BAT VK-52SE VS Audio Research Ref 3

I've compared a ARC Ref 3 to a BAT VK-51SE and a BAT VK-32SE, though not the VK-52SE. In my system, I'd rank them in this order:

ARC Ref 3
BAT VK-51SE
BAT VK-32SE

ARC and BAT are just different. The ARC was more revealing and transparent, while the BAT was more dynamic and powerful. Note that while trying all of these preamps I was using a modified BAT VK-75SE amp. I felt the ARC/BAT combo gave me a taste of both worlds, the speed and resolution of the ARC mixed with the power and dynamics of the BAT. YMMV.

Cheers,
John

Geez Beerdraft, now you're really making me think and if there's one thing I hate, it's thinking.

As I recall, all power cords were Stealth Dreams. Interconnects were Jade Hybrid Gold and Stealth Metacarbon. Speaker cables were Jade Vermeil and Stealth Hybrid MLT. As I recall I use to like to mix the Jade and Stealth. So Jade Hybrid Gold interconnects worked best with Stealth Hybrid MLT and Stealth Metacarbon sounded best with Jade Vermeil speaker cable. Come to think of it, for many of the same reasons I mixed the ARC with the BAT. The Stealth are extremely articulate, while the Jade are immensely musical.

FWIW, all of those preamps, cables and cords are long gone now due to downsizing.

Cheers,
John

I'm sure it's all system dependant. I did find a BAT preamp and BAT amp to be dark and unresolving in my system, like Elberoth2. Same as all Jade cables to some extent. I never heard the ARC Ref 3 with a ARC amp, that may have had the hot, whitish top end that Semi refers to. Mixing the ARC preamp and BAT amp gave me a nice balance, IMHO. Some of the power and dynamics of the BAT mixed with some of the speed and resolution of the ARC. It's OK to mix n' match. You don't have to have all of one brand.

Arthurp, what it comes down to is there really is no substitute for listening for yourself. Just as with any other piece of gear, or even cables, you will get many opinions, which you may or may not agree with in the long run.
I actually don't think that everyone's taste is that much different here, folks just go about things in a different way. Some will buy dark speakers and use bright cables, some will put dark cables on bright speakers, etc. What it comes down to is there is more than one way to skin a cat.

For example, I know Tom uses Nordost Valhalla power cords on his BAT gear. I'm not saying Tom is wrong when he says he finds the ARC Ref 3 to be unnaturally spotlit, but that is how I feel about Nordost Valhalla power cords. Perhaps these spolit cords help to enlighten the darker nature of the BAT for Tom. Different ways of accomplishing a similar goal, musical enjoyment. Sorry Tom, really, I'm not picking on you. I do believe that your system sounds great.
In my case, my speakers (Verity Audio) are known for being on the darker side of neutral, perhaps this is why I preffered the ARC to the BAT.

So to review, positives ARC more articulate and revealing. BAT more dynamic and powerful. Negatives, ARC can sound bright to some. BAT can sound dark to some. The key is which will work best for you Arthurp. Which direction does your system need to go in YOUR opinion?

Cheers,
John