End Game Bel Canto ACI600 integrated amplifier

So when you are offered the chance to spend some time with one of the worlds best integrated amplifiers its hard to say no. The Bel Canto ACI600 is without doubt world class and you know it as you lift to from its box as its both reassuringly heavy to match its reassuringly expensive price tag. Can an integrated amplifier that costs £34,000 really be that good?

Over the last few weeks we have really put it through its paces taking advantage of this 'swiss army knife' of a product. Yes the ACI600 isn't just a integrated amplifier but also has a very impressive streamer, phonostage, DAC, headphone amplifier & it even washes up (I made the last bit up).

Functionally whether you choose to navigate is cool red dot matrix menus via the silky smooth jog wheel or very solid billet aluminium remote everything is so well designed. Features such as TILT, Subwoofer out, volume steps and many more are easy to understand and work making this a very easy to live with product.

Much is discussed online about Class D amplification. Many naysayers often haven't even heard a great Class D amplifier but they still choose to dismiss this class of amplification without even giving it a chance. What instantly struck us about the Bel Canto ACI600 (and their other products tbh) is that it doesn't sound like class D - but hold on what does class D sound like anyway?

What you need to do with the Bel Canto ACI600 is not judge it on your presuppositions of how its making the sound instead just listen to what it does & immerse yourself.

Sonically the ACI600 is of course a powerhouse with effortless drive that would comfortably power any speaker you might choose to partner with it (we have been using our beautiful Rosso Florentino Volterra & our own HEX3 open baffles). Power has never been a problem for class D products but historically many have lacked that finesse and emotional connection say a great valve amplifier might offer... The ACI600 however doesn't suffer from any of those problems. From the deadly quiet background appears a sound that simply exists in free space.

The soundstage this amplifier produces is superb with pinpoint placement of instruments, band members and even the crowd should it be a live recording. Having spent the afternoon with Michael one of the owners of the US based Bel Canto recently he explained that one of the companies aims is to lower the noise floor therefore allowing the music to shine through (I completely get this now).

Streaming through the both the Bel Canto app & Roon has been rock solid as we searched Qobuz for tracks to push the ACI600. The Phonostage has been used with a host of turntables/arms & cartridge combinations including our reference Kuzma/Ortofon Verismo deck and its very accomplished.

So who is the Bel Canto ACI600 integrated for?

The answer is simple... literally anyone that wants world class sonic performance without the hassle of a complex multi box system. Forget the big hifi rack, multiple boxes you can't even lift, power supplies & of course the obligatory tangle of cables that usual comes as a result of a top system system. If you choose to feed other components into the ACI600 they will be well looked after but if you are a digital only user the ACI600 is all you really need.

Yes the entry point into this level of product is high but if your budget stretches to it and you have had enough of the boxes multiplying and you want an easier life you owe it to yourself to take listen.