BAT VK-60, VK-55 or ????

Sam, buy another Predator and then get a pair of Dodds. Better bass, less heat, less expense to retube, same mid range, more flexibility in rolling tubes and top end extension, and lots easier to handle.

The Money diff, if much at all, will be well worth spending and at twice the power of either you'll be less restricted if you make speaker changes in the future.

If the price between them isn't huge, just wait and do the 55 as you like it a lot anyways.

But them Dodds ain't bad. Not bad at all. Versus the 55 or 60, I think they are a slam dunk no brainer if you do the 120 MK II with cap upgrades.

Either go with what ya know, or get mo for your dough.

The 60 is way better than the 55. 55 = cheaper, smaller iteration meant to satisfy those who found the 60/75 too big/expensive. Consider the vk-60 basically a VK-75 with a different name, since that is what it is. The VK-60 is a huge bargain. vk-55 = answer to the question no one was asking, IMNHSO.

Until recently I had a VK5i in combination with my VK75SE tube amp. It was a good combination, but errs towards loose bass and bloomy presence region. You can bring out lots more detail, neutrality, and bass control in the VK60 by switching from stock paper-in-oil coupling caps to V-Cap TFT teflon, and by replacing 2' intrachassis microphone cable IC with a better quality IC. With these lite mods the VK60 will be a keeper.

Dgarretson...Who can do these mods and how much are they? Thanks.

Sam

Anyone with the ability to desolder/solder can perform these mods, accessing through the bottom cover of the chassis without removing PCBs. Probably about 1 hour of work. You need 4 x .22uf/600V V-Cap @ $89 and $60 in triple-braided silver IC from Reference Audio Mods(or two 2' sections of any good balanced interconnect.) If V-Caps are outside your budget, substitute Russian FT-3 teflon caps from ebay @$5. Email me if you would like detailed instructions.