VTL MB450 monos Vs. BAT VK 60se monos?

Wow Ejlif! I am really surprised. I had the JC-1's and the MB450's in the same system for a while (Maggie 20.1's as well as Gallo Ref 3.1's), and to my taste the VTL's put meat on the music whereas the JC-1's sounded pretty flat and uninteresting. Either different synergy or different taste! All the Best, Peter

Peter, I guess they must just mate a lot better with my Ayre K1x pre better possibly? Don't get me wrong I do like all the amps mentioned a lot, but for me everyday realities like massive heat output as well as the need to turn the amps on and off and wait for them to power up and be ready are enough to turn things in favor of the JC-1s. For instance with either tube amp I wouldn't bother with turning them on for 30 minutes in the morning before work, there is nothing musical about that!

Thank you everyone for your thoughts. Okay, I forgot to mention which speakers I am using. I have the JM Labs Focal 1027BEs which you all probably know are pretty easy to drive. I always read comments about that "tube magic in these threads" - which I would have to say in the case of my pre-amp is true. But then again I went from a pre that listed in the $3500 dollar range to one that listed for over $8000.. Could it be not a tube vs. SS issue but just one product against another. I am really looking for a 3D sound stage with beautiful timbres, and sound that isn't to dark(a complaint that I've read about tubes) and natural/real/balanced. I listen mostly to classical, with some jazz, and some rock. Does a ton of power make difference with speakers that don't really require it?

Best, Len

Also for the sake of full disclosure my amp is Accuphase which is a brand that has a broad range of opinions around it. Accuphase is balanced, clean, doesn't sound digital like some other SS stuff. You can listen to it for hours without fatique. Care free use with no heat biuild up (it's a class a/b amp)However some people might feel that it is a little flat, analytical, and lacking in emotion. I can say that it isn't ambient sound.

The BAT SE Amps are more even handed and extended on the top and bottom. You'll get those 3d soundstages and beautful timbres.

With your speakers, that BAT vk60se mono's will have plenty of power.

I do recommend having a few spare 6c33b output tubes. and fuses. The amp autobias', so a tube and fuse is plug and play. About as hard as changing a light bulb. (JUST MAKE SURE AMP IS POWERED OFF AND tubes are relatively cool)

My experience of about 8 yrs on using BAT tube amps is the 6c33b output tubes are prone to failure, but one you have a set working, they seem to work. When you put in a new set of tubes, one may fail in a few days/weeks. It's the nature of these tubes, not the amp. The tubes are about $40 each.

I have owned a VK60, VK75SE, now 150SE mono's...

If you like your preamp, this amp and pre combo is killer.