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Tough BAT choice ? VK-150SE/VK-600SE

Since about two months i have the BAT VK-51SE and the VK-P10SE up and running in my gear.
source is the Platine Verdier with Schroder hybrid arm partnered with the Colibri element.
well this combination is so good and utterly transparant that it makes me think about partnering with the BAT poweramps too. ( have Atma-Sphere MA2's )
the sublime point about the Atma-Sphere is the transparancy and top end. forget about the curtains and windows stories, or 'lifting another veil' . With the OTL you are there. nothing in between.

Oh speakers are Genesis 501's btw.

Now I have had the interesting opportunity to hook up a pair of Gryphon Reference poweramps, and the result was staggering as for control, slam and soundstage. i could not comprehend these were my Gen 501's.. but the tonality and musicality was gone. so exit Gryphon.
this week i have had the AR VT-200 mk2 on loan, and it is a fine overall performer, but compared to the Atma-Sphere it looses the top end extension totally . no magic. exit AR.
next week i have yet the fine opportunity to hook up a pair of the latest Levinson monoblocks. looking forward to that.

Hope that this gives some introduction to my opennes to try every poweramp combination with my Gen 501's.
Because i WILL buy either the VK-600SE or the VK-150SE BAT's.
I like the BAT preamps that much.

So. i don't want to loose much top end clarity and air ( atma-sphere) but i surely want to gain in control slam, and soundstage department. because i have had that happening with the Gryphon's in a big way remember ?
It seems that the Gen 501 really comes alive every time i hook up a real 'big' poweramp.
question is;
could the VK-600SE deliver some of the tube magic with all the SS benefits i surely experience, OR could the VK-150SE really deliver almost the soundstage and authority / slam of the VK-600SE ?
questions questions. now both BAT amps will do an unbelievable job and are extraordinary perormers no doubt about.
The easy answer would be; just connect both to your Gen 501's and find out..
that my friends is a bit too much asked overhere...

like to hear from any out there who has been in the circumstance to listen to both amps...

so BAT VK-600SE versus BAT VK-150SE .

thanx for the time, and i will put up a review of the BAT preamps soon.

regards and keep the vinyl spinning !

tuboo, the netherlands
tuboo
4 responses Add your response
jafox
1,457 posts
 
Hello,

As you can see from many of my posts here, I am a huge fan of BAT products, primarily phono and line stages; I have not heard their power amps however. But I have to imagine that all I have read here on Audiogon about the Atmasphere amps, I would not be surprised that you end up preferring these over the BATs. These amps get phenomenol praise on these pages.

What we may like from a company for one link in the chain, we may very well prefer another company's product for another link. And mixing products can result in incredible synergy. My Aesthetix Io phono stage, BAT 31SE line stage and Wolcott Presence amps have an incredible synergy with Magnepan speakers. It just takes a lot of experimentation and effort to discover such good results.

One advnatge you have is that the Genesis speakers have a higher efficiency than many other speakers. So I have to believe that putting more money into 100w superfi amps like the Lamm and CAT for example, might be more of what you are looking for compared to your recent attempts with 200w amps like the ARC and others you mentioned.

John
jfrech's avatar
jfrech
1,816 posts
 
Ok, I to have a 51SE and P10SE. I'm running a single 75SE amp with my Watt/Puppy 6 speakers.

I have not heard the new VK600 or SE model. I have owned both the VK200 and VK60, which are earlier models of BAT's Solid State and Tube amps.

Differences boil down to SS vs Tube. The SS had better bass control, the Tube much airier top end, better soundstaging, better mids. The 75SE is no slouch in the bass, it's significantly improved over the old VK60.

Isn't your Genensis 501's powered on the bass? If so, stick with tubes.

I will say, the Atmoshperes are good amps. If you like them, you might want to stick with them. Get the Super Pak update on your phono stage...it's supposed to be big.

Save the money on the amps...
tuboo OP
93 posts
 
Thank you for your reply on my tread.

i like the Atma-Sphere very much for it's amazing transparancy and top end clarity. but the bass and midbass and midrange are a bit anorexia sounding compared to other tube amps. this is not due to my speakers.
a nice AR VT-200 has shown better performance than the OTL in these respects.
so i'm willing to trade off on this extraordinary OTL performance parameter, and gain in the lower frequencies.
i think it's logical due to the output transformer..

You say the (VK-75) is 'no slouch'in the bass department with a pair of Watt Puppies connected and that must be more than a compliment. that says a lot.

the Gen 501 has indeed servo controlled bass section, but mind you that it just follows the signal of the poweramp output. it does not make better or stronger bass than the amplifier does.
my VK-P10SE has SuperPack installed, cannot compare but i have a grin from ear to ear about them.

regards
jfrech's avatar
jfrech
1,816 posts
 
If you are looking for bass impact, tonality, midrange weight, depth, feel, as well as everthing. the VK75SE or 150SE will give it to you. Skip the solid state. I'm sure they are great...but you're asking for BAT's tube amps!

Also, I'd give BAT a call. Given this amount of money, they will help you out. I've called them several times, very helpful. Ask for Geoffrey Poor or Victor...
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