Balanced Audio Technology VK 3i

W WALDECKER

SCompRacer wrote:

William, I waited too long (was broke actually...LOL) to order some EI tubes. They only had two left and said 30-60 days to get more so I went in a different direction.

I originally preferred the Siemens/Phillips ECG 7308's over the Sovteks when I had Audiotruth Lapis IC's in my system. They are a detailed cable but can add a harsh brightness with some speakers, like ribbons. When I changed over to MIT IC's, I ended up going back to the Sovtek 6922's as the 7308's were now too warm for my liking.

I ended up going with a quad of Russian 6H23 EB Type 3 tubes. I only have 19 hours on them and find they are better than the OEM 6922's that were pretty long in the tooth (5 years). They give me similar results as you found with the EI Elites. Great bass and midrange with vivid highs.

Hey Rich, some of the Guys over at the Audiocircles were saying that they liked the Russian 6h23 rocket logo tubes in thier BAT preamplifiers. i may try out a quad of them myself when i get a chance. where did you get yours from ? thanks....WCW III

SCompRacer

I got them from Upscale. One other tube place that had the 6H23 was out.

starchaser

Congrats on scoring your BAT.

A tubed pre is next on the list. I'm really hoping a bonus checks hits me soon.
Enjoy!

heiney9

Found this old thread searching the archives.

I just put in an offer for a very nice cond. used VK-3i w/remote on Audiogon. We'll see if my offer is acceptable

H9

leroyjr1

heiney9 wrote: »

Found this old thread searching the archives.

I just put in an offer for a very nice cond. used VK-3i w/remote on Audiogon. We'll see if my offer is acceptable

H9

Seen that earlier. That's a good price.

heiney9

leroyjr1 wrote: »

Seen that earlier. That's a good price.

You know what that means Leroy .

H9

W WALDECKER

The VK3i is a very nice sounding preamp and the build is solid....WCW III

headrott

heiney9 wrote: »

Found this old thread searching the archives.

I just put in an offer for a very nice cond. used VK-3i w/remote on Audiogon. We'll see if my offer is acceptable

H9

This is the pre-amp I got H9. I paid his asking amount though. I saw it and put an offer in on the 17th. Sorry, I hope you're not pissed off about it. I've been looking for a BAT pre-amp for a few weeks now, and jumped on this as soon as it appeared on Audiogon (within 45 minutes of it appearing). I don't know why it's not listed as sold though????

Greg

heiney9

No not pissed at you. I saw it as soon as it hit Audiogon but I waited 24hrs before making an offer. I wish he would have marked it sold and/or declined my bid because I was looking at another pre and I was bound by the terms of my original offer and I didn;t want to have to buy two pre's -lol.

So you've been looking for two whole weeks, I've been looking for about a year and really it was just a fluke that I even out a bid in as I've seen others in the past 6 mos and didn't even bid. .

Have fun with it, enjoy it, and maybe keep me in mind of you decide to move it along in the future. I'm not looking real hard as I am content at this point.

H9

SCompRacer

Aw darn, I was hoping to tell Greg that Brock is sharpening his voodoo pins.:D

Greg, congrats on the new pre. I had a VK3i and despite being warned about the problem, I accidentally blew out the volume control with static discharge. I had just handled an LP, dropped the stylus into the groove and it was too loud. I reached for the volume knob and *snap* it went full tilt on the volume with no volume or mute control at all.

It was a static discharge thing. I sent it back to BAT and Vladimir fixed it for me. I'm not sure what serial number they may have applied this fix to, but my #292 didn't have it. Line 4 reads "Implement Static Discharge Protection" which IIRC adds a ground to the front panel/chassis.

If you do ask the folks at BAT about it, Victor wasn't too forthcoming about this issue, while Vlad was. Ever since then, I always ground myself before touching gear....especially volume knobs.;)

headrott

heiney9 wrote: »

No not pissed at you. I saw it as soon as it hit Audiogon but I waited 24hrs before making an offer. I wish he would have marked it sold and/or declined my bid because I was looking at another pre and I was bound by the terms of my original offer and I didn;t want to have to buy two pre's -lol.

So you've been looking for two whole weeks, I've been looking for about a year and really it was just a fluke that I even out a bid in as I've seen others in the past 6 mos and didn't even bid. .

Have fun with it, enjoy it, and maybe keep me in mind of you decide to move it along in the future. I'm not looking real hard as I am content at this point.

H9

Absolutley, I was tring to decide which pre-amp to get and went with what seemed like it would be the best fit form my needs. If, after hooking it up it does not I will certainly let you give it a shot. I have a feeling this pre-amp will work out well though.

There is currently a VK-5 (doesn't say "i") on Agon, but they are asking $2,000 OBO for it. You could give it a try. I've read it's better in some ways and not as good in some ways. Could give it a shot though.

Greg

heiney9

headrott wrote: »

Absolutley, I was tring to decide which pre-amp to get and went with what seemed like it would be the best fit form my needs. If, after hooking it up it does not I will certainly let you give it a shot. I have a feeling this pre-amp will work out well though.

There is currently a VK-5 (doesn't say "i") on Agon, but they are asking $2,000 OBO for it. You could give it a try. I've read it's better in some ways and not as good in some ways. Could give it a shot though.

Greg

Greg, I'm sure you will be absolutely thrilled with it. My brother, Ricardo, Ted all have BAT pre's and they are excellent. Thanks for the heads up on the 5, IIRC, that's the model Ricardo has and it takes A LOT of tubes :eek:.

I'm not in a hurry or really in need, but I did see the one you bought and he seemed like a solid seller with a nice unit to sell. I'll keep looking for a good deal.

Rich, don't be giving away all my secrets . I wanted Greg to sweat it out a bit and wonder why he was having pains in his lower back and arm he uses the remote in. Maybe he would think the BAT was at fault

H9

heiney9

SCompRacer wrote: »

I always ground myself before touching my knob.;)

Fixed it for you, and I agree!!!! :D

SCompRacer

heiney9 wrote: »

Fixed it for you, and I agree!!!! :D

Kewl! I'm sure Mark will agree too.:D

headrott

I have read the Rocket 6H23 tubes are good in theis pre-amp.

How about some older (1950's and 1960's) 6922's and their equivalents. What brands, years and getter types are good for this pre-amp. Also, the 6V6 tubes, brands, years and getter types to try

I will definately just try the ones in there first, but for the future can people give me some direction on which 6922's and equivalents as well as 6V6's work well in the VK-3i I would definately appreciate it.

Greg

heiney9

Going strictly on what I've read, be careful using the older (ie, expensive 6922/6DJ8, etc) as you may not get your monies worth soundwise. Just do a search on that pre and read the different opinions. In the end you may just need to find out for yourself in your owne rig.

Mr. Waldecker has a couple reviews at audioreview.com

As far as 6V6, I use 50's and 60's grey glass RCA's double "d" getters and they are fantastic and if you watch can be fairly inexpensive for used ones. One of the reasons I was drawn to the VK-3i is because I have 8 extra RCA 6V6's I could have used.

headrott

H9,

From the other thread about pre-amp tubes I think you and I have similar tube tastes so I may have to try those RCA 6V6 tubes. Is there a difference in sound between the 50's versus the 60's RCAs?

I have read the reviews on audioreview.com. It's always hard to take advice on reviews of tubes until you know peoples' views on them. That is, when they make a statement about a tube and then you hear it you have a point of reference. Until then, it's hard to take written advice on tubes.

Greg

heiney9

headrott wrote: »

H9,

From the other thread about pre-amp tubes I think you and I have similar tube tastes so I may have to try those RCA 6V6 tubes. Is there a difference in sound between the 50's versus the 60's RCAs?

Greg

Not really, most of mine are early 60's with the gray glass and double "d" getters. It's been difficult to find a matched quad (which is what I need for my other amp) in the earlier 50's type. According to most tube retailers there is very little difference between the 50's and 60's.

If you read at all about the RCA 6V6 gray glass they really are considered to tops among 6V6 tubes. Most are referenced in guitar amps. The one I'd like to try are the Bendix 5992 but buying a quad of those reasonably is close to impossible.

Check out www.tubesasylum.com if you haven't already. My other amp shipped with NOS JJ Tesla 6V6's and I didn't care for the tone at all. When I put in the RCA's it was simply fantastic.

http://www.audiotubes.com/6v6.htm

The amp that uses 6V6 tubes is in a secondary rig and I just haven't wanted to spend money rolling different 6V6's, plus the RCA's sound so good already I've just stuck with them.

http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/6v6.html

Here's some furthur reading

headrott

Thanks for the links H9.

I have bought tubes from Brent Jessee before. He is pretty accurate when describing tube sounds and he gets tubes in true NOS condition. Great tube source.

Greg