Bat VK-P10 and Sonic Frontiers SFP 1 Signature

I'd go to a good solid state front end or a transformer for low output MC cartridges, especially if you are using a tube ine preamp. I use an updated Pass Ono. The Ono has a true balanced output as does its follow on X ono and sounds great single-ended or balanced. BTW, I am not anti tube, I just received my Wolcotts and they are wonderful and quiet as "the proverbial tomb."

jfrech, I beg to differ with you, but I brought the VK-P10 into True Sound Audio and Nick spoke with Victor and someone else at BAT and both indicated that the input circuitry eas modified on later VK-P10s to make the inputs truely balanced,

you're not the first i hear having complains and issues about BAT units but they can realy sound great.

due to their lack of built quality i would never buy any BAT used unless Viktor will make a transferable warranty on his units(face the fact that units loose its value by more than half after being used one year!). they certainly won't offer you to remedy the problem without $$$ for used unit.

i just only hope that True Sound Audio gave you some warranty or return policy on that unit so you won't be hurt.

otherwise hissing noise is a problem that shouldn't take place in either configuration or setup balanced or unbalanced. that could be caused by a bunch of reasons that none can reveal unless this unit tested internally.

that clearaudio ground noice issue in balanced configuration tells me that the negative pin has a zero polarity and disconnected from the ground one. please check polarity to clarify.

please, make sure that you rolled the right tubes(meaning a genuine ones), placed them on the right places and the tubes are trully matched for your unit.

The unit was shipped back to BAT and found to have a defective regulator. i was told that this would definetly cause the preamp to be noisy. It's on its way back and I'll report on the results. By the way, they fixed the unit at no charge to me.