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Got a BAT VK-225se ... Holy Moly!

So, yesterday I took delivery of a BAT VK-225se power amp, and all I can say is WOW! It’s like having an entirely new system, not a mere component upgrade. Bass slam, grip, and control are simply astounding, and soundstaging has a great deal of three dimensionality. I’m hearing lots of detail, and have never heard my rig sound so good. Instruments sound more real than I had heard in my rig previously. The amp it replaces is a Musical Fidelity A300cr with more wattage (225 wpc, dual mono), yet the VK-225se blows it away completely. I had never before run balanced between my VK-3i and a power amp, but it really makes a huge difference. I am really digging my system more than ever, and I never thought that a power amp could have such a positive effect.
rlb61
jafox
1,458 posts
 
however, it was not a night and day difference to my existing BAT VK-3i.
I had the BAT 31SE in the 2002-2005 years and loved it......until I heard the Aesthetix Callisto Signature in my system.  Such is progress, right!

The 31SE would certainly be a night and day difference to the 3i.  The 31SE was a significant step up from my long time (7 years) reference ARC LS5 II and III with that product's great 3D but the BAT had much more extended and smooth bass and a presentation back at the speakers and behind vs. the in-your-face ARC presentation. 

The 31SE pops up from time to time in the $2300 or so range.  And if you use the phono board in the 3i, the 31SE supports that too.  So keep your eyes out for it....or perhaps its successors 32SE or 33SE which I have no experience with.  Oh, and I have a mono pair of 600SE amps driving Sound Lab A1s and the pairing is outstanding so I can understand your excitement with your new BAT amp.  Congratulations on your purchase.

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tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,935 posts
 
enjoy ! every time I hear a system w BAT amps, pre or phono I tend to smile :-) they make great music..

enjoy !!!!!
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Sigh......

I really really do miss my VK600SE.

One of those items I should have kept but no I became convinced that class D was the new way to go.
Sheesh!

Enjoy your BAT combo!
rlb61 OP
789 posts
 
Thanks to all for the good wishes. The sound of the BAT combo is awesome and I’m having a huge blast. The VK-225se has amazing punch and control; it is a wonderful amp and I am very pleased with it. Not cheap, but this is a prime example of paying for quality.

One recommendation ... it turns out I had some DC offset on the line going to the amp which resulted in a very slight transformer hum. Hadn’t heard it with my other amp because it is choke regulated. Anyway, I bought an Emotiva CMX-2, which has a DC offset feature. I plugged the BAT into the Emotiva, and there was dead silence ... no hum at all. Here’s a link explaining the Emotiva unit ... I recommend it highly, particularly for units with large, toroidal tranformers. https://emotiva.com/products/cmx-2
dep14
336 posts
 
BAT makes good stuff.  I had a VK 200 for a while that I picked-up used.  Was a really great amp.  Punched WAY above it's weight.  If I needed a budget amp I would look for one again in a heartbeat.

I've not had the chance to own one of their pre-amp's.  I'd like to try one someday.  
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