BAT 75 SE vs. CAT JL2 or JL2 Sig.

The CAT amps are arguably the most powerful tube amps ever made ("powerful" in the sense of their wattage ratings being almost meaningless -- they can drive virtually any speaker to loud levels cleanly). They also do finesse, especially the all point-to-point wired $50K limited edition monoblocks with the outrageous 55 lb. output transformers. The newer models with circuit boards aren't chopped liver either.

The only downside is that they could be less finicky about requiring only the most carefully vetted output tubes, and when tubes blow, they take out resistors, which, given their outrageous weight (192 lbs. each for the limited edition monoblocks), makes owning them an obsessive's pastime (the comparison to Ferrari's best before those cars became reasonably reliable is not off the mark).

In short, while BAT makes a very fine product, the CAT amps are an extreme product that is without peer in my experience.

Hi Maril555:

Yes, I still run my VAC Renaissance 140/140 Mark III's, but I am thinking of selling them, as I would like 24/7 access to my system and can't justify firing them up if I want to listen to music for just a few minutes or listen to NPR in the morning before leaving for work -- as much as I love them (my wife does, too, funny enough, as she does not care about audio), I would like the flexibility of a solid-state amp.

Audio Auricle certainly knows what he is talking about and is a good guy with a lot of hi-fi integrity (Hi Dave). That said, my closest hi-fi friend ran the $50K Limited Edition CAT monoblocks for almost three years, and through him and his accumulated knowledge (he corresponded with at least a dozen other CAT amp owners in an attempt to maximize their performance and use, tube choices, A/C line supply questions, mechanical isolation, etc.), I learned quite a bit about them. I must say frankly that they sounded better than my VAC amps (which themselves ain't chopped liver -- all point-to-point wired, eight 300-B's per side, excellent output transformers, and really high parts quality -- they cost $28K). At least the $50k Limited Edition monos do -- more linear and transparent, with iron-fist bass control and dynamics. Persons running later iterations of the amps, many with vast experience running other amps in their systems, likewise said that the CAT amps stand out for dynamics, bass control, transparency and build quality. Again, the only real issue was reliability -- my friend nicknamed his amp "the popcorn popper", and everyone he knew with the amps seemed to be saying the same thing. The owner/builder is also reputed to be a bit of a character, which did not help.