Upgrade BAT VK-55 to VK-55SE? Worth it?


I have had a VK-55 for about 3 years now. Excellent amp that I have not been able to better no matter how hard I try. I am really happy with it, but have been considering having BAT upgrade it to the 55SE. $2K seems pretty pricey for the upgrade. I have never heard the 55SE in person, so it is hard to decide if it would be a worthy upgrade. Has anyone compared the two directly? Is there a significant difference, or a small incremental gain in performance?
mekong56

Showing 1 response by trcnetmsncom

Hello Mekong56.

Like Jfrech I also went from the VK60 to the VK75se but both in mono-block configuration.

The differences I heard were increased frequency extension both high and low with an overall more refined treble. Increased resolution of detail. A bigger sound-stage with more air. Dynamic authority was more linear. An overall more neutral tonal presentation.

However, the VK60 does have a rounder dense quality in the mid-range that can be very appealing which renders mid-range textures with more image solidity. This added thickness actually obscures subtle information in those frequencies.

Only you can decide if the upgrade is worth the money spent. For me it certainly was. One more thing to keep in mind is that I'm fairly certain the upgrade will renew your warranty in full. Just check with Steve or Victor about that to be sure.

Good luck.
Tom