps (totally quiet), and I've tried a different turntable with this one (hums). Connecting the grounding posts every which way imaginable, and using a ground loop suppressor barrel on the line level outputs do not do anything to reduce the hum. The pity is that without the hum, it sounds beautiful - play the output of this into a PC and then apply a 60Hz humbusting filter in Adobe Audition, and the result is a lovely, warm sound. And the switchable RIAA filter is great, too (especially useful when digitizing 78s, which is a big part of the reason I bought it). But I shouldn't have to do that whenever I want to play a record. I will probably experiment a little more before returning this, but am very disappointed. Looking around at reviews online, ground humming is clearly a major design flaw with this product, and the manufacturer's dismissive attitude in the sheet they enclose with it suggests that they know about the problem but basically don't care, which is even worse.

Top notch Preamp and works great with my Mac and Audacity to convert vinyl to MP3s. Only issue I have is that the unit doesn't have a power button so you have to unplug it after each use which is kind of annoying.

I always wanted to buy the Bellari and read many times that it was a quality item. Still when I hooked it up I was surprised at how good my records sounded.

It produces weird low frequency audible beeps apart from hum (which is understandable) . Needs to go back to the manufacturer day 1 after plugging it in.GOT THE SECOND REPLACEMENT IN. SAME NOISE PROBLEM. I CHANGED THE TUBE TO A NOS TELEFUNKEN BUT THAT WAS NO HELP !!

Love it.