2. amps-preamps
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Are BAT amps kind to less-than-stellar recordings?

This was briefly mentioned in someone else’s thread, but I wanted to draw out people who are familiar with Balanced Audio Technology’s solid state amps to get their 2 cents. I’m most interested in the VK-3000 SE integrated.

I love great recordings as much as the next guy and have plenty of jazz, female vocal, and classical in the collection. My music taste runs the gamut though, and I also love a lot of music that isn’t recorded well. Punk, metal, lo-fi indie, early blues, 60s psychedelia, etc.

Do you think the VK-3000 SE will be forgiving to these genres? I want things to stay relatively smooth, non fatiguing, and not be clobbered over the head with etched detail. Minimal glare, grain, and shoutiness - especially on the top end.

Alternatively (if BAT is too high-brow for low-brow music) I could go for something such as the (cheaper) Belles Aria, Yamaha A-S2100, or LFD LE IV. Those integrated amps are known to have a somewhat "tubey" sound for solid state, that might help round out poorly recorded music?
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Showing 1 response by barolobrain

barolobrain
48 posts
 
I have owned a VK3000SE since March and listen to a wide variety of music both vinyl rips, CD rips, high res files and lps.  Speakers are Sonus Faber Cremona floorstanders, a fairly easy speaker to drive.  Much of the music encompasses the genres you describe.  For me, it reproduces the music as recorded but without adding any distortion of its own to any part of the frequency spectrum. 

If we're not traveling, weekend evening listening sessions go about 3-4 hours and can cover well recorded music and great music recorded with indifference.  I'm retired and during the week spend most afternoons listening, both as background and serious.  Listening fatigue is not a problem.  Worth an audition.
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