New Sounds Audio

The BC1022 An Exceptional Solid State Stereo Power Amplifier

January 9, 2012

BC 1022 with optional Kingwood and Burly Maple faceplate

The Blue Circle BC1022 is a solid-state power amplifier using true balanced output technology. In Blue Circle’s true balanced technology both the positive and the negative binding posts supply an active signal to the speaker voice coils. This results in the amplifier applying more control over the speaker cone motion than conventional designs. The BC 1022 also utilizes two of Blue Circle’s other design innovations . It shares the same input technology as the NSL prototype and the same output stage as the NSP; both of these devices contribute to the open quick and refined sound of the 1022. The unit is very compact and elegant looking. It measures 15 inches deep by 17 inches wide and only 5.25 inches tall. The sturdy black case is fronted by an elegant black custom King wood and Curly Maple faceplate with the Blue Circle logo in the middle. The standard faceplate for the BC 1022 is a brushed stainless steel. However other faceplates are available including a sleek black Plexiglas. The BC 1022 can have a contemporary look that is much easier to blend in with most decors and with its size and weight a mere 45 pounds it can easily find a place in your home.

The BC 1022 produces 100 watts into 8 ohms and 150 watts into 4 ohms, but has the brawn and finesse to drive Totem Mani-2

The balanced heart of the BC1022

speakers with aplomb. The BC1022 is able to accomplish this feat partially because of the unique structure of its power supply. The BC1022 has over 488,000uf of capacitance. Blue Circle uses multiple small caps physically distributed along the output stages and a separate power supply for the output stage. This allows the BC1022 to work more efficiently. The output stage is extremely efficient, as it does not have to compensate for voltage changes. The result is a smooth sounding amplifier capable of producing the subtlest micro dynamics and the full swing of symphonic dynamics. Read the rest of this entry »

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The BIS Audio IFW power cord.

November 6, 2011

It has been 8 months since I last posted. I have not been idle in all of that time. I have done extensive testing on the BIS Audio Line of power cords and interconnects. This posting will address the IFW power cord. In August of 2002 Bob Neill in “Enjoy the Music” reviewed the “TG Audio Lab Silver Power cord”. In his very good review he compared the TG to the Blue Circle BC 62 power cord . It was his opinion that the 500 dollar TG represented a more than 90 percent improvement over a good stock power cord and the 330 dollar BC 62 power cord represented a 70 percent improvement over a good stock power cord. This is where my journey began. I had long ago replaced all of my stock power cords with BC 62 power cords. The BC 62 provided a much more articulate sound and greater dynamics than good quality standard power cords. What was I going to get by moving to the BIS Cables as their price point is a mere 70 dollars north of the wonderful BC 62.

The BIS IFW cable is somewhat stiffer than the Blue Circle BC 62 and is a little harder to handle. This is no doubt due to the construction of the units. The IFW uses a four (4)-layer shield and a multilevel ground. Bernard Brien claims that this configuration allows for optimal elimination of radio frequencies and electromagnetic interference. I cannot comment upon this claim as I do not have the necessary background to do so, but I can tell you that the power cords are quiet. The AC 20 and the IFW appear to be terminated with the same high quality Marinco connectors. They have a substantial feel and really grab my Hubbell wall sockets.

Test number one was the addition of the IFW into my custom Blue Circle preamplifier. The differences were immediately apparent and substantial. The bass was more focused, more controlled and appeared to be more extended. The highs were also more extended and had a more liquid invitation than they previously did. However, Arturo Sandoval’s trumpet lost none of its attack or bite as it soared into the stratospheric higher range which is almost his sole domain. Tito Puente’s hot timbales gained greater attack. The system, which has never been shy of PRAT, was even more alive and more involving. Voices were more textured and more natural. Barbara Cook’s “ Errol Flynn” and “ In Buddy’s Eyes” from the compact disc “ Barbara Cook at the Met” gained a greater emotional impact even if it did unfortunately show the effects of age on her voice. On all good compact discs and records both macro and micro dynamics were improved. If (using Bob Neill’s scale) the BC 62 represents a 70 percent improvement over a standard power cord than the IFW in this application represented a 60 percent improvement over the BC 62. It had really proven its value to cost ratio in this application.

Test number two was the addition of the IFW to my custom Blue Circle power amplifier. All of the improvements noted above happened once again but not to the same degree. What I did notice was a wider and deeper sound stage. I was hooked the IFW had supplanted the BC 62 in my system. I subsequently replaced the BC 62 on my phono preamplifier with an IFW.

If you live in south western Ontario or the GTA and want to hear these wonderful power cords drop us an email at newsoundaudio@sentex.ca. Don’t take my word for it test these wonderful cables yourself.

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The BIS Audio’s Expression…

March 23, 2011

After much searching New Sounds Audio has found a line of interconnects that is created with the same goals and precision as the Blue Circle line of pre-amplifiers, amplifiers and integrated amplifiers. Bernard Brien of BIS Audio is motivated by the same quest for musical fidelity that Gilbert Yeung of Blue Circle is. The first cable in the BIS line that New Sounds Audio will carry is the “Expression”.
Even though it is not a balanced cable,the BIS Expression interconnect has three copper conductors in each cable. The two conductors that carry the signal are arranged in a pair of inverse spirals. The third conductor is a shield. This high quality cable is terminated with Eichmann’s excellent Bullet Plug. The fit and finish bespeak of the care that Bernard Brien takes with his creations.

A conduit to musical truth

The overall voice of the Expression is neutral. The Expression allows the end-user to clearly listen into the world of music, as it would be heard in a live performance. The music is not presented behind a film of gauze or under a glowing harsh white light. It is set forth as the musician intended.The Expression’s strengths are its solid resolution at mid and low frequencies, the smoothness in the high frequency domain and its handling of space/time elements. Bass response is smooth and extended but may be heard as having a slightly euphonic bloom. In short the BIS cable allows the listener to hear the music as a true expression of the musician’s art. After auditioning these wonderful cables I replaced the Cardas Golden Reference cables in my system between my phono preamplifier and my preamplifier and my Moon Nova compact disc player.

What is the cost of these marvelous cables ? A one meter pair costs 480 CDN. To hear BIS cables in south western Ontario contact New Sounds Audio.

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The BC 6000

August 3, 2010

Simply Elegant

The BC 6000 is a precision reference grade power solution created to address the needs of an imperfect world. Overview: The Blue Circle BC 6000 is the latest result of a constant pursuit of improving the sound by purifying the power delivered to our systems. This tale, as is the case of many BC products, starts with a need identified by one of its users. In this case the founder himself, Gilbert Yeung.

3 duplex Hubbell hospital-grade connectors

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The Blue Circle SB 140T

July 6, 2010

140 watts of pure magic

The SB 140T is the latest installment in Gilbert Yeung’s stable of hybrid thoroughbreds. The SB 140T uses a 6SN7 tube at the critical input stage. To keep the purity of the fragile input signal Mr. Yeung has used two toroidal transformers in the amplifiers design. The SB 140T uses a smaller donut toroidal transformer for the input stage, and a separate much larger toroidal transformer to boost the signal to the high current output stage of the amplifier. The result is a clean signal path, which produces a sound stage with great separation, depth, width and height.

The total capacitance from filament circuit to high voltage output stage of the amplifier is more than 178,800uF.

Clean bridgeable balanced power

This musical beast is very conservatively rated at 140 watt into 8 ohms, 200 watt into 4 ohms; yet it has the power to smoothly handle difficult speaker loads such as the Totem Mani-2 speakers. The SB 140T can produce deep thunderous bass, liquid clean highs and a bewitching midrange. To hear this wonderful amplifier contact us at New Sounds Audio at newsoundaudio@sentex.ca.

Specifications:

- One 6SN7 tube for input stage.

- 140 watts into 8 ohms, 200 watts into 4 ohms
-Residue noise reference to full power output: >- 88dB non weighted
-Residue noise reference to full power output: >- 92dB audio band weighted
-Tracking error: < +/- 0.15dB
-Frequency response (10W into 8 ohms): 10Hz to 20KHz +0.0db, -0.15dB; -1.0db at >35kHz
-Distortion at 10W into 8 ohms: < 0.35 %
-Voltage gain: 21.5 dB
-Input sensitivity: 2.8 Vrms
-Input impedance: 220K ohms
Dimensions: 17.5″ wide x 4″ height x 15″ deep
Weight: 48 Lbs

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The BC 3 Family of Up Gradable Preamplifiers

April 13, 2010

Hand made excellence

The Blue Circle BC3 family of pre-amplifiers is up gradable all the way from the entry-level BC3 to the Galatea. These three pre-amps are housed in slim-line chassis each with ultra high-speed power supplies. The BC 3,the Despina and the Galatea Mark II have, 5 line level inputs, dual Shallco attenuators, loop switches, and two preamp outputs.

When writing about the sound of the Galatea in his 2000 review for Stereophile (http://stereophile.com/tubepreamps/510/index6.html) magazine Chip Stern wrote,” “Best of all worlds…sweet and silky, quick and slamming! Euphonic and involving, but with pinpoint resolution of images, as if an army of spinster librarians were bounding around the soundstage, organizing the images into discrete little sepia-toned events, carefully dusted, neatly alphabetized, and vividly back-lit for maximum focus and separation.” Needless to say we at New Sounds Audio agree with Mr. Stern. All of the keen observations that he made in 2004 are still true today. He enthusiastically recommended the preamplifier then as we do now Read the rest of this entry »

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The GDC the affordable entry into the high end

February 3, 2010

Basic GDC

It’s been several years since the popular CS integrated amp was discontinued. Many people were disappointed that Blue Circle no longer offered an entry level integrated. Welcome to the GDC the newest Blue Circle entry level integrated amplifier.

Although it looks plain, the money is spent inside where it really counts. The whole point of entry level is to allow people to experience the pleasures of high end audio who ordinarily couldn’t afford the cost of expensive, more refined separate components. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Blue Circle BC 6000 quite possibly the best line conditioner available

January 25, 2010

A look at the inside

When advising friends about line conditioning Mike Wright of StereoTimes used to say “Don’t believe the hype.” That was before he heard the BC 6000. The BC 6000 changed his mind. Read his review at http://www.stereotimes.com/acc101807.shtml.
The BC6000 is a precision reference grade power solution created to address the needs of an imperfect world. Overview: The Blue Circle BC6000 is the latest result of a constant pursuit of improving the sound by purifying the power delivered to our systems. This tale, as is the case of many BC products, starts with a need identified by one of its users. In this case the founder himself, Gilbert Yeung.

Imagine if you were able as an end-user to simply add a single component that directly through its use would significantly improve the sound in your entire system regardless of its total price. Read the rest of this entry »

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The DAR Hybrid Integrated Amplifier

December 9, 2009

The DAR with standard wooden knobs

The idea of a hybrid integrated amplifier is not a new one. Blue Circle introduced the highly acclaimed FTth several years ago. However, the idea of an exceptional well rounded hybrid integrated at an entry level price point is a new one. The DAR integrated is a highly versatile integrated offering the sure grip of solid state and the bewitching mid-range of tubes.

The DAR features sparkling highs that make music come to life, a sweet inviting midrange, full-bodied palpable presence, and a rounded controlled bottom end. The DAR will produce stunning, musical bass performance even when driving small stand-mounted monitor speakers but will also tame the overloading often associated with large woofer designs. All of these features combine to present the listener with an enjoyable musical experience.

The DAR, a hybrid integrated amplifier with a 6SN7 tube at the input stage, produces 100 watts into 8 ohms and 150 watts into 4 ohms. The innovative design of the DAR presents a number of technical firsts for Blue Circle Audio. It uses a “pancake” style toroidal transformer that has high current, high power, and high-speed capacity without the noise that is typically associated with transformer design. Read the rest of this entry »

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The PLC Thingee

November 8, 2009

The PLC Thingee:

On February 3, 2009, someone on the BC forum suggested that Blue Circle make a power line conditioner using the same technology as the BC6000 but scaled down and in a pipe at a more affordable price. Gilbert Yeung thought that it was a good idea and immediately got to work by that afternoon; a 4 outlet production version was completed.
Both versions the six outlet and the four outlet version have filtering equivalent to three BC86MKIIIs. It is a non-current limiting design so that high current power amps can be plugged into the Peed Al Sea Thingee without losing dynamics. To further reduce resistance, Blue Circle uses a double run of 14awg solid copper wire between filters. The power inlet is directly soldered onto the copper wires. Since the Peed Al Sea Thingee is so compact the power path is extremely short; therefore further minimizing the resistance between the power inlet and outlets. The silicone filled 4″ PVC pipe it is very strong. It can be installed behind any equipment rack and you don’t have to worry about anything sitting on top of the unit and causing it damage. Read the rest of this entry »