Thanks everyone for their feedback.
Regarding the above comments, I suspect that their concern about the VK-3i actually came from my experience. That happened nearly 10 years ago and so I assume that Upscale Audio has updated their information regarding the BAT preamp because of my tube losses. I think I have those EH tubes in my preamp now - so it's interesting to note that AFTER I had issues they issue advice to avoid my pain.
That said, it also looks like, based on the Audioshark forum, that another user of the VK-3i has also discovered that it is a bit more sensitive with tubes than other preamps.
So, must consider what to do here. I did like the sound of the National 7DJ8s and the Philips 7DJ8s before they were ruined - a little mellower on the top -- but I would also not be happy to find out that my VK-3i destroya $500 worth of NOS 6922s...
Regarding the above comments, I suspect that their concern about the VK-3i actually came from my experience. That happened nearly 10 years ago and so I assume that Upscale Audio has updated their information regarding the BAT preamp because of my tube losses. I think I have those EH tubes in my preamp now - so it's interesting to note that AFTER I had issues they issue advice to avoid my pain.
That said, it also looks like, based on the Audioshark forum, that another user of the VK-3i has also discovered that it is a bit more sensitive with tubes than other preamps.
So, must consider what to do here. I did like the sound of the National 7DJ8s and the Philips 7DJ8s before they were ruined - a little mellower on the top -- but I would also not be happy to find out that my VK-3i destroya $500 worth of NOS 6922s...