Bel Canto、「 Black 」製品詳細を公開。

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Bel Canto Black – C1 Controller

The C1 Controller is not quite what you expect it to be, given that the e.One series of DACs which can function as pre-amplifiers and have been marketed as such since their launch. Where the e.One series DACs are digital to analogue converters, the C1 is a digital to digital device, offering input selection of digital sources, and a digital output in AES/EBU or ST-Fiber format. Why, will become clearer shortly.

In essence, the C1 is an ultra low noise digital source controller featuring:

・Free running Ultra-Low Phase Noise Master Clock core: Less than 30 Femtoseconds RMS phase noise from 100 Hz to 1MHz: 30fS = 0.03 Picoseconds
・Asynchronous Interfaces for USB, UPNP Ethernet and Standard Digital inputs
・Custom Optimised, 64 bit Modular Audio Processor Core-DSD processing and Multiple FIR filters
・32 bit digital Volume Control
・Dual Ultra Low Phase Noise Clocks
・25fS Phase Noise from 100Hz-1MHz1.0G Operations Per Second Custom DSP core with
・Proprietary FIR Apodising filters for optimum time domain response
・DSD 64 DoP support

In total there are 8 digital inputs on offer:

・AES/EBU
・2 x SPDIF
・2 x ST Fiber
・TOSLINK (Optical)
・USB 2.0 Asynchronous Interface
・UPNP/DLNA Asynchronous Ethernet Network Player

In addition to the multitude of digital inputs, the C1 also offers a single analogue input for a legacy device such as a reel to reel tape recorder or cassette deck etc. The incoming signal is converted to 24bit/192kHz digital for output. This analogue input can also function as a home theatre bypass.

Control of the C1 can be performed via a top mounted encoder/switch control wheel, IR remote control or via BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). The front display is comprised of 12 x large RED dot matrix display.

Weighing in at a hefty 20kg and with dimensions of 48cm x 11cm x 30cm, this is Bel Canto’s first full sized component in many years. Now, all of this is great, but what do you connect the C1 to?

Bel Canto Black – MPD1 Mono Power DAC

As you can see from the product name, with the MPD1, Bel Canto have moved the digital to analogue conversion away from the source selection, and used the ‘shortest path to analogue’ principle of conversion and put the converter right inside the box with the power amp.

The asynchronous interfaces of the MPD1 accept either AES/EBU or ST-Fiber connections, perfectly matching the C1’s outputs naturally. Once again Bel Canto’s ultra low phase noise clocks are in use. We only have a few specifications of the DAC, and what we do know is that it offers over 127db of dynamic range with distortion less than 0.001%.

・Switch selectable St Fiber or AES Digital Input
・Channel A(L)/B(R) select switch
・BLE Control Interface
・Ultra-Low Phase Noise Master Oscillator
・25fS Phase Jitter from 100Hz-1MHz
・Parallel/Mono DAC architecture
・Custom Discrete Low Noise-High Speed I/V and output amplifiers/250mA drive
・Zero TC Ultra High Precision Caddock Blade resistors
・15dB Gain

With the e.One series of amplifiers, Bel Canto used the B&O ICEPower Class D modules as their base, with the Black series they have moved away from the B&O modules and now using custom nCore modules with 1200 watts of power per channel into 2 ohms. That last spec is important, because for the first time you can use Bel Canto power amplifiers with speakers that dip below 3 ohms, something the B&O modules do not like to do!

・Ultra-low noise and distortion
・THD+Noise: 0.0006% typical
・128 dB Dynamic Range
・30uVrms output noise
・All Discrete Circuitry
・12dB gain
・Dual WBT Nextgen Output Terminals
・High Current Power Delivery
・300 watts 8 ohms, 600 watts 4 ohms, 1200 watts 2 ohms
・>40A peak current
・Weight: 27kg

The Black series is a completely new approach to digital audio and as we said earlier is a cost no object product line, and as such, if you have to ask, you can not afford it! Pricing has yet to be set in concrete, but from what we have been told, expect it to cost in the vicinity of a fully spec’d Mercedes A250 for the complete setup!