Guido-
You may want to do a bit of research on the characteristics of the tubes used in the designs you are investigating. Here's what I can offer:
The VAC Ren's use 8416 & 12AX7's, while the ARC & SE-series BAT's use the 6H30.
There was only one manufacturer of the NOS 8416's, though Kevin Hayes told me he has access to a reliable stock of over 9,000 of them. So, though you will always be able to get replacement tubes, you'll only be able to tube-roll the 12AX7's.
The 8416 is essentially an updated version of a 6922 with a higher heater voltage, so it has the sonic benefits of what we typically consider the classic tube character as well as excellent dynamics.
The modern, hi-voltage 6H30's in the ARC Ref models and SE-series BATs, while providing the dynamics of a solid-state preamp, seem to also have the reputation as the least 'tubey' sounding of any valve-based preamp. And there is NO tube-rolling possible with a 6H30 - if you don't like the character you get out of the box, too bad.
In my case, the more comments I read about the sonic character of the ARC Ref2MkII & LS-25MkII, BAT VK-51SE and other 6H30-based pre's, the less I wanted them. Why have a tube pre if it doesn't sound like it has tubes? That's what all those nice solid-state pre's are there for.
This will - of course - ultimately come down to individual personal preference and system synergy, and the Ref3 may very well be a totally different animal compared to its predecessors, so I can't help you there.
You may want to do a bit of research on the characteristics of the tubes used in the designs you are investigating. Here's what I can offer:
The VAC Ren's use 8416 & 12AX7's, while the ARC & SE-series BAT's use the 6H30.
There was only one manufacturer of the NOS 8416's, though Kevin Hayes told me he has access to a reliable stock of over 9,000 of them. So, though you will always be able to get replacement tubes, you'll only be able to tube-roll the 12AX7's.
The 8416 is essentially an updated version of a 6922 with a higher heater voltage, so it has the sonic benefits of what we typically consider the classic tube character as well as excellent dynamics.
The modern, hi-voltage 6H30's in the ARC Ref models and SE-series BATs, while providing the dynamics of a solid-state preamp, seem to also have the reputation as the least 'tubey' sounding of any valve-based preamp. And there is NO tube-rolling possible with a 6H30 - if you don't like the character you get out of the box, too bad.
In my case, the more comments I read about the sonic character of the ARC Ref2MkII & LS-25MkII, BAT VK-51SE and other 6H30-based pre's, the less I wanted them. Why have a tube pre if it doesn't sound like it has tubes? That's what all those nice solid-state pre's are there for.
This will - of course - ultimately come down to individual personal preference and system synergy, and the Ref3 may very well be a totally different animal compared to its predecessors, so I can't help you there.