Price Paid:  $1650.00 from SLIGHTLY USED

Summary:
What can I say that hasn't already been said about this remarkable solid-state amplifier from BAT? Like my recently purchased BAT VK30se preamp, the construction quality of the VK-200 is truly outstanding. It's built like a battle ship but with lots of care and attention to detail. For a modest 100w/ch amp, at nearly 60 pounds it's fairly heavy. Prior to ever auditioning equipment from BAT, my initial impression was that BAT equipment was rather expensive. I once owned a quality 200w/ch amp that cost somewhat less than the modest 100w/ch BAT VK-200. I figured the 200w/ch amp at less money than the 100w/ch BAT had to be the better buy. WRONG! Very very wrong!! Even at half the power rating of the larger amp, the BAT VK-200 is the better buy. In fact, this modest 100w/ch VK-200 is more detailed, transparent, and robust than the 200w/ch or larger 300w/ch amps I've owned in the past. This amp never runs out of juice. I play it loud and it maintains it's composure effortlessly extracting detail and subtlties from very complex music without congestion. It's a very clean and clear sounding amp. The bass is deep, tight, and detailed, never muddy and never lacking punch. The midrange is smooth and articulate while the treble is extended but clean and never bright. The soundstage width and depth are very good, 3-dimensional almost like my tube gear with good focus. This is by far the best solid-state amp I have ever owned. I have also tried various tube amps and still have one. The BAT VK-200 is the only solid-state amp that I think I'll keep for a very long time. I sold the others long ago as I was never completely satisfied with their peformance. System: BAT VK30se tube preamp BAT VK-200 solid-state amp Cary 306/200 CD player Tannoy D500 speakers (6-Ohm nom. ~91dB sens.)

Strengths:
Incredibly dynamic and congestion free with ability to retrieve subtle detail from complex music even at low or loud output levels. Much more robust than any 100-watt per channel amp has a right to be. Outstanding build quality.

Weaknesses:
XLR balanced inputs only but this is not really a weakness because the amp performs best this way. RCA-to-XLR adapters are available if your preamp does not have balanced outputs. The amp can run a bit warm even at idle. I suspect this amp is biased more toward Class A operation than some others. Not to placed in an enclosed equipment rack. Let this amp breathe.

Similar Products Used:
Auditioned Krell, Bryston, Classe CA-201. Owned Classe CA-100, CA-200, CA-300. Owned Audio Research VT100mkII tube amp. Currently also own Conrad-Johnson Premier 11a tube amp and Conrad-Johnson MF2

Price Paid:  $2200.00 from MaxAudio

Summary:
I am trying to put a review in for each piece of equipment I own but I do have other pressing matters and it takes time. I really don't know where to start with this because I feel that this is bar none the best amp (Engineering, build and sound quality) I have ever owned and we can go back a long way on the ones I have owned. In the late '70's I ownned Pioneer 707 Class A, H&K Citation series and MAC. In the '80's I had Rotel and NAD. All were good for the money especially the NAD. Nothing to this day can equal my VK200. One reviewer did mention the importance of having the right equipment and that would include cabling for me to associat with your VK200. I like minimalist Pre's so I bought the VK3i because I'm not into bell's and whistle's. I also think that Victor is ahead of his time in his engineering philosophy and design of fully balanced equipment. I could go on and on about this bad boy but all I can say is that if you are in the market for a good amp go to a dealer that sells BAT and give this baby a listen and I'm sure you will agree with the majority of the reviewers. In order to keep from duplicating my associated equipment please see my entry under CD players, Rotel RCD 991 for this info. IRIE! Jamming.

Strengths:
Soundstage, Depth and Clarity. Gobbs of power reserve (Modestly rated at 100WPC). Engineering, Build Quality and overall bang for your buck.

Weaknesses:
None that I have found. Like all high quality amps, needs good ventilation and by all means do by yourself a good AC coupler. I think that's why they have after market, they probably pay equipment manufacturers to put cheap ones in their boxes!!

Similar Products Used:
Nothing at this price point! Similar though are MAC, Krell and Threshold.

Price Paid:  $2200.00 from used

Summary:
Here's a cut to the chase. Run, don't walk, to buy this amp, and be glad you did. It's as good as anything else available under $2k and better than most. And to tell you the truth, you could spend more than twice that amount, yet not better the perfomance had from the VK200. I've sampled everything I cared to sample over a 5 year period. I've owned several VK200's over that period, and the VK200 is the amp I've come back to every time. I've now moved on from the audio habit. I refer to it as such, because buying, sampling, repeated gear can become a form of addiction. But I had fun, have no regrets, and even made a little money in the process. I've settled on the VK200 as the amp to drive my final system. Mated to any BAT preamp (I've owned most of them), I've found it really is as good as it gets. The VK200 drives a pair of Martin Logan CLS IIz's very adequately, and elequently. It's simply, good enough. Enjoy all!



System:

Martin Logan CLS IIz's
BAT VK200
BAT VK40 (pre)
Sony XA7ES
Rega P2000
Dynavector DV10 MkII
VPI 16.5

Strengths:
Lots of headroom for an amp with very moderate power ratings. Performs MUCH larger than the 100 watt per channel rating!

Weaknesses:
None really. It operates warm, and not suitable for an enclosed rack system, but that's no weakness.

Similar Products Used:
Pass Aleph 2's, Aleph 5, Aleph 3, Aragon Palladium II mono's, Plinius SA100 MkIII, Coda 10.5, VTL Deluxe 140 mono's, Manley Ref 440 mono's, Bel Canto Evos 200.2 mono's, BAT VK500.

Price Paid:  $1900.00 from Earphoria - CA

Summary:
I had heard some great things about BAT equipment. Well, now I know what all the raves are about! At $3500 list (I paid $1900 for a demo) while not cheap, stands up to anything built on the planet today! I almost bought the latest Plinius at twice the price. The Plinius is wonderful, but I couldn't justify the additional $$$. The bass is tight, deep and authoritative. The midrange is sweet with no grain or hardness. The highs are extended and detailed but not fatiguing! It almost sounds like "tube-like" in some regards. I got rid of a Krell amp to get this baby. The Krell, while quite substantial in its own right, was just too detailed - to the point of fatigue! If you have the opportunity to listen to one of these "gentle giants", do so at your own risk. You won't want to keep what you have. What did someone say....."Once you go BAT, you never go back"! Believe it!

Strengths:
Bass, Build Quality, Very Smooth Sound, Detailed but not over-analytical, above average customer service, great looks! 100 watts per channel - sounds like 200 watts per channel.

Weaknesses:
UUHH.....none that I can find. Well, it does run very warm, but what high quality amp doesn't? Just give it ventilation.

Similar Products Used:
Krell, Bryston, Electrocompaniet

Price Paid:  $1800.00 from echo hifi in portland OR.

Summary:
Very very powerful and very very fast. It's hard to believe this amp is only 100wpc. Excellent tonality. with good digital gear the sounstage goes very deep and defined. large image. Is a superb match for thiels. This amp never ceases to amaze me. I can't believe the detail that can come from it but without being bright. The sound stage never gets cluttered even with rock and heavymetal. This amp sounds just as good with every type of music.
System: Reference line preeminence 1 series 2 passive preamp ($1500), thiel 2.3 speakers ($3600), resolution audio quantum DAC ($3200), and the vk-200 amp ($3600).
To get the most from this amp I have a dedicated power line with 10 gauge solid core wire with a leviton outlet and a custom 10 gauge solid core powercord.I also make my own interconnects and speaker wire using solid core wire(it blows away the $5000 of retail stuff I had. no kidding) Did I mention how super dynamic it is? It looks awsome too. I love the blue lights. Don't use any speakers that gloss over the sound. this amp gets everything right so you don't need gear that tries to "fix" the sound IE: MIT and vandersteens or you won't truelly get the benefit of owning this amp and it may come across to warm (but you'll still get the power and dynamics). It really shines with very holographic speakers that can reveal detail. I bet avalons would sound great with it also.

Strengths:
incredible tonality and very very dynamic. It's one fast and powerful amp.

Weaknesses:
without revealing gear it could come across to warm and not involving enough. But get it right and WOW. OH and it get's really really hot.

Similar Products Used:
Classe ca-100