BAT SS amps VS Ayre MX-R

Hi Arthurp,

I use BAT VK 600 SE in monoblock configuration (600M SE) and i'm very pleased about these amps, maybe apart from the heat they produce summertime (400W each on idle.
Aftermarked power cables is also expencive to test since each amp using two power cords each.
The midrange is superb, the same is the lower range, the upper range is very good to.
It is very good in detail presentation.
I use mine together with the new dCS scarlatti and Sonus faber strad speakers. Cables are from kimber select (1130-1038)

For me the system is a bit on the warm side, but that is how I prefer it.

Before I purchased the BAT I was using some electrocompaniet nemo 600W monoblocks and change to BAT was a huge upgrade for me and have my strongest reccomodation.
However, I can't compare it with the other amps you mention here, but for me this is most likely the end of the road (however, these words has often been used before as well)

Kind regards
Geir
Norway

I'm using Karan amps with a BAT pre-amp. The Karan stays on all the time, and is just warm to the touch. You might want to look into a demo to determine whether it fits the bill. You might also consider Hovland and Gryphon. If you have alot of extra money, Dartzeel monoblocks. For tubes, perhaps CAT or BAT monoblocks. Not sure about Krell with those aluminum cones. Also, would probably not think to use Boulder, Halcro, or Edge. You need something with some fullness in the midrange, even with the tubed pre and DAC. BAT VK-600 and McIntosh might work.

Thank you to everyone for some really great responses.

Because I'm looking to get off the upgrade path there are a lot of variables to consider. Between my VK-52SE and the Modwright Transporter I have a fair amount of tubes already. While I have some experience with tubes, I'm certainly not an expert on the subject. I like the tight quick base that solid state delivers. I love the texture and imaging that tubes deliver. I don't leave my system on all the time because it throws off a lot of heat and burns a lot of electric. I will say that after it's been on for three hours plus it gets very liquid and transparent. I tried a McIntosh MC402 and found I lost a great deal of the transparency the BAT delivers. I sold it and bought a second VK-250SE after selling the previous one. That was an expensive mistake. I've thought about the new McIntosh MC 2301 amps at 300 WPC. They are a bit more reasonably priced than some of the other high powered tube amps. I wouldn't commit to them unless I heard them in my system first. I'm also thinking about giving a Krell Cast system a try with the Modwright. I'm keeping the Transporter. The Krell EVO amps burn a ton of power in stand by mode. In good conscious I couldn't leave them on all the time either. The one thing I'm reluctant about the BAT VK-600SE is the amount of heat it produces. Overall I'm really happy with my current BAT set up. I'm just not sure it will be a long term stop for me. Between the two VK-250SE's I have had it since November '07. That's a fairly long time for me.

You should listen to the new Aesthetix Atlas amplifier. It's a hybrid amp with a vacuum tube gain stage and a SS output and driver stage (200watts into 8 ohms and double into 4 ohms). For me, in my system, it seems to bridge the gap between SS and Tube amplifiers. They also make a monoblock version that delivers double the power of the stereo amp. My previous amps were a Pass Labs 250.5 and before that Quicksilver V4 monoblocks.

Hi Arthur
I hate to say it, but if you really want to hear those Prince's sing, you've got to think tubes. Just my 2 cents.
-Carl

I went from bat vk150se to ayre mxrs. I am very happy with the
Change. I think system matching at this level is critical.

The ayre mxrs do seem to need several days to warm up and very
Extended breakin time.

Finally, if you are keeping your bat pre then bat amps maybe the
Best matching option. Bat has a more robust sound vs the more nuetral
And extended mxrs, this part comes down to preference and system $matching

Both are great.

I did a home audition of the MXRs with B&W 800Ns and found my current Lexicon 312 and 501 Monos MUCH better. I could not wait to disconnect the Ayre.

I would agree with Bryceeboy. I wasn't really impressed with my MXR and there are much better amps around the same price. Boulder makes very good solid state gear.

"In my system with my electronics" The Bat SE 600M monoblocks literally kicked the crap out of the Ayres. I'm driving Soundlab A-1 speakers so that may have had an effect. I mentioned this to a rep of Ayres at last years Rocky Mountain and was told to buy better speakers. That spoke volumes to me about the company itself. They're pretty proud of their gear. Sonically the Bats just had more of everything, more dynamics, better bass, better imaging, bigger sounstage etc.. This wasn't a subtle difference and everyone that heard it couldn't believe the differences. These were a buddies MXR's and he sold them shorly after and bought a Audio Research tube amp instead. Not trying to pick a fight with Ayre and I prefaced this with "my system" but for 20grand it should at least be close. Good luck.