What is the 'BAT sound'?

cha-ching!!!

I don't BAT pre's have a particular "tubey" sound like the older ARC's but have a wonderful engaging midrange. The newer ARC's have a less tubey sound but have not heard any. A buddy of mine has a LS16MKII which I want to hear soon but he says its not "that" tubey. I had an older LS7 in my system a few years ago and didn't care for it at all. Have not heard the VTL but almost bought.

The best way to describe the sound of my (former, sniff) 300X-SE is "open, neutral, unimpeded".

I think this is due to the no-feedback design.

Other equipment I've owned seemed to be holding back the music -"maybe if I just turn it up a little more...".

Honestly, the BAT just gives you the music -period.

It inspires confidence that you are hearing everything that is on the disk.

Very , very high pitched.

Thanks for the responses. :-)

I'm asking because I'd like to find a preamp that has some midrange bloom without being overly tubey.

I've heard the ARC 3 a while ago (and found it very un-engaging), but I've never heard, say, the VTL 7.5 or BAT 52se or REX.