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Is the Audio Ref-6SE worth 7K more than the BAT VK-80?
Greeting all,
I looking to replace an venerable Sonic Frontiers Line Stage Once Pre-Amp. I been looking hard at two products. The Audio Research Ref-6SE $17K and the newly released BAT VK-80 $10K.
These will be mated with a Pair of EVO-400's set up as Mono-Blocks and re-tubed KT-150's I like their snap over the stock EL-34's. My tastes in Pre-Amps is it has to be good with vocals but so overly warm and syrupy. That it cannot flesh out the detail within and recording, or sacrifice tightness and punch in the bass. In short it needs to provide resolution over sweetness. The Amps drive a pair of Legacy Focus SE speakers. These things do not like anything in the signal chain that fattens the low end.
Music preference are Rock, Metal and Classical. Think: Pat Benatar, Heart, Def Leopard, Evanescence, Lacuna Coil, Metallica, Bach Organ Works, and Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and you get the picture the bombastic material I like.
I enjoy how both Pre-Amps mate with my system. However, it seems that Ref-6SE dances with my setup a little better that the BAT. My crackpot theory, is its more at home with sonic character of the KT=150's which is what their Reference 160-M/S amps use.
Nonetheless, The BAT's build quality is more impressive, and I feel I really get something for my $10K. So it seems to me that I am paying a lot for that Audio Research prestige, than quality. Not a fan of a $17k Pre-Amp that comes with a plastic remote. That to me is a major turn off. So what other chintzy things are they doing with this component, in order to increase their profit margin?
Any additional thoughts and opinions are appreciated.
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- 36 posts total
Cool @sheridanmartinj. Every ARC component I have had bested the stuff I had before it. |
I have not owned ARC product so I can't speak from that perspective. But I do own a BAT VK-33SE preamp (direct predecessor to the VK-80 preamp) and can attest that the build quality is superb, as is the sound quality. I recently purchased the new BAT VK-90T power amp. It too is phenomenal build and sound quality. BAT gear works very well with BAT gear. But my guess is that a BAT preamp will sound wonderful with your Prima Luna power amps. Contact Upscale Audio, they sell both brands and can provide good advice on the synergy of the two brands working together. Best to you in your journey. Happy Thanksgiving. |
I bought a BAT pre-amp just a 5 months ago - new. Within five hours of use the glass in front broke and it took the dealer over three months to get the part replaced from Music Direct (owns BAT I hear) and also the right screwdriver to open the casing and replace the glass. I like the sound of tube amps myself, but everyone has their own pro forma. It’s often a personal choice.
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- 36 posts total