2. amps-preamps
  3. 1170007401

No bass on BAT VK-3ix SE preamp?

Need a little help here. Picked up a 3iX SE, my first BAT product. There is not any bass what so ever (tubes?). The mids and highs are there (love at first hearing) but just a soft rumble from lower mids down. Nothing against BAT. If I ever replace this it will be another BAT. I've finally found something really "special"! here with my first taste of BAT. Thanks
siddigger
jdlepera's avatar
jdlepera
234 posts
 
What was your previous preamp?Did it have more bass?Have you moved your speakers since changing pre's?Speaker placment can affect bass.....I had a 3i and didn't notice lack of bass.JD
loontoon
301 posts
 
Check the impedance of you amp, and watch the capacitance of your cables if they're long.

My BAT has nice bass but I have an older 3i with 4 6922's and 2 6v6 toobs.

loon
aball
2,016 posts
 
If I remember right, those preamps have a high output impedance. If you amp's input impedance is low, your bass will get chopped off.

I had a 3i with a McIntosh amp and had killer bass quantity and dynamics.

Arthur
aball
2,016 posts
 
Holy cow! I was correct. I just looked at JA's measurements and the output impedance in the bass is 7k unbalanced and 14k balanced!! I call that a terrible design but whatever. The point is that an impedance mismatch is most likely the cause of your lack of bass (and probably hurts the highs too). Maybe even cables are to blame as well. What amp and interconnects do you have?

Arthur
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