Your Thoughts on the BAT VK-3i

@kjweisner  ... thanks for the post. I've had my VK-3i for almost 15 years and, in all that time, have not had a desire to upgrade. However, a'phile nervosa rears its ugly head from time to time, and I begin to wonder what component, if any, I should consider upgrading. Thanks for the validation ... the BAT stays.

@rlb61, you're welcome, and sorry if the reply was a little pedantic--didn't realize you were a fellow owner!  I too have considered replacement from time to time, but never "got there."  And if I did, it would likely be for another BAT tube pre-amp anyway.  

If I had more time for listening, and/or a better room, that might happen.  But for now, it's difficult for me to find a lot of time (work, three teenagers, house/yard to care for, and boating/skiing from April to Oct). Hope to sell our current home in two years--we bought based on school district and bedrooms so with the last of my kids finishing HS after next year, we can look for something where listening environment is a much higher priority.  Maybe then I'd be able to discern some differences, but currently just no point in even trying!

Have you done any/much tube rolling?  Any ideas or suggestions on that front?

I did some tube rolling and, in the end, settled on the Platinum Grade Russian 6H23 Rocket Logo tubes. They’re the same as the 6922 (just a different designation), and really sound excellent. Also, I really like the Visseaux 6V6 and the Pope 6V6. Bought all of them from Upscale Audio.

From what I’ve read the real 6H30 properly implemented is very good, lower impedance, dynamic, better drive, transparent, more linear ect, and it seems if you don’t like it, your just being shown what the source sound is giving, without much colouration’s that other tube/s may gloss over.

Cheers George

georgehifi: The tubes that came with my (used) VK-300SE were flaking out on arrival. I called ARC for replacements. They asked "which of our products will the tubes go into". I stated I'd be using BAT equipment. The new tubes arrived and went bad in about two months (noisy and uneven output). That's when I sprung for the BAT NOS 6H30 at $600/pr. Have been enjoying great, problem free sound ever since. I wish I could find new tubes that performed as well (for 1/3 the cost).