Tubes Asylum: REVIEW: Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) VK5i Preamplifier (Tube) by six_of

I was looking to upgrade my system and I wasn't planning on spending $4k.

Then I heard the 5i at a local audio store and was sold.

As an aspiring classical guitarist I have quite a collection (LP and CD) of various artists. Like any solo instrumentalist I constantly practice listening to tone color, attack, intonation, and sustain. Listening to different versions of the same piece 5i I could consistently enjoy each performers technique and the beauty of their instruments. Venue was reproduced extremely well with plenty of air surrounding the instrument. The most convincing aspect of the 5i was the palpability of the image. It was solid with height, width, and depth.

Most of the leisure listening time, is spent listening to jazz. I especially love listening to small ensemble swing jazz like Oscar Petersen. Excellent on the 5i. Every instrument comes alive with the same palpability factor as the solo instrument. The venue becomes a night club filled with smokey atmosphere (well, minus the pops and and noise from the analog recording). On the very picky negative side, symbols had a slight sizzle and didn't have the EXACT decay that one expects and drums could be weightier but I expect that this may be the shortcomings of my amplification (Aragon 8008BB) and speakers (Platinum Audio Reference I).

I admit I listen to a fair amount of pop, techno, R&B, and rock. Most of the time it makes me happy enough to listen to the music of my age and sometimes there are some really good recordings that show off the advantages of a great piece of audio equipment by performing the Baby Face concert in my living room. Unfortunately, a lot of what I like is not recorded very well, The 5ki, albeit doing its best, will show you very quickly how poor some recordings really are when compared to some of the classical and jazz recordings.

All in all, the 5i is an excellent product that is true to its advertisements. It is a no-nonsense preamp whose best strength is its ability to bring the performer into your living room and to transform your living room into the performance venue. My next upgrade: amplification. My first choice for a no-nonsense amplifier: BAT.

REVIEW: Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) VK5i Preamplifier (Tube) Review by six_of_6 at Audio Asylum