2. amps-preamps
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BAT vs. Mcintosh?

I currently own a VK-60 amp that I absolutely love but have often been intrigued by Mcintosh products. I will be able to spend about two thousand dollars on my next upgrade & have always considered purchasing another VK-60 but don't really have the room to run two of these massive amps based on the size of my listening area. Would I be better off trying a Mcintosh product, maybe a MA6500 or one of their other amps? I realize my VR4 jr's could use some more power which is why I'm considering the switch to a big Mcintosh solid state. I listen to clasic rock exclusively.
fishwater
aball
2,018 posts
 
Hey Theo - at which dealer did you do your auditioning? I would love to do that same comparison if it happens to not be too far from me. Thanks!
Arthur
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superhonestben
199 posts
 
this is a good one, I own a fair amount of Mac gear and am curious to the BAT sound, never heard it though, at this level, you must hear them in your house,maybe tough to do but is the only way.
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
As a happy BAT owner I must say that I really like the look of the Macs. The blue lit meters are cool!
theo's avatar
theo
2,690 posts
 
aball-it was in Denver at Audio Unlimited
fplanner2000
616 posts
 
Theo-

Listened to the 501's and BAT at Audio Unlimited based upon your post above, and noticed pretty much the same differences you did. In fairness to Mac, however, I will point out that the BAT I listened to was not merely the VK-600, but the VK-600SE, which retails for $11,300, considerably more than the 501's. The BAT SE had the BAT-PAK and SUPERPAK built in - the sound was pretty amazing.

Do you recall if you heard the 600 or 600SE?

Thanks
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