2. amps-preamps
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BAT's house sound

I am interested in BAT amps. My readings indicated conflicting comments. I noticed that some people say they sound like solid state. They are often compared to Audio Research. Some reviews say they are a touch warm and very musical.
I'd like to get your opinion on the BAT house sound, particularly regarding their tube amps.

Thanks in advance.
eps
jeff_jones
418 posts
 
Trcnetmsncom - Hi Tom. Coming back to me with a different perspective on price to performance is fair and appropriate. My guess is that perceived value has a lot to do with how well a product matches our preferences and personal taste. Happy Listening!

tuboo
93 posts
 
The BAT sound is not like ARC or CJ or Jadis.
BAT is clear, focussed, smooth, tight, fast and articulate.
no blooming or any kind of fuzziness here.
they are dead quiet dependable and have no tube rolling needed nor do they ask for tube replacement every year.
Yes you could say that if you crave for all the good things a truly great SS amp offers, BUT you want naturallness and emotional involvement to go with it then my friend, you have found your kind of amp.

i own 51Se D5Se P-10Se 75Se 250Bp and summed up there is no hiss or whatever tube anomaly experienced anytime.
I find the house sound of BAT all along the line, and i would be pretty surprised if you experienced something different soundwise when choosing the Vk-55 and VK-3iX as an example.
Furthermore the BAT remote control is so darn good you ask yourself how you ever could spend say 8000 dollar on a preamp which did not offer this convenience.
Build quality is top notch, and i say this as a former aerospace quality inspector and engineer.
every bolt and nut is rustfree steel, every soldering spot is flawless.
What i find truly exceptional is that they inhibit Triode, Class A , no negative feedback, AND sound clear and tight and serve the music in a sparkling and authorative way.
The only amp i have experienced as supreme in the midrange compared to the 75SE is the LAMM 18 watt Triode ML-1.

Yes i'm one helluva BAT afficionado.
Balanced operation Rules.
classical1
168 posts
 
I don't have a BAT amp, but still wanted to chime in regarding the BAT 'house sound'. While I was waiting to receive a new VK51se from BAT, I as getting buyers remorse when I started reading threads about BAT having a 'dark' sound.. I didn't know what that meant.. to me it implied 'veiled' or unnatural. I'm waiting for a new cd player, and only have 20 hours on the 51se, I'd rather reserve comment on its sound until it's broken in. But I will say, even brand new I sure don't hear anything 'dark'. I had a dehavilland tube preamp and didn't think it could get much better, but the BAT is in a whole different league in my opinion,(which I guess it should be at @ 3x the cost). I'm hearing things in cd's I didn't know were there. The build quality of the 51se is 10/10 and I was sold after talking to Steve and Victor at BAT. Even out of the box, the 51se sure cured any buyers remorse.
trcnetmsncom
431 posts
 
Hello Classical1,

Just you wait, it gets a heck of a lot better. 300 hrs or so and it really opens up and shows its magic! Are you using a BAT tube amp also? I'm one of the lucky ones who has 51se pre-amp and the 150se mono-amps. Over the years I have heard a lot of the competition and I have to say I will be a BAT customer for life. I must add they are great people also.

Enjoy,
Tom
trcnetmsncom
431 posts
 
Sorry Classical1. I have to stop posting at 3am. I should of asked what amp are you using?

Thanks,
Tom
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