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What to listen to. BAT, ARC, VTL

I'm in the process of upgrading. I bought a pair of Vandersteen 5's and am looking at Amplifiers. I have heard an ARC vt100 mkIII and liked it paired with my BAT VK5i upgraded to SE. Has anyone listened to VTL monos? I'm looking at the 450's so I can keep my current cables and perhaps save a few bucks replacing cable. The other thing I was considering was the BAT VK500 which, to my ears, sounds less like a solid state amp than anything I've ever heard. Any suggestions?
128x128jeffmazen
jtinn
1,124 posts
 
Listen to the VK150 SE monoblocks. They will blow you away.
philefreak
423 posts
 
Atma-Sphere otl's all the way!
ejlif's avatar
ejlif
1,366 posts
 
I second the suggestion for BAT VK150 SEs. They are great at everything. I would guess that they would mate especially well with the Vandersteen 5.
jbaxley's avatar
jbaxley
50 posts
 
I have heard the 5's driven by all BAT electronics (VK-5i and VK-60 tube amp) at my dealer and it was a wonderful combination. I'd check out the new BAT tube amp (VK-75?), which uses the same remarkable tube as your upgraded VK-5i and the ARC VT100 Mk. III. YMMMV, but the Vandersteen 5's, with their built in powered sub, usually don't need a lot of power to drive the tops.
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