BAT VK500 upgrade struggles

I agree, Classe is another possibility. I have noticed in my amp swapping that higher power amps of one brand lose some "lushness" compared to lower powered ones of the same brand. That is somewhat the idea behind SET amp magic too but it's very true for SS if both amps use the same basic circuits. Good luck!

I've never heard anyone EVER describe the BAT VK500 as bright and harsh. Never. However, you do seem to like things warm...One, are you sure the VK500 is broken in? How long did the previous owner have it? 2) leave it on for a few days, fully powered up, and see if it changes...it should. 3) Do you have it properly powered from the wall? It needs lot's a current, and if it's on ac circuit that ton's of other stuff is on, it may effect it some. All this will make some change, but not "night and day"

Also, better electronics can expose something, you may be hearing your source finally. I know your cd player is a great value for the money, but your amp, pre and speakers are ahead of it...sonically. It all starts at the source.

Hello,
JFRENCH has some good points. I would re-read his post closely and step by step. I notice a lot of 'goners seem to insert gear as if they are trying on clothes in a department store. No offense intended. I think that after all the research we do to buy the right components for our systems, we should give our systems time to settle in and gel. Be patient. There is no other rational way to come to any meaningful conclusions.

Also, if you feel you have the best components you can buy at this time, then its time to re-evaluate your setup.

I have a "feeling" that when you introduce better pieces in the chain, they tend to be more sensitive to power, isolation and racks. What is your amp sitting on? Can you put the amp on a separate circuit thats not necessarily dedicated at least? Perhaps you are now hearing "more" and need to isolate your tube cd player better now. Lastly, start fooling around with different cables. The best I have heard that are good in many systems are the Wireworld 3+ speaker cables and Eclipse copper ic's. These are incredibly detailed and smooth but not un-naturally so. They have transformed my listening experience at home and not for too much money either. They are top notch. I'm sure there are others.

I also want to mention that I own a pair of the vk1000 monos. I have had them in my evolving system for almost 5 years. Here are some observations:

They are more neutral than you think. I used to think they were dark,etched, and closed in...at different times. I learned it was the combination of cables and components. They are smooth, detailed, powerful, and capable of showing very faint subtle details.

These amps sound best when running very warm to hot. I do not suggest you keep this amp unless you are able to leave it on all the time. It seems to take days to regain its full character and relaxed nature if I turn it off.

I do not own any special power cords or dedicated lines for my amps and I'm amazed daily at what my system allows me to hear.

Try also to put your amps on a wood stand of any type. My amps sit on a hand made stand with rollers which sits on carpet thats layed over a hardwood floor. This brought a more mellow and cohesive sound immediately.

I believe your amp search could be over for a very long time. Take the time to live with it. Unfortunately, the BAT won't hide your other components from you.

Good luck.

You should hear the Conrad Johnson 2500A amp. It sounds unbelievable. Its sounds like a tube amp but with nice detail. I'm using the 2500A and Krell KBL preamp on the JM Lab 920.1 speakers. What a combo.

What about using a different set of tubes in the CD unit to alter the sound?