Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) VK-3i preamp, excellent condition
headrott
Posts: 5,496
I am selling my BAT VK-3i as I am purchasing Chris's VK-31. The pre-amp is in excellent condition. The only place I can find any imperfections is at one of the cover screw holes a small amount of the powder coat has come off from taking the screws out and putting them in. There is a ver small amount of powder coat that has come off. It came this way when I bought the VK-3i and I am the second owner. I am only selling this pre-amp because the VK-31 is more transparent and detailed than the VK-3i. Other than those aspects, the VK-3i is every bit as good as the VK-31, IMO.
I have cleaned all the RCA and XLR jacks and sprayed De-Oxit on all the innards and the IEC socket. I installed some dynamat- xtreme on the lid and on the rear panel. I used the rest of what I had and some more could probably be installed in the pre-amp.
The pre-amp includes all the original tubes which includes 4 Sovtek 6922's, plus 4 more Sovtek 6922's that were bought from "The tube store". Also included are the original 2 Sovtek 6V6 tubes, as well as 2 Electro-Harmonix 6V6's, and 2 "National Electronics" 6V6's (which are actually 2 Sovtek 6V6's). Also included are 2 Herbie's tube dampeners for the 6V6's.
Also included are the original remote control in excellent shape, all original packaging, manual and box. The pre-amp works perfectly and I have not had a single problem since I bought it 3 years ago.
This pre-amp is phenominal and you will love it. The VK-31 is better than the VK-3i in transparency and detail, but the VK-31 is also double the price of the VK-3i. I am asking $1,000 plus actual shipping via Fedex Ground. I will accept a check from long time members who are "regular" visitors, Postal money order and if you want to pay the fee Paypal. Please see the pics below and ask any questions you may have. Thanks guys.
I have cleaned all the RCA and XLR jacks and sprayed De-Oxit on all the innards and the IEC socket. I installed some dynamat- xtreme on the lid and on the rear panel. I used the rest of what I had and some more could probably be installed in the pre-amp.
The pre-amp includes all the original tubes which includes 4 Sovtek 6922's, plus 4 more Sovtek 6922's that were bought from "The tube store". Also included are the original 2 Sovtek 6V6 tubes, as well as 2 Electro-Harmonix 6V6's, and 2 "National Electronics" 6V6's (which are actually 2 Sovtek 6V6's). Also included are 2 Herbie's tube dampeners for the 6V6's.
Also included are the original remote control in excellent shape, all original packaging, manual and box. The pre-amp works perfectly and I have not had a single problem since I bought it 3 years ago.
This pre-amp is phenominal and you will love it. The VK-31 is better than the VK-3i in transparency and detail, but the VK-31 is also double the price of the VK-3i. I am asking $1,000 plus actual shipping via Fedex Ground. I will accept a check from long time members who are "regular" visitors, Postal money order and if you want to pay the fee Paypal. Please see the pics below and ask any questions you may have. Thanks guys.
Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
"I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion."
![:\](https://forum.polkaudio.com/resources/emoji/confused.png ":\"){kind=small}
My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....
"Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson
"Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
Post edited by headrott on
Comments
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Great piece, great seller here.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
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Damn, nice pre. I had a VK3iXSE and it was amazing. Awesome price.
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Gotta wonder how this would sound w my adcom...“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
- Isaac Asimov
Hi-Fi
Apple Lossless --> Squeezebox Touch --> Joule Electra LA-100 Mark iii --> Odyssey Khartargo Mono Plus --> LSiM-705's
Cabling by Groneberg
Visuals
https://media.illinois.edu/journalism/ledford-charles-stretch
bit.ly/stretchonphotojournalism
http://Vimeo.com/channels/stretchphoto -
If you are using the Luxman as a pre-amp, this will absolutely blow it out of the water. That is a guarantee. I will also say that you will want to upgrade the Adcom after installing the VK-3i. This could be the last pre you will need. I thought so for a long time, until I heard the VK-31. I won't say it's a total "night and day" difference, but it's easily noticable. Anyway, the VK-3i is a phenominal pre-amp that you will enjoy.
Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
"I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion."
My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....
"Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson
"Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee -
I understand about the luxman, but why the Adcom ?“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
- Isaac Asimov
Hi-Fi
Apple Lossless --> Squeezebox Touch --> Joule Electra LA-100 Mark iii --> Odyssey Khartargo Mono Plus --> LSiM-705's
Cabling by Groneberg
Visuals
https://media.illinois.edu/journalism/ledford-charles-stretch
bit.ly/stretchonphotojournalism
http://Vimeo.com/channels/stretchphoto -
I understand about the luxman, but why the Adcom ?
The VK-3i is much better than the Adcom GFA-555II as far as quality and sound go. I have heard the GFA-555II and it's not bad for a lower mid-range amp, but does not compare (IMO) to the quality of the BAT VK-3i. I do realise we are comparing a pre-amp to an amp, but it's still possible to compare sound quality to sound quality despite different roles of audio gear. I am not saying this to offend you, but having heard both pieces of gear offering my thoughts on them. If you are looking to upgrade your gear this BAT pre is an outstanding start.
Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
"I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion."
My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....
"Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson
"Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee -
That's a damn fine pre amp, very musical.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Would you trade for a pair of unbalanced 1 meter WW Platinum interconnects ? I would pay shipping both ways/
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Sorry, I owe Chris for the VK-31 so no trades. I am going to apply the money I make from this directly to the VK-31.
Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
"I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion."
My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....
"Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson
"Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee -
Bump for a great pre-amp. I thought there would be much more interest here??
Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
"I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion."
My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....
"Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson
"Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee -
The VK-3i is much better than the Adcom GFA-555II as far as quality and sound go. I have heard the GFA-555II and it's not bad for a lower mid-range amp, but does not compare (IMO) to the quality of the BAT VK-3i. I do realise we are comparing a pre-amp to an amp, but it's still possible to compare sound quality to sound quality despite different roles of audio gear. I am not saying this to offend you, but having heard both pieces of gear offering my thoughts on them. If you are looking to upgrade your gear this BAT pre is an outstanding start.
No offense taken!
Here's a dumb question - Could I use this pre with my Yaqin, an integrated unit? Would I want to? I'm guessing (and it's just a guess because I'm a novice with this stuff) that the answer is no. Why would someone want to run a preamp into an integrated amp?“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
- Isaac Asimov
Hi-Fi
Apple Lossless --> Squeezebox Touch --> Joule Electra LA-100 Mark iii --> Odyssey Khartargo Mono Plus --> LSiM-705's
Cabling by Groneberg
Visuals
https://media.illinois.edu/journalism/ledford-charles-stretch
bit.ly/stretchonphotojournalism
http://Vimeo.com/channels/stretchphoto -
How does it compare to the Gfp 750?Main
Parasound P5
Parasound A21
CA music streamer
marantz 6005
Clear Day dbl.shotgun
Morrow Xlr
1.7 Maggies
Bedroom
adcom Gfp750
Adcom 555
Rotel 1072
CA tuner
LsiM703
Clear day dbl shotgun -
No offense taken!
Here's a dumb question - Could I use this pre with my Yaqin, an integrated unit? Would I want to? I'm guessing (and it's just a guess because I'm a novice with this stuff) that the answer is no. Why would someone want to run a preamp into an integrated amp?
I don't believe the Yaqin MC-10t has a pre-amp input set of plugs does it? If it does not, then you would not be able to hook the VK-3i up to it. You would need to have an amp (or integrated amp) with pre-amp inputs on it to hook the VK-3i up to it (them).
You are correct in your thought about hooking up a pre-amp to an integrated. It would be redundant, but potentially positive if the seperate pre-amp is better than the pre-amp in the integrated amp. But, as I stated, the integrated amp would need a pre-amp input on it.
Hope this helps.
Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
"I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion."
My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....
"Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson
"Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee -
How does it compare to the Gfp 750?
I have not heard the GFP-750, so I cannot compare. Maybe Jesse or someone else has heard both units?
Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
"I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion."
My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....
"Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson
"Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee -
I owned a 750 before I bought my bat pre amp. I found that the bat had a better soundstage and was more of a 3d image compared to the 750. The 750 is great but I feel the bat was superior to it.
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I owned a 750 before I bought my bat pre amp. I found that the bat had a better soundstage and was more of a 3d image compared to the 750. The 750 is great but I feel the bat was superior to it.
Thank you sir.Main
Parasound P5
Parasound A21
CA music streamer
marantz 6005
Clear Day dbl.shotgun
Morrow Xlr
1.7 Maggies
Bedroom
adcom Gfp750
Adcom 555
Rotel 1072
CA tuner
LsiM703
Clear day dbl shotgun -
I owned a 750 before I bought my bat pre amp. I found that the bat had a better soundstage and was more of a 3d image compared to the 750. The 750 is great but I feel the bat was superior to it.
Based upon the Adcom gear I have heard, that would have been my guess. Thanks for the help Chris.
Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
"I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion."
My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....
"Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson
"Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee -
Thank you!“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
- Isaac Asimov
Hi-Fi
Apple Lossless --> Squeezebox Touch --> Joule Electra LA-100 Mark iii --> Odyssey Khartargo Mono Plus --> LSiM-705's
Cabling by Groneberg
Visuals
https://media.illinois.edu/journalism/ledford-charles-stretch
bit.ly/stretchonphotojournalism
http://Vimeo.com/channels/stretchphoto -
Come on guys, somebody buy this! I am telling you, this pre-amp will toast 99.9% of others in it's price range; and many many above it's price range. No exaggeration. read the reviews on here and other sites! Please don't make me put it up on other sites (Audiogon, Audioassylum, USA Audio Mart, etc...).
Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
"I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion."
My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....
"Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson
"Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee -
I have $750 in my paypal if you wana take that, its a secret fund for rims lol
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polkfarmboy wrote: »I have $750 in my paypal if you wana take that, its a secret fund for rims lol
Yeah! How about I trade you the Porche for the VK-3i.
Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
"I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion."
My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....
"Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson
"Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee -
Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Check your p.m.
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Go Dave...Go Dave....
Hey, I'll swing by today....yesterday was a little hectic...
BDTI plan for the future. - F1Nut -
Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
"I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion."
My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....
"Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson
"Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee -
Sale pending payment to David.
Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
"I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion."
My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....
"Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson
"Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee -
This VK-3i is sold to David. Thank you sir and enjoy it. Please mark this as sold. Thanks Ken.
Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
"I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion."
My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....
"Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson
"Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
