2. amps-preamps
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BAT vk-3ix and Parasound Halo A21 match?

I've have purchased used on Audiogon a BAT vk-3ix preamp. I bought it becausec it was a good deal and figured I could sell it if I need to. Thing is I' don't know a whole bunch about tube gear and my concern is the impedance match of the BAT and the HAlo 21. I've read that you want an input impedance of 100k on the amp. However the Halo is only 66k balanced. Can anyone shed any light on this combo? I have not yet received the preamp.
last_lemming
last_lemming OP
639 posts
 
Yes i did read the stereophile article and did read his concerns.

On the other hand the Thiels only go down to 32 hz so .2'at 20 hz seems ssomewhat irrelevant. I use Purist audio cables which have low capacitance and are only 14' in length anyway.

I went to BAT's website and they say minimum input amp impedance on the amp should be 10k, though I'm sure that is just a guideline.

I guess I'll know for sure once I get it in and hook it up.
daverz
487 posts
 
I've used my 3ix with a Bryston 3B-SST, which has an input impedance of 10k/leg balanced. It is a few dB down at 20 Hz (measured with a voltmeter at the amp outputs), but nothing disastrous. The Parasound should be fine.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
This is the problem you have when you take a chance and just guess on a new component. Preamps are way too important to not get right. Given that, you probably will get lucky. BAT is very well made and should work with a large variety of products. The only advice I can give beyond that, is that if you are not happy, you will not make the situation any better with cables. You may think you will, and when you ask, you will get an endless list of recommendations on what cable you should buy to fix the problem. In the end, though, it just wont work.

Also, it is not clear if you already have the Parasound amp or just plan to buy one. If you don't already have an amp, I would strongly urge you to consider a BAT amp to match the preamp. Doing so can eliminate a lot of problems.
last_lemming OP
639 posts
 
ZD542, my only option is to try gear since there are no stores near me nor anyone else with the type of gear I would like to hear that could let me borrow it. But what i have found years ago, even if I could hear the equipment in a store, if it wasn't my same system in the store, not to mention the same room it always sounded way different anyway. The only component I've ever been reasonably able to audition in a store and get a similar sound at home with is speakers. I didn't decide on BAT by chance, I did research on equipment that worked well with my particular gear and budget. I already own the amp, so that's a fixed variable. Trust me if I could hear all the gear before I purchase I would, even considering the issues with store auditions, but that is not my reality.
milpai's avatar
milpai
2,456 posts
 
I have no experience with impedance matching. But from a very recent experience, if you buy the A21, try to make use of the XLR instead of RCA. It made a HUGE difference, with my passive preamp. Good luck.
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