Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Replaced a Krell FBP200C amp. No comparison. The BAT is very smooth with plenty of power,lots of detail and a huge soundstage. Can''t say enough good things about it. Sounds really geat with my VK50SE. Easy to listen to for long periods of time--no fatigue at all. No loss of detail at low volume listening. Does a great job of driving my Verity Audio Parsafil Encores. The sound will almost make you weep. As for the heat it produces---it''s a tube amp---small price to pay for something that sounds this good. Multible speaker taps make things interesting, and there are very distinct differences between them which makes it fun to experiment.

Strengths:
Speed,soundstage,detail!

Weaknesses:
None

Summary:
Phenomenal!

My 1st tube ownership experience. As many of you know, this is one quick tube amp. Power? It's able to drive Hales T5's (second revision) on 4-3Ohm taps authoritatively! That's not to say that the VK150SE wouldn't be better :).

After break-in of 300 hours: Detail, detail, detail! Soundstage, live-presence effect, excellent in all areas that my former solid-state amplifiers couldn't manage. Does bass extremely well, esp. compared to many tube amps I've heard with greater rated power output. Are the 6H30's responsible? I dunno- haven't heard the plain VK75 yet.

I'd recommend a dedicated 20amp outlet for amplifier alone. Be sure to keep all audio breakers on the same phase when using more than one ded. line for audio equipment.

Anyway, just wonderful, especially when paired with the VK50SE preamp. BRAVO BAT! I'll soon post a review on the VK150SE. That is, once the coffers are replenished! I'll eventually dump the Hales and drive Von Schweikert VR-7's w/em.

Larry

Strengths:
Does it all

Weaknesses:
HOT HOT HOT!