BAT reviews on Positive Feedback

zybar · « **on:** 29 May 2006, 08:01 pm »

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue25/sardon_bat.htm

Having spent some time now with the VK-600SE I agree with what Dr. Sardonicus says in his review.

I think this pretty much sums things up:

Quote

This, my audiophile friends, is a six hundred watt straight wire.

You may want more romance; this is perfectly understandable, until you come to realize that all of your recordings sound the same.

You may want more detail; until you realize that what you are really getting is an artificially tilted and tizzy upper midrange …all your recordings sound the same and you are annoyed in the process.

You may find this amplifier will tell you everything about your sources, ancillaries and speakers, even the disquieting things …and that this truthfulness is …uh, disquieting …and you may pick something more …euphonic, more deceptive …and then realize that not only do all of your recordings sound the same, now all your equipment sounds the same too! AND you are REALLY annoyed!

In this relatively long-term follow up, the BAT remains my nomination for best amplifier on the planet.

George

jermmd · « **Reply #1 on:** 30 May 2006, 12:31 am »

Better then your previous "best", the Dartzeel? I realize different amps in different systems but I'd like to hear a comparison. Both amps are very different animals. I'm glad you made the right choice.

How does the Bat compare to the McCormack in regards to pure power and bass?

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #2 on:** 30 May 2006, 12:55 am »

I'd love to hear the BAT. But one thing bothers me about the review- he exhaustively lists the relatively unimportant items in his system (like wire, isolation, etc) but makes no mention of acoustic treatment whatsoever. Are modern day reviewers really that clueless and "upside down" about how music playback works?

zybar · « **Reply #3 on:** 30 May 2006, 01:27 am »

Quote from: jermmd

Better then your previous "best", the Dartzeel? I realize different amps in different systems but I'd like to hear a comparison. Both amps are very different animals. I'm glad you made the right choice.

How does the Bat compare to the McCormack in regards to pure power and bass?

Joe,

Not sure how to compare since neither system has any common gear. I do think that the darT would run out steam with the Salk HT3's depending on the musical selection and volume level.

I will say that with the BAT my system is getting closer to the darT/Vandy 5A system.

In terms of power...

The BAT sounds like the DNA-500 in terms of an effortless sound where you never feel like the amp is being pushed and there is no compression even at very loud levels.

The DNA-500 sounds more raw than the BAT and is a little leaner. The BAT is equally powerful and dynamic while being richer sounding. I now understand why a reviewer said the VK-600SE was "like an iron fist in a velvet glove."

George

zybar · « **Reply #4 on:** 30 May 2006, 01:32 am »

Quote from: Rob Babcock

I'd love to hear the BAT. But one thing bothers me about the review- he exhaustively lists the relatively unimportant items in his system (like wire, isolation, etc) but makes no mention of acoustic treatment whatsoever. Are modern day reviewers really that clueless and "upside down" about how music playback works?

Rob,

Good points. I am a big proponent of room treatments AND room correction. My room features both and I can't imagine not paying attention to this important area.

Here is the latest pic of my room:

George

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #5 on:** 30 May 2006, 01:36 am »

Very nice. Are those GIK, RealTraps, or something else?

zybar · « **Reply #6 on:** 30 May 2006, 02:27 am »

Quote from: Rob Babcock

Very nice. Are those GIK, RealTraps, or something else?

Rob,

Those are MiniTraps by RealTraps. I have a total of eight of them.

I also have up EightNerve corners as well.

Room correction is done via TacT 2.2x

George

PeteG · « **Reply #7 on:** 30 May 2006, 02:30 am »

George,

The room looks great now, also congrats on the new monster BAT.

Pete

Levi · « **Reply #8 on:** 31 May 2006, 02:38 am »

This review is not from Positive feedback but from AA and it is a positive one

JoshK · « **Reply #9 on:** 31 May 2006, 02:51 am »

I wonder if another real trap on the ceiling appropriately located (first reflection, center) would be the last hoorah? I can't imagine anywhere else you would absolutely need any.

brj · « **Reply #10 on:** 31 May 2006, 03:23 am »

Is that picture taken from the seating position? I'm trying to get a sense for the distance between the speakers and seating position versus the distance between the left and right speakers versus the toe-in angle.

Any way you cut it... great looking system, George!

(But I still wouldn't bet against you making another component swap within the next year!

)

zybar · « **Reply #11 on:** 31 May 2006, 03:37 am »

Pete, thanks for the nice comments.

Josh, another MiniTrap on the ceiling might be the way to go, but I am not 100% positive that I will keep my system in this room long term. I might actually move the two channel to the basement and HT up to the first floor. BTW, I also have two MiniTraps in the corners behind my seat at the other end of space.

BRJ, the picture is indeed right behind my seat. I can't remember the exact measurements, but I will post them when I get back home tomorrow night. Thanks for the compliment.

As for changing gear...my moves are fewer and farther between but I would guess that something will change sometime in the next year. The DNA-500 was in the system for well over a year and I expect the BAT to be there even longer. It will also take some very special gear to displace the Salk HT3's or TacT 2.2x.

But I never say never...