Bat vk-3

aboroth00
aboroth00 Posts: 1,106
edited December 2013 in Electronics
Thoughts on this preamp? I know it's the older version of the VK-3i but not sure why it was replaced or the differences.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,566
    edited December 2013
    A very nice and musical pre amp.
    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

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  • aboroth00
    aboroth00 Posts: 1,106
    edited December 2013
    How do you think it'd compare with my current Rogue 66?
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,566
    edited December 2013
    Sorry, I haven't heard the Rogue.
    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

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  • bobsauto49
    bobsauto49 Posts: 973
    edited December 2013
    I have the VK5i, I think it's sublime over the Jolida fusion pre I had before! I think BAT has there chit together! Period!!!!
    "Everything I ever did in my life worthwhile I caught hell for"
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited December 2013
    It's on my short list but I don't own/collect the tubes it takes except for the 6V6 and I can't start buying/collecting 6922/6DJ8 tubes when I already have several hundred pairs 12AU7, 12AT7, 12AX7 and equivalents in my stash. Hence my interest in your Rogue 66 Magnum.

    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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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited December 2013
    I used to own the VK-3i. It is a great pre-amp! As Jesse said: musical. I sold and replaced it with a VK-31 I bought from Chris (here on the forum). The VK-31 has better transparency and detail than the VK-3i, but it's also over double the price. If you buy a VK-3(i) you will love it. You will need to start collecting 6DJ8's/6922's and 6V6's though. If you buy it, let me know I have a couple pairs of 6V6's that I can sell you to go in it. Sorry, I need my 6922's though....... I have never heard the Rogue either so I cannot comp-are, sorry. Let us know what you decide.
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    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
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  • aboroth00
    aboroth00 Posts: 1,106
    edited December 2013
    headrott wrote: »
    I used to own the VK-3i. It is a great pre-amp! As Jesse said: musical. I sold and replaced it with a VK-31 I bought from Chris (here on the forum). The VK-31 has better transparency and detail than the VK-3i, but it's also over double the price. If you buy a VK-3(i) you will love it. You will need to start collecting 6DJ8's/6922's and 6V6's though. If you buy it, let me know I have a couple pairs of 6V6's that I can sell you to go in it. Sorry, I need my 6922's though....... I have never heard the Rogue either so I cannot comp-are, sorry. Let us know what you decide.

    Thanks all for the tips. I am eyeing a local VK-3 right now and am thinking about selling the Rogue and tubes. Unfortunately the Rogue is tubey and it worked great for my more analytical speakers to warm them up and reduce the sharpness in the highs. But the new speakers are totally the opposite...

    Do you know the difference between the VK-3 and the i version? I read somewhere that it is very much different on the circuit design and a total upgrade. I have already looked into new tubes and I would like to firm up the interest on my stuff before I go and spend on new gear. I will definitely consult with you if I do pick up a BAT.
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  • aboroth00
    aboroth00 Posts: 1,106
    edited December 2013
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,767
    edited December 2013
    THE biggest difference between the VK3 and the VK3i is the user interface, volume control, and remote capability (still an option though).

    I have attached the I-series White Paper from BAT for you to read more.


    i-white.pdf
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited December 2013
    ^^^^That is my understanding as well.^^^^
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    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
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  • aboroth00
    aboroth00 Posts: 1,106
    edited December 2013
    Thanks for the info. I can definitely live without a remote. One of the biggest beef with my Rogue is the motorized volume control. The potentiometer is continuous and not stepped so hitting up or down on the remote, changes the volume too much! So I got used to getting up to change the volume and just leaving it there. I was wondering if there was a sonic difference and it doesn't seem like there's much of one.
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,767
    edited December 2013
    aboroth00 wrote: »
    Thanks for the info. I can definitely live without a remote. One of the biggest beef with my Rogue is the motorized volume control. The potentiometer is continuous and not stepped so hitting up or down on the remote, changes the volume too much! So I got used to getting up to change the volume and just leaving it there. I was wondering if there was a sonic difference and it doesn't seem like there's much of one.

    There is probably a slight sound difference due to using better parts, but I would guess its not significant.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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