BAT vs. Mcintosh?

The MA6500 is a very sweet amp with tube-like qualities. Ultimately though, you will have to try it in your system and see what you think. Buying used, you can't lose any money on a McIntosh so it is definately worth a try! My buddy has a Vk-3i that is excellent - it has a sound similar to McIntosh preamps.

When considering Mcintosh be sure to listen to the latest 2102 tube amp. It can out perform just about anything in its class.

As a current McIntosh owner I have been considering the BAT amps. I recentley, at a local McIntosh and BAT dealer did a head to head comparison. Using the Mc MC501 Monoblocks against the VK600. As a Mc owner I reluctantly must confess the BAT sounded more detailed, precise and the bass was much quicker and deatailed whereas the MC sounded a little "muddy" in the bass. I never would have picked up on this, had I not done the comparison. Don't get me wrong I Love my Mc's and think they sound great, but I am considering a switch. But I do want to do another A-B before I do it will be hard to part with the blue meters and glass fronts. The speakers in the test were JM Labs grands, Boulder pre-amp and Accuphase CD. No slouches in the group. Let me add I considered JM Labs for speakers but always felt they we a little bass heavy untill I heard them through the BAT's.

You didn't say what the rest of your system is, other than speakers, and why you think you need an upgrade. As many have stated, the VK-60 is a superb amp. If you wanted to upgrade from that, you might want to somehow get to the VK75SE, slightly more power and keeping the magical BAT sound. Switching to SS, especially another brand, would require you to really listen first, to avoid making a mistake you might regret.