McIntosh MC275 vs Bat VK-60: Anyone compared?


Hello,

Within the next couple of months, I will have a new pair of speakers coming in, the AV123 LS6 line arrays, designed by Danny Richie. The designed recommends 50+ tube watts for these speakers in a medium sized room.

http://www.av123.com/products_product.php?section=speakers&product=97.1

I am in the market for a tube amp to pair up with these speakers. I've got a Supratek Syrah pre that I'll be using.

Back to the topic - I am considering both the McIntoch MC275 and the Bat VK-60. Has anyone made any controlled comparisons with these two in the same system? Any relative strengths and weaknesses stand out?

Thanks
goatwuss
a battle of 'best buys'...both are balanced and powerful....go with the legend.
I've had the VK-60 monos. Very powerful, clean, wonderful sound. BUT... costly, finicky and will roast you in the summertime in a small room. Better hope you don't need to send these big, heavy monsters to BAT if they act up. Could get really expensive very quickly.
I now use the Primaluna 7 monos. Great, reliable, dependable amps. Almost a sin at the price. I purchased these used (there are some 6s and 7s on the 'gon right now) and never regretted it. They are 70w per. I love them. RECOMMENDED!

Good luck.
Maybe you could elaborate on what you mean by finicky? By costly, do you just mean that it is expensive to re tube them?
The BATs made a few trips from the West coast to the East coast and back (costly). Each time BAT "solved" the problem*, each time I had to remove the cover to correct something which was not addressed properly, etc, etc, etc. It did not feel good to pay hundreds of $ every time they had it in their hands, and I did not feel that much care was taken to solve the problems.
Problems: loud pops from the amps (not the speakers), loud hissing from the speakers. It was frightening to turn the damn things on.
I finally sent them one last time to BAT, and sold them from their.
A friend of mine has had a pair for years. He has not had the same experience, but he does not use his system often.
This is my experience. I hope you have better luck.
P.S All the above AND retubing per BATs recommendation.