[I.Greyhound Fan]

I am considering buying a BAT 51se preamp, BAT VK-32 or a Conrad Johnson ET-3se preamp to run with my Pass Labs X250 amp.  I want to replace my Pass X1 preamp and move to tubes.  I previously had a Van Alstine Hybrid Tube preamp.  I am looking for a warmer sound with lush midrange while maintaining air, transparency, dynamics and resolution.  Any comments would be appreciated. 

The Pass X250 would benefit from the BAT's XLR's and the CJ does not have XLR.  However, my DAC only uses RCA's, so I would have to use a hybrid RCA/XLR IC with my DAC and tuner.

Thanks,

Larry

[Austin08]

I have owned several CJ and BAT preamps. (CJ PV11, PV12, Premier 14, BAT VK31 and now VK32se). I would say CJ sounded more lush, liquid midrange and warmer than the BAT. OTOH, BAT sound more dynamic, greater bass, better macro/micro and a bit of deeper soundstage. I do not know the current CJ stuffs but the VK32se is a whole new level of the beast compare to the older version.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Thanks Austin.  I am looking for more of a tube sound to pair with my Pass X250.  I think that the CJ ET-3se may be the way to go.  Have you heard the BAT 51se?   I am also considering the new AVA FET CF preamp.

[Austin08]

Larry,

I did not have a chance to listen to VK51se. I like the VK32se. Everything was more vivid and richer compare to the old Vk31. I still like CJ for their liquid midrange but ground loop sensitivity and no xlr have lead me to BAT.

By the way, one if my buddy just replace his X1 with my VK31 last month. So far, he is happy with the change.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Does your buddy have a Pass amp?  There is a BAT 51se for sale on Agon.  The CJ ET-3se is a hbyrid preamp with a 6922 tube as a tube buffer.  It is supposed to have a warmer detailed sound without the syrupy sound of earlier CJ preamps.  There is also a 6ch MET-1 CJ preamp for sale.

[Austin08]

Larry,

My friend had X1, Xono and McCormark DNA1 mono block revA deluxe edition. He bough my Bat VK6200 along with the VK31(6 nos 6922 Amperex jan white lable). He say sound much improving compare to what he had before. (After a couple weeks of compare old and new).

FYI, his speaker is Tyler D1 and source are Marantz SA11S1 and Project 9.1