ACI 600 – Asynchronous Control Integrated

The ACI 600’s advanced integrated platform expands the way you live with your audio. The ACI 600 suite of options focuses on the core technologies of our high dynamic range DAC, precision volume and system control, ethernet streaming, programmable phono stage and headphone technologies, powered by ultra-low noise amplification for the ultimate all-in-one high performance solution.

The ACI 600 is designed to manage the complexity of all audio source and control functions with ease and efficiency. The volume and system functions are controlled by manually pressing and rotating the control dial on the top of the unit, or by using the IR custom remote control, or with your iPhone/iPad and the custom iOS app. The fully programmable display is easy to read and illuminates system status indicating source and volume. It also displays all programming functions and serves as the streaming display for meta data.

All source inputs are asynchronously re-clocked into the fully balanced advanced segment DAC measuring below 0.0005% distortion and 127dB of dynamic range. By stripping away the source clock and using Bel Canto’s custom ULN master clock circuitry we significantly reduces both jitter and distortion preserving the delicate audio signals from all sources.

Asynchronous ethernet connects you to the most compelling and power musical source available today. Bel Canto’s proprietary asynchronous ethernet and USB-A inputs provide the highest level of performance for high resolution files up to 24bits at 192ks/s, MQA, and DSD64. This allows you to connect to a variety of subscription streaming service or source from your personal library that is stored on a NAS (networked attached storage) drive, or a multi-terabyte independent drive to the USB-A all providing full server function with complete iOS wireless control using our SEEK control App.

Asynchronous Digital SPDIF AES, RCA and Toslink inputs all operate at 24/192Ks.

Asynchronous USB2.0 Audio is compatible with any PCM source up to 24/348, MQA, and DSD 128 (DoP). Windows-based computers require our custom driver. USB2.0 works natively in OSX.

MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is an award-winning British technology that delivers the sound of the original master recording. The master MQA file is fully authenticated and is small enough to stream or download. Visit mqa.co.uk for more information. The MQA logo is a trade mark of MQA Limited. © MQA Limited 2017

RS232 is designed to support easy integration with sophisticated whole house control systems.

The MM/MC phono section is a low noise, low distortion circuit that is fully programmable for optimum application with wide range of quality cartridges from high output MM 2.5mV to 5mV to low output MC 0.25mV to 0.5mV to optimized performance.

The line level analog input also can be programmed to gain match your analog sources and achieve the best performance from all analog sources. The line output can be connected to a powered subwoofer.

The rear mounted headphone jack opens up high quality sound for your favorite headphones. Plug in your headphones and the ACI600 configures itself into a superb headphone amplifier with a high performance buffer stage that can drive down to 32 ohm. Control the output level using the main control, allowing you to select the headphone or main speaker output while leaving the headphones in place.

The ACI 600 has WBT vibration isolated NextGen speaker connectors delivering the purest audio signal to the speaker. The fully insulated design is made from a hybrid of functional materials. The tightening nut acts as a vibration damper against impact sound as well as a pressure indicator. Made from pure fine silver each post accepts 4mm2 bananas and ¼ inch spades.

Reviews 

Stereophile - Class A rating

"Once fully warmed up, the Black ACI 600 shattered all notions of class-D sounding colorless and uninviting." "…I was left almost breathless at the enrapturing warmth of the remarkable acoustic captured by engineer John Atkinson for The First Tears…" "With space, air, and midrange beauty the sound's strong points, I hung on every note. Amazing."

Audio Esoterica

"Yet for all the power and fire in the bass, the midrange was gloriously rich, superbly linear and wonderfully delicate…the treble of both Maya Fridman’s cello and Atzko Kohashi’s piano (a Fazioli F228) shimmered like perfectly-positioned threads of gossamer in the moonlight, and remained perfectly balanced no matter what loudspeakers we used. Further listening with higher-pitched instruments, whose harmonics reached even higher in the audio spectrum, simply confirmed our opinion of the Bel Canto’s high-frequency sound quality, which can be summed up in one word — perfect."