Help Wanna Buy Amp Tomorrow : ARC VS BAT

go to BAT ,better match with your speakers.

I recently too got rid of my solid state amp (Levinson 331) and replaced it with an Audio Research VT-50 and I am now enjoying music at a completely different level. I have heard the VT-100 Mk.II in my system but felt the smaller VT-50 worked better in my rather small listening room. I just did not need the extra power. I don't think you can go wrong with the Audio Research gear. Listen for yourself and good luck...

Your current gear is very nice stuff. What about the sound do you not like? You may not need to replace all of it but if you do I would suggest one piece at a time to see exactly how it affects your sound. I find it hard to recomend replacing the 380s but if you are looking for the tube sound start with a good pre-amp. To stay with the caliber of the 380s I would say at least an ARC LS25 MKII or Ref 2...whatever the current model is. Good luck.

I have the Bat combo, transparent cable and I use Wilson speakers. You can't go wrong with either, both are top notch. They are just going to sound a little different.

IMO, BAT, to me, is more listenable, the ARC, is just a little cool for my tastes.

They are both excellent companies with excellent products. The BAT's you are interested in are quite a bit more expensive than the arc's you compare them to: $16,000 vs $11000. I think the BAT SE equipment is more transparent, but ARC equipment seems to have a fuller body and sense of power. Speaking of, the vt100 has 100w vs the bat at 75w. I know my vt100 has been able all my speakers quite well. Excellent dynamic drive for a tube amp.

I think the BAT SE preamps are much better than the ARC's. I have not heard the new ls25m2 though.

I'm running a vt100m2 with a bat vk-5i to great result. I'm going to put some NOS tubes in it and see if that improves things further. I put some svetlana kt88's in the vt100 and they give it a little more transparent midrange and warmth.