If I like ARC, okay with CJ, and run for SF....

I don'r get why you can't audition them before deciding whether to buy them or not. I know the associated equipment may not be similar to what you have at home but it will still give you an idea as to whether the BAT sound is something you may like it or not. That's my 2c worth.

I've had BAT and CJ for fifteen years and have enjoyed the sound, if not quite the final word on resolution.

One of my regrets, is that BAT demands balanced connectors, while my CJ amp was not so. Actually and eventually, my system would grow away from balanced and back to RCA, so my BAT preamp became an interconnect pain in my butt.

Opps, my first post should have said RUN FROM SF. Never did like the sound in any system I tried. But ARC is great and CJ is good too, but a little laid back for me.

Camalk- I'm sure I can listen before I buy too see if they work find but not long enough to know unless the sound is really really bad or they do something wierd like malfucntion or shut off etc.. I just hope they are not dry and lifeless like the SF gear that I have owned.

Thanks kennythekey - i think BAT has added RCAs to some of the products. I know I saw an older preamp that only had xlrs.

I'm glad that BAT is adding RCAs! I know very little about BAT's newer stuff. My CJ Premier 11a and BAT VK-5i does not sound dry, but I do know that CJ is somewhat branded to be honey-colored. My BAT may be helping with that but I'm not sure, because the two components work together very well, except for the connectors. The sound is just sweet enough, detailed, airy, and has good resolution.

I am also in the process of replacing both.