Balanced Audio VK-200....

Banksfriend- Thanks for the encouragement, I wasn't doubtful in the combo but it is always nice to here someone else enjoying something very similar to me(the only difference is I will be using 3.6).

I heard the 3.6 and BATs at my dealer recently, You're going to be very happy.

The VK-200 is a great amp, with open, extended, smooth highs, very sweet mids, and solid bass control with plenty of power. Great tonality, truthful to all instruments. Absolutely dead quiet, with no annoying transformer hum. I've owned mine for about two years, and now it's fed from the BAT VK-30 with NOS Valvo tubes. My golden eared audio buddy says its highs are the best he has heard, period. I tried twice to wreck the amp by connecting a bad XLR cable (open ground). What a frightening noise! The first time, only blew a rail fuse. Second time, took out the fuse and a resistor. BAT repaired in two days at fair price. Great sound, great design, great service. For the life of me, I can't imagine why people sell them, but they do, and a used one is a great bargain.

Just purchased a set of Audio Physic Tempo IIIi speakers which I auditioned for several hours with a VK-200 driven by a VK-3i. Was the best sound I have heard at the price point. Now that I have the speakers I will have to save my funds to get the VK-200 and then the preamp. Not sure which preamp, but the VK-200 is a given.

However, discussion with BAT resulted in the info that at least through S/N 274 there is a needed $500 upgrade of the bias circuit to drive difficult loads without spurious amp shutdown. I do know that S/N 371 did not need the upgrade, so am not sure at what S/N they made the change. But, the sound through the Tempos was second to none.

BAT tells me that the upgrade came in all amps with S/N greater than "about 300".