Have you heard of BAT VK-200?

Levi · « **on:** 19 May 2005, 03:48 pm »

Has anyone heard of the BAT VK-200? I saw many excellent thread in AA and AudioReview about this particular amp. A friend is selling one for a good price.

I am considering exploring the dark side.

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #1 on:** 19 May 2005, 04:34 pm »

E500,

I've heard it numerous times now and it's a great amp. Very muscular sounding and extremely detailed yet smooth. I think it runs class A for awhile, but not sure. FYI, it's a large amp. Go pick it up in your Mercedes and be a happy camper!

Michael

Levi · « **Reply #2 on:** 19 May 2005, 05:25 pm »

Hogg · « **Reply #3 on:** 19 May 2005, 05:53 pm »

Levi,
It's a great amp but it may necessiatate upgrading many other pieces in your system starting with the preamp.

Jim

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #4 on:** 19 May 2005, 07:01 pm »

E500,

Go buy a BAT preamp and run balanced!

Michael

Hey, wait a second, shouldn't you buy a VK-500 to match your E500, playa? You gotta be ballin, man!

Bemopti123 · « **Reply #5 on:** 19 May 2005, 09:04 pm »

Levi, that is a slamming amp. It will be very different sounding than Bryston. For what I can read, it is becoming a classic. I doubt even the newer Bats are the same. They are more overpriced though. Runs very much into class A. A very good 2 channel super preamp, preferably balanced, will provide the best sound. Maybe you can get one with a HT loop.
I say, go for it.

PhilNYC · « **Reply #6 on:** 19 May 2005, 11:05 pm »

Why is your friend selling it?

Levi · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 May 2005, 02:43 am »

I think he is upgrading to tubes or mono block. Not sure which one. I will find out soon.

Bemopti123 · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 May 2005, 03:35 am »

His loss, your gain. Anything below 1.3 K will be a steal. Those amps will really driver your speakers well.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 May 2005, 07:16 am »

Quote from: Levi

I am considering exploring the dark side.

You mean your going to see the new Star Wars movie....

Levi · « **Reply #10 on:** 20 May 2005, 02:09 pm »

We saw the Star Wars movie last night. IT was GOOD! Picture was excellent and it was in DTS. I can't wait to get the DVD.

The BAT has balanced XLR connection only. It is possible to get the XLR-to-RCA adaptor. My Bryston preamp has XLR output.

Eric · « **Reply #11 on:** 20 May 2005, 04:53 pm »

I believe BAT sells the adapters

PhilNYC · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 May 2005, 05:12 pm »

Quote from: Levi

The BAT has balanced XLR connection only. It is possible to get the XLR-to-RCA adaptor. My Bryston preamp has XLR output.

If your preamp has XLR outputs, why do you need adaptors? Or do you not want to buy new ICs?

(I get my XLR/RCA adapters here: http://shop.mobro.net/search.htm?searchterm=xlr+rca+adapter&searchmode=all&s_category=0&s_vendor=Neutrik&oper=lt&searchprice=&DoSearch=Show+Matches&numresults=50&viewfrom=1&step=2

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #13 on:** 20 May 2005, 05:55 pm »

E500,

If you are gonna buy this amp, I wouldn't half ass it. Use the balanced inputs. If your current EE preamp isn't going to work, I'd consider flipping it and getting a BAT preamp. System synergy my Benz rocking friend!

Michael

audioslave · « **Reply #14 on:** 20 May 2005, 08:59 pm »

Quote from: Levi

We saw the Star Wars movie last night. IT was GOOD! Picture was excellent and it was in DTS. I can't wait to get the DVD.

The BAT has balanced XLR connection only. It is possible to get the XLR-to-RCA adaptor. My Bryston preamp has XLR output.

No half-assed shortcuts or penny-pinching for E500 drivers.

Go ball to the walls and make the full committment to go balanced, myaan!

You won't regret it, especially with a matching BAT preamp as Crespo mentioned. Smells like synergy to me.....

Levi · « **Reply #15 on:** 21 May 2005, 02:33 am »

It looks like the consensus favors the BAT.

I will buy the BAT amp and try it in my current setup.

Thank you all.

Levi

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #16 on:** 21 May 2005, 03:57 am »

E500,

Glad we could help, but you did, of course, listen to the BAT yourself, right?

Michael

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #17 on:** 21 May 2005, 04:01 am »

Quote from: mcrespo71

E500,

Glad we could help, but you did, of course, listen to the BAT yourself, right?

Michael

Mike, Got a message from Levi....the BAT will be flying at the Rave tomorrow...we'll all get to hear it.....

bubba966 · « **Reply #18 on:** 21 May 2005, 04:09 am »

I heard a VK-600SE. Nice amp. Damn heavy sucker too. Wasn't fond of having to move it to adjust things in the setup.

Not sure how the 200 compares to the 600SE though...

bubba966 · « **Reply #19 on:** 21 May 2005, 04:16 am »

Quote from: Levi

We saw the Star Wars movie last night. IT was GOOD! Picture was excellent and it was in DTS. I can't wait to get the DVD.

Don't be so certain that it was running in DTS at the theater. DTS discs frequently get lost or misplaced at theaters (if it even made it with the print, which is actually a common occurance for it to not make it with a print).

Films get advertised as playing in DTS at theaters that aren't even equipped with DTS.

The film frequently doesn't get threaded through the DTS reader, or the discs don't get loaded into the drives.

Anyway, there's plenty of reasons why there's a decent chance it actually wasn't running in DTS at the theater. It's certainly the least popular digital format with those who run theaters because of the audio being on separate discs rather than on the film. Which causes the above problems as well as other problems. (SDDS is the fav of most who run theaters due to the reliability of it over DD & DTS)