Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) 42 SE Preamplifier (SS) by hinduclient

Model:	42 SE
Category:	Preamplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price:	$6,5000
Description:	BAT solid state pre released in 2006
Manufacturer URL:	Balanced Audio Technology (BAT)
Model Picture:	View

Review by hinduclient on February 17, 2008 at 08:52:04
IP Address: 75.71.107.99 Add Your Review
for the 42 SE

I started out wanting to buy an integrated. My BAT 50se preamp had just shorted out - two tubes taking some resisitors and a board with them. I'm OVER tubes. Period. So as I send the 50se off to BAT I decided it's time to downsize. I actually went out and bought the BAT 300x solid-state integrated after demoing some class D integrateds. It was OK, but the 300x just lacked the magic of a great pre and amplifier.

So I demo the BAT42se. I now have the opportunity to listen to the pre from the 300x, the 50se (which is now back from repair) and the 42se on home loan. The pre from the 300x is really quite good. Good enough to think about buying an older BAT 40 - but none are readily available. The 50 se sounds GOOD - fast - with a liquid midrange that makes voices seem like they're lit from within. The 42se is something else. Definately it sports the BAT house sound - robust, vivid. Part of the BAT house sound is the ability to convey emotion. Hard to explain, but the pres on the other demoed integrateds didn't even come close($500 - $5000 range). But the 42 se has something I'm not hearing with the 300x or the well-regarded 50se.

The BAT 42se delivers an extension that the ss 300x hints at. From subteraenean bass to clear, extended highs The 42se delivers an extension not often heard by this listener. Plus, the coherence of sound from top to bottom outshines the 50se. I like it a lot. I should also note an extreme musicality to this piece. It's not fatiguing, ever. As a matter of fact it has the siren's ability to draw me into the music, time and time again, more so than the 50se. Imaging with Shelby Lynne and Diana Krall is stunning. Wide soundstage and precise imaging arise from dense orchestral passages. Dynamic range is immense.

I should take a moment to also talk about interface. I considered the Pass 1 or 2.5. Similar price range, ss and well-regarded, plus they're readily available used. But when the Pass remote was referred to as a Rube Goldberg useability pain in the a**, I decided I wanted a clean, easy to use interface. Nothing comes close to BAT for useability. The display is easily programmable for naiming inputs and features with 5 levels of dimming. It's easy to match up sound levels among disparate sources; you can set max levels etc.

I sell the 50se, then the 300x. I visit dealers all over the country. I find one with a show piece at a very reasonable price, with full warranty of course. How much did I pay? I figure I can sell this on Agon in 5 years and get 75% of what I paid. That's my criteria for buying new.

I should mention the display logic was funky out of the box. There was only off & on - no standby, and a few of the function buttons acted erratically. I called my dealer who called BAT on a conference call. BAT's Steve Bednarski agreed to pay for 2 day shipping both ways. The Bat is now back and I'm pleased with the service from BAT and my dealer. I will also mention I've seen this display anomaly on at least one other demo. It's fixable, but keep an eye out. You'll like the unit a lot more when the BAT interface is 100%.

I'm never sure if it's a break-in period of the equipment or of my ears, but it took over 2 weeks for the BAT 42se to really open up into a neutral, extended, lovely preamp. It was fun comparing from the bottom of the BAT food chain, from the 300x to the vaunted 50se 6H30 tube pre-amp to the solid state 42se, all with the rest of my system. It easily resolves the differences I hear when comparing pre-amps. The BAT VK-42SE won my heart hands down.

BAT VK-42SE
Balanced Audio Technology VK 42SE
BAT VK 42 SE

Product Weakness:	display logic; now fixed, pricey
Product Strengths:	great preamp

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Gamut D200 mkII
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): BAT 42se
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Cary 303/200 - wma lossless via spdif
Speakers: Dynaudio Contour 1.8
Cables/Interconnects: Harmonic Tech
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Classical, popular
Room Size (LxWxH): 12 x 15 x
Room Comments/Treatments: orientals & tiffany lamps
Time Period/Length of Audition: 1 month
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Gamut D200 mkII
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	BAT 42se
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Cary 303/200 - wma lossless via spdif
Speakers:	Dynaudio Contour 1.8
Cables/Interconnects:	Harmonic Tech
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classical, popular
Room Size (LxWxH):	12 x 15 x
Room Comments/Treatments:	orientals & tiffany lamps
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 month
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner