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BAT VK 3i vs Audible illusions mod3a ??

Hey. I'm still looking for a preamp. Since I just blew a bunch of money on a vt100mkii i'm looking for a full function preamp (line/phono) and was hoping some of you people could set me straight as to which is the better choice. (they seem to go for similar amounts in the used market). I've got Acoustat electrostatic speakers (model 3s), 777es, oracle delphi mkI if that helps. 70/30 for cd/lp
Thanks, can't wait for the responses!
kublakhan
pcc
150 posts
 
I haven't listened to mod3a's. But I've tried many others. The bat 3i work great with my martins. Pete
kalan
185 posts
 
I am familiar with both the BAT VK5i and 3i from friends' systems and from direct comparisons with other pre's. I prefer the Mod 3A to the BAT. IMHO, the BAT can sound a bit too clinical in some systems. If you value a remote and balanced outputs, the BAT may appeal to you more. On sound alone, I love the Mod 3A. It has wonderful inner detail, and is very musically engaging.
john_l
782 posts
 
I tried a modulus 3a & I didn't care for it. I only ran it with my mccormack amp/virgos/nordost. It was a mid year 2000 unit that had some telefunken NOS tube in it & the new stepped attenuators. I found it to be warmer but significantly noisier and less detailed than my adcom 750 preamp. Again this could be due to the tube that was in it & system synergy. What I really could not stand about the AI was it's ergonomics. This model had the hard stepped attenuators with very course volume gradations. In my system it was either too loud or too quiet. That was my biggest complaint about it. The sonics were pretty good actually (warm and alive) & with a tube amp I might have preferred it.
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