BAT VK-52SE VS Audio Research Ref 3

I've compared a ARC Ref 3 to a BAT VK-51SE and a BAT VK-32SE, though not the VK-52SE. In my system, I'd rank them in this order:

ARC Ref 3
BAT VK-51SE
BAT VK-32SE

ARC and BAT are just different. The ARC was more revealing and transparent, while the BAT was more dynamic and powerful. Note that while trying all of these preamps I was using a modified BAT VK-75SE amp. I felt the ARC/BAT combo gave me a taste of both worlds, the speed and resolution of the ARC mixed with the power and dynamics of the BAT. YMMV.

Cheers,
John

John what cables were you using in this combo while trying the bat and arc? Power cords, interconnects, and speaker cables.

Geez Beerdraft, now you're really making me think and if there's one thing I hate, it's thinking.

As I recall, all power cords were Stealth Dreams. Interconnects were Jade Hybrid Gold and Stealth Metacarbon. Speaker cables were Jade Vermeil and Stealth Hybrid MLT. As I recall I use to like to mix the Jade and Stealth. So Jade Hybrid Gold interconnects worked best with Stealth Hybrid MLT and Stealth Metacarbon sounded best with Jade Vermeil speaker cable. Come to think of it, for many of the same reasons I mixed the ARC with the BAT. The Stealth are extremely articulate, while the Jade are immensely musical.

FWIW, all of those preamps, cables and cords are long gone now due to downsizing.

Cheers,
John

I second Jmcgrogan2 opinion. I went from 51SE to Ref-3, and couldn't be happier. I found 51SE to be dark and unresolving, with poor micodynamics.