McIntosh or BAT amps what is your preference

BAT vs MC very nice very close, but I can help. The deciding factor is your speakers. I have NHT 2.9 and used BAT VK300se for a month 240+ hours (good to be retired) and they sounded great, the bass control still hasn't been matched. My only reservation was a slight metallic edge on the highs, the 6922 tube version allows more voiceing flex than supertube 6h30 but u lose some detail. Victor and MC both provide +++ support. Moved on to mac 6900 and 2275(ss and tube integrated) loved the 2275 but needed a little more omph so I went c2200+mc2102. Linn cd sounds great with either but more "analog" on the mcs.The 2275 is cheaper if you need to save space and money over the combo and comes close in sound. The c2200 performs wonders with any mac amp and probably equally well with BAT tube amp (only 1/2 hour experience) and betters BAT for smooth liquidity and inner detail. The BAT vk300 (6922)and ma6900 are equals, 6900 smoother ,vk300-6922 punchier, 6h30(se) more detail and retains punchier but less smooth.MA2275 is better in all respects but has less power.The MC2102 is better in all respects but is not as powerful as Bat ss unless you spend $6100 more and run the 2102 as monoblocks and I don't have enough time on BAT tube amps in direct comparison vs mc tube amps to speak there. Autoformers increase amp- speaker- cable compatibility a very big + and should extend amp life. Some expensive BAT's might still include the original 6h30 and it doesn't have the glare(slight and less than almost all ss) of current production super tubes.The last sentence is controversal as Mr K says there is no difference and he is THE expert on BAT and has my respect.Hook up the Linn, speakers and cables and have some real good music.

Hi fellas,
I am offered to buy a used MC7300, MC352 and a C45. What would be the best combination? I am more to HT but 2-channel music is also my concern.
Thanks.
Ken

I haven't really heard the BAT amps, so i canno't comment on them. However i too own a Mac MC352 partnered to a Supratek Chardonnay. Source Linn Genki soon to be upgraded to Ikemi maybe...This combo sounds fantastic. The only problem being the supratek will not offer you much flexibilty in HT (it has a bypass )unless you want to seperate the two.
Good luck !

Ken -- I would definately get the MC352 and C45. I am familiar with the MC300 (nearly identical circuits as those in the 7300) and the there is no doubt - the MC352 is a much better amp. Arthur

I was a BAT dealer and had two VK-150se amps with both VK-40 and VK-51se preamps. While I absolutely loved the sound of this system the amps sounded lacking when compared to a Belles 350-A amp, and I mean lacking in bass slam, natural tones, fine detail, black background, etc. I then got a set of 350-A monoblocks at about 1500 watts each into 8 ohms and all of the qualities were multiplied. These sound like the best tube amp with way better tonal character and bass detail, and are truly fatigue free. Try a 350-A and you'll never go back to the tubes except for preamp purposes. Also the 21-A at $3000 smokes either of the best BAT preamps by being profoundly more open and dynamic, I used the BAT stuff to do A/B comparison demos.