BAT VK-60, VK-55 or ????


Been considering making the switch to a tube amp after borrowing a friends VK-55. It doesn't have quite the bass control my VK-200 did but "Oh does it have everything else". I have noticed the VK-60 is less expensive than the 55 but does it sound better than the 55? Or, are there other tube amps that don't run as hot and sound just as good for around the same price range? My preamp is a VK5i and speakers are Tyler Acoustics Linbrooks at 90db effiency. Thanks in advance.
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Anyone with the ability to desolder/solder can perform these mods, accessing through the bottom cover of the chassis without removing PCBs. Probably about 1 hour of work. You need 4 x .22uf/600V V-Cap @ $89 and $60 in triple-braided silver IC from Reference Audio Mods(or two 2' sections of any good balanced interconnect.) If V-Caps are outside your budget, substitute Russian FT-3 teflon caps from ebay @$5. Email me if you would like detailed instructions.
I have a VK31 pre-amp that I've used with ARC, VTL and BAT amps. (The BAT was a VK75, not the SE--which means I can play around with NOS tubes, which is fun with the BAT gear). That BAT combo was certainly synergistic. I would imagine you would be pleased, and I also would guess that the A'goners that are recommending the 60 over the 55 are probably right...if the 75 is basically the update for the 60, then you will probably like having a little extra testosterone with the 60.
Having seen inside VK75SE, VK75, and VK60, all three are pretty much the same, except for addition of a regulated filament power supply PCB and subsitution of 6H30 tube at input in -SE version.
Thank you guys for the recommendation. It looks to me the 60 would have better bass than the 55? It does have an extra transformer and a bigger amp to boot. I know the 55 was a room heater and I bet the 60 would put out more. Does the 60 suffer from any reliability issues?