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BAT vs. Mcintosh?

I currently own a VK-60 amp that I absolutely love but have often been intrigued by Mcintosh products. I will be able to spend about two thousand dollars on my next upgrade & have always considered purchasing another VK-60 but don't really have the room to run two of these massive amps based on the size of my listening area. Would I be better off trying a Mcintosh product, maybe a MA6500 or one of their other amps? I realize my VR4 jr's could use some more power which is why I'm considering the switch to a big Mcintosh solid state. I listen to clasic rock exclusively.
fishwater

Showing 3 responses by theo

theo's avatar
theo
2,659 posts
 
aball-it was in Denver at Audio Unlimited
theo's avatar
theo
2,659 posts
 
As a current McIntosh owner I have been considering the BAT amps. I recentley, at a local McIntosh and BAT dealer did a head to head comparison. Using the Mc MC501 Monoblocks against the VK600. As a Mc owner I reluctantly must confess the BAT sounded more detailed, precise and the bass was much quicker and deatailed whereas the MC sounded a little "muddy" in the bass. I never would have picked up on this, had I not done the comparison. Don't get me wrong I Love my Mc's and think they sound great, but I am considering a switch. But I do want to do another A-B before I do it will be hard to part with the blue meters and glass fronts. The speakers in the test were JM Labs grands, Boulder pre-amp and Accuphase CD. No slouches in the group. Let me add I considered JM Labs for speakers but always felt they we a little bass heavy untill I heard them through the BAT's.
theo's avatar
theo
2,659 posts
 
You know I don't recall ever being told. I was just told that is was the 2 channel version of virtually the same construction as the VK6200, which was what I would have been buying. ( I am tring to save some rack space ) But I would expect a 11K Plus amp to out perform a pair of 8K mono's. That may have been the case in which re-inforces my decision to stay with my Mac setup. For the time being, I still enjoy the sound of my 352 and I can wait before plopping down any funds right now. I want to look at a few other amps as well. The Jeff Roland mono blocks intrigue me in what they deliver for the size they are. They are priced about the same as the BAT. But I really am on hold for the moment, I am having pre-separation anxiety with my blue meters.
By the way had you been to Audio Unlimited before? They are great guys there and I would like to business there on a larger scale just haven't yet. Was going to buy the JM Labs 936's but went the Revel route instead. But I like the manner in which they do business. If wishes were amps dreamers would have Boulder Amps...but that is way out of reach for me. Thanks for getting back.
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