Aesthetix Rhea vs. BAT VK P-10 Phono Stage

These are very different sounding units. The BAT will provide more macro-detail and bass, while the Aesthetix will provide more micro-detail and resolution. Air, or spaciousness is about the same. Which one will work best for you is your call. You pays yer money, you makes yer choices.

I'd have to agree with jmcgrogan2. Years ago I had vkp10se and compared it to the Rhea in my own system. The aesthetix has more resolution, the bat more meat of the bones...I kept the bat...it's more they are different than one is better than the other...About 5 years ago I did replace the BAT with a Nagra VPS/VFS

I did own the Rhea and for me it is everything but a "great" Phonostage. The higher gains were really noisy, it had a kind of unnatural bloom and detail clarity, I guess my "Listening Standard" is a bit different...well, I strongly recommend to do a listening before you are going to buy it. I bought it based on huge recommendations here from A'goners (85% Performance of the IO but much cheaper) ...

I have the BAT with upgraded caps and new transformers. Too tight for tube bloom for sure. I'm sure the Aesthetix has it's own positives, can't speak to that. The BAT hammers the music home though.