Please help: Do I need a preamp?

Norbert, I don't think it's an impedance mismatch because I believe the BAT's input impedance is on the high side and I'm sure the ML's output impedance is low enough not to be a problem.

I don't believe that using a tube CD player or preamp will solve your problem.

Two things I would try are experimenting with speaker positioning and experimenting with different system cabling. The Virgo IIs are VERY sensitive to both of these variables. Another viable option may be to incorporate a quality subwoofer if the above measures fail to satisfy...

It's too bad the Virgos are not biampable, because they seem to like the power and control of solid-state in the bass. I used to use tube/MOSFET hybrid amps with my Virgos and just going through the single input tube softened the bass although it sounded fabulous through the midrange and high frequencies.

I'm now using an Aragon 8002 amp, which has great control in the bass and with the right cabling, sounds quite detailed and musical throughout the audio spectrum. The detailing in the highs is particularly impressive. In my case, switching amps resulted in both performance and financial benefits.

I agree with Reubent, using a preamp is not always an asset. In fact, sometimes it is a downgrade.

Jjmali, the poster is not using a passive preamp. The preamp in the ML 39 is based on the ML 380 active preamp. Wes Phillips (who's opinions I respect) had this to say in his review of the ML 39 CD player:

"You think your preamp is transparent? You're probably wrong. I knew this, of course, but I've never heard a CD player's variable output that wasn't more colored or coarse than a good preamp. Not even the best of 'em. So I was stunned by how good the '39 sounded going straight in. It was fast and clean—and more. More depth, more dynamics, more detail, more air... "

So we can rule the preamp out as the culprit, with a fairly high degree of certainty. There are other more likely causes, as I outlined in my previous post.

Since a couple of other posters questioned the cable choices, that appears to be a good place to start...