Your Thoughts on the BAT VK-3i

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).

I had the 5i, 50SE, 31SE, and 51SE.

The 31SE was the best value. I thought the 5i was overly warm and the frequency extremes ill-defined. I should have rolled tubes, but its a lot of $ for NOS.

That's when I sprung for the BAT NOS 6H30 at $600/pr. Have been  enjoying great, problem free sound ever since.

That's why it's been nick-named the "Super Tube" It's been said  that  it performs closer to good solid state than any other tube, without resorting to a "cathode follower" arrangement.

Cheers George