BAT VK50SE vs CJ 16LS vs ARC 25mrk II/Ref2

Njaudio,
I thought the 50se was cold and sterile too until I played with isolation. The sound is incredible when properly isolated. In other words, I found I could tune my systems overall sound and speakers according to what I placed under it. If I wanted a big and dynamic sound, then I put granite under it. If I wanted to soften the sound and tune it for beauty, then I would put wood, any slab of wood, and maybe a book under it...nothing fancy. Just experiment. That pre is great once you figure out how to make it respond to your liking.

I had a BAT VK-50SE and despised it. It was cold and sterile, and one of the least musical preamps I've owned. (Their "super tube" is anything but.) I took a big $ loss when I sold it but there was no way it was going to stay in my system.

Larry

Hello Hpfish, If you can try and check out the BAT 51se. As good as the 50se was and is, the 51se is a BIG step up from it. Bat is being very modest in my opinion on just how much better the 51se is over the 50. It does all the hi-fi things on a much higher level and at the same time is profoundly more "musically" engaging. Please give your self a chance to hear it in your system. Good luck, Thomas Colato

With the Soundlabs, I think I would go with the Bat, it has the dynamics that can really show off your speakers! I own a Herron matched to Merlins and McIntosh Mc2102 tube amp. It's a different set of goals than yours but I love those Soundlabs and If I owned them, I would go with #1,Ayre preamp or #2,Bat or #3,Placette. I would hate to water down the quickness of the Soundlabs with CJ or even my Herron. The Ayre does not have tubes of course but if you put one in your system, you will not care about the tubes! ARC is a possability but I have not heard them so...

Not the Pass it just is not going to do it.

Chuck

Do you like chocolate or vanilla? This is a very personal thing but I think you would be happier in the long run with ARC because it's more revealing and somewhat more truthful but I've had CJ and it's a stellar product, sooooo musical and satisfying. Good luck!

I have heard both the CJ and ARC. I find the ARC to have the blackest background, but a bit sterile. The CJ 16LS is very warm and engaging. BTW, I own the Pass X1. Chose it over the CJ and the ARC. It is as Ivanj describes. Warm and very transparent. It does not possess the excess of harmonics generally produced by tubes, that causes all instruments to bloom whether they should or not.

It is easy to find CJ and ARC to audition. Very difficult to find the X1.

You might want to consider a Pass X1 or the like. Warm, transparent, no maintenance hassles, and as low a noise floor as you can think of.

I have a CJ 16ls II and it is simply amazing. BAT makes very good equipment as well; can't speak for ARC.

Chuck