[Levi]

Hi AB- I agree with the rest. 

The higher you go up with BAT product line/price, the better the performance.  BAT VK-600SE is the ultimate in the BAT house sound.  If you would like to experiment and experience how BAT house sounded, I would go with a VK-500 w/ Bat pack or a BK-250 and work your way up all the way to their tube preamp.  They are the most musical and the most fun to have for the money in my opinion.  The only penalty would be space and heat. Most BAT amp burns in the equivalent of 6-7 x 100watt bulb just sitting there.  They are fully balanced.

I listened to Modwright preamp with my VK-200 and I found it more musical pairing BAT VK-30 and VK-200 amp going fully balanced connection from input to output.  I am now using a VK-500 w/ Bat pack in conjuction with VK-30 preamp and it is the most musical system I have ever owned.

Good luck and I wish you have fun with your quest.


Goliath vs Goli-ethe

[Double Ugly]

(NuForce amps) were not mentioned as a joke by me.

I stand corrected.  Knowing your opinion of the NuForce amplifiers, I initially perceived your mention of them as a joke.  But after re-reading your comments, I see now that my first impression was incorrect.

My apologies for misstating your intended purpose.  It was not intentional.

-Jim

[tvad4]

(NuForce amps) were not mentioned as a joke by me.

I stand corrected.  Knowing your opinion of the NuForce amplifiers, I initially perceived your mention of them as a joke.  But after re-reading your comments, I see now that my first impression was incorrect.

My apologies for misstating your intended purpose.  It was not intentional.

-Jim

Not a problem, Jim. I didn't think it was intentional on your part, and I merely wanted to set the record straight.

[AB]

Thanks all for the advice and Levi for the pics and advice.

I will be doing a bit more research and then, probably, try the VK500.

I read often about the BAT " house sound" but I have also read conflicting descriptions of it - " dark" is mentioned, but then the term "dark" is renounced.

How about this quote from The Audiphile Voice review;

"The 500 is easily one of the most neutral- and natural-sounding amplifiers that I have ever auditioned in my home."

and

"Also immediately noticeable was the naturalness of timbre and overall neutrality (throughout the entire frequency range)."

These describe perfectly what I would like to hear.

I still haven't been able to find a review or much at all about the 600SE. Strange...

The next few weeks should be interesting.

Thanks
AB

[lonewolfny42]

I still haven't been able to find a review or much at all about the 600SE. Strange...

Did you read this.......or.....this.......or....this........

[AB]

I still haven't been able to find a review or much at all about the 600SE. Strange...

Did you read this.......or.....this.......or....this........

No, no and no. But I am about to...

Thanks

[Papajin]

I have a somewhat related question...  What are the downsides if any to running a balanced amp with an unbalanced pre-amp?  What's the best way to accomplish the transition?  The reason I ask is I've considered trying the 500, but I'm also running the Modwright pre, and it's unbalanced.  At this time I don't really wish to purchase another pre either, so if I were to go the BAT route it would have to still have to sound pretty darn good to be worthwhile.  Opinions or thoughts?  Would I just be better off going with an unbalanced amp instead?

Thanks!

[zybar]

Did you read this.......or.....this.......or....this........

FWIW, I very much agree with what the reviewer states.

George

[zybar]

I have a somewhat related question...  What are the downsides if any to running a balanced amp with an unbalanced pre-amp?  What's the best way to accomplish the transition?  The reason I ask is I've considered trying the 500, but I'm also running the Modwright pre, and it's unbalanced.  At this time I don't really wish to purchase another pre either, so if I were to go the BAT route it would have to still have to sound pretty darn good to be worthwhile.  Opinions or thoughts?  Would I just be better off going with an unbalanced amp instead?

Thanks!

I would contact BAT and ask them what they think.

I have always heard that BAT gear sounds better with a balanced connection, but I have never heard exactly why.  FWIW, I run my VK-600SE balanced as I have done with my last 5 amps over the years.

George

[Levi]

I don't see any negative effects or loss in details in going with unbalanced connection utilizing an XLR to RCA converter with BAT amps.  Using RCA only lowers the dB gain (that is 3 dB).  I have always used balanced connection. 

FYI...for anyone buying used BAT VK-500:  Make sure it has the latest Board D Revision.  Board D has the latest protection and bias circuit.  That is an extra $500 upgraded.  Please ask BAT for further details and or serial number to look for. 

I have a somewhat related question...  What are the downsides if any to running a balanced amp with an unbalanced pre-amp?  What's the best way to accomplish the transition?  The reason I ask is I've considered trying the 500, but I'm also running the Modwright pre, and it's unbalanced.  At this time I don't really wish to purchase another pre either, so if I were to go the BAT route it would have to still have to sound pretty darn good to be worthwhile.  Opinions or thoughts?  Would I just be better off going with an unbalanced amp instead?

Thanks!

[AB]

FYI...for anyone buying used BAT VK-500:  Make sure it has the latest Board D Revision.  Board D has the latest protection and bias circuit.  That is an extra $500 upgraded.  Please ask BAT for further details and or serial number to look for. 

Good info. Thanks for that!

What's with that pic? Is that the side of the amp or the board/heatsinks removed from the amp?

[Levi]

You are welcome.

That is the left channel w/ heatsink.  There are 24 transistors per board. 
The 12 rows of capacitors underneath the board are the BAT Pack.  One row for each channels. 
It is a true mono-block housed in a single chassis...you can literally cut the amp in half.
Check my gallery for more pictures. 

[zybar]

Here is the inside of the VK-600SE:



George

[AB]

Hey, That's from the BAT web site.

You're supposed to pull yours apart and take pictures of it.

Only then can we see what your floors look like.

[SET Man]

Thanks all for the advice and Levi for the pics and advice.

I will be doing a bit more research and then, probably, try the VK500.

I read often about the BAT " house sound" but I have also read conflicting descriptions of it - " dark" is mentioned, but then the term "dark" is renounced.

How about this quote from The Audiphile Voice review;

"The 500 is easily one of the most neutral- and natural-sounding amplifiers that I have ever auditioned in my home."

and

"Also immediately noticeable was the naturalness of timbre and overall neutrality (throughout the entire frequency range)."

These describe perfectly what I would like to hear.

I still haven't been able to find a review or much at all about the 600SE. Strange...

The next few weeks should be interesting.

Thanks
AB

Hey!

  Okay, first off... I do not own any BAT. But I've heard them couple of time on Levi's system.

And once briefly had a chance to listen to Levi's BAT pre in my system.... I'm quite impressived with that 6 tubes (3 per/ch)  pre-amp. Definately have a bit better drive then my Audio Note M1 of which only use one 12AU7 per channel.

As for the amp. I've heard Levi's system with the 500 and I must say that with this Sonus Faber the sound was very nice. I don't think you could call it dark. The high was extented and with detail. And the bass was definately more with better control than the 250 of which Levi used to have.

I guess those who call BAT SS amp dark because they are used to hyper, tippy high of other SS amps.

Very nice SS amp.... definately make it on my list of nice SS amp that I could live with. And if you wonder what I'm using im system? Well, I have 18w/ch SET. Well, after all BAT do make tube amp too right? I guess that why I could enjoy thier SS amp.

Anyway, that was exprience. Now Levi let's bring your VK500 and try it with my Single Driver and see if we could blow it out.

Take care,
Buddy

[mcrespo71]

Hey, That's from the BAT web site.

You're supposed to pull yours apart and take pictures of it.

Only then can we see what your floors look like.

Yeah, George!  Your cheating

Michael

[Levi]

Hi Buddy, I would love to bring the VK500 over.  It weighs over 100 pounds you remember.  I think it is better to bring your speakers instead.  

The BAT VK30 preamp is also a dual mono like the VK500.  The VK30 utilizes 6x 6922 tubes.  It mates well with my VK500 amp.