Huge soundstage, beautifull extended deep bass. Wonderfull resolution. Very close to the music.

No Remote.

I was using Krell Ksl 2 before buying VK 5 & I was happy. But after listening BAT, now I think I was not perfect in this audio world & now I am.

BAT VK 5 is a outstanding world class pre. Soundstage, resolution and deep I mean deep extended bass took me very close to the system. I am now emotionally involve, which I was not ready for.

Buy it without any hesitation.
My system Is as follows:

Source: Audio Aero Capitole Reference SE
Pre: BAT VK 5
Power: Bryston 4B SST
Speakers: Dynaudio Contour 3.3
All Interconnects: Harmonic Tech Magic Link One
Speaker Cable; Harmonic Tech: Pro 9 Plus
Power Cords: Harmonic Tech Ac pro 11
Tweaks: Online UPS & Harmonix Room Tuning 78i

Similar Products Used:

VK 50SE. Ref3, SLP 05, CAT Sig 1, Sonic Frontiur SFL1 etc.

warmness without lushness....strong midrange...and incredible detail in all registers.

Pure balanced topology. RCA users will have to get a set of adaptors. Victor sells a high quality pair for $90. This is obviously not really a weakness but RCA users should be aware that it's an issue before purchasing.

Excellent product. Victor and Steve sure know what they're doing. I was using a Krell KBL prior to ordering the VK-5i. The KBL obviuosly had strenghts, particularly in the base region but it didn't have the roundness and elegance in the upper register that typically only comes with tube gear. I had that magic once before with a Luxman CL-32 and wanted to experience it again. So I coughed it up for the BAT....and wow! I'm loving every moment of owning this piece.

Similar Products Used:

BAT VK50SE and other BAT products. CAT products also come very close.

This Pre-amp is Legendary. Open, Rich, Transparent,and Detailed sound. Still One of the Best Pre-amps out there. VK-5i is Very Well Built

None that I know of

I bought my BAT VK-5i from a gentleman through Audiogon. I always wanted to try Tubes and I heard Great things about BAT Products. I could go on and on about this Product but its nothing short of Outstanding. Its completely changed the way I listen to Music! Very open, transparent, warm sound that Tubes are known for. Great Product and Great Company. Optional Remote : the Best I''ve ever seen/used. My system : Electrocompaniet EMC-1 2 Classe'' CA-201 (as monoblocks) Avalon Acoustic Arcus Velodyne Subwoofer All Synergistic Research: Resolution Reference BALANCED Interconnects (Active shielding), Speaker Cables, and Power Cords Chang LightSpeed 9600 Line Conditioner

Similar Products Used:

Too numerous to list

After reading Mr. Davis' comments, I couldn't help but add the following note. If you own the BAT VK-5i and are happy with it, don't compare it to the CAT SL-1 Mk 2. It will mess up your mind and ruin your day. Let's put it this way: have you ever seen a BAT get smoked? Friends, the CAT barbeques the BAT.

musicality,bass,soundstage,openess.

did not found so far

Made a signifacant improvment in my system:
CD Electrocompaniet EMC1
Power amp Electrocompaniet AW-250R
Speakers Dynaudio Contour 3,3
cables VDH THE Revelation,THe Second(2)
MY previous preamp Electrocompaniet EC4,5 sounds terrible
in comparison to BAT.

Transparency, soundstage, sense of realism. Build quality.

Lack of remote input access.

There's always a sense of joy listening to all of the BAT products. The VK5i ranks right up there with the VK50 SE in my book. I've a/b'd the two on occasion, though in fairness to the VK50 SE, I haven't actually lived with it. But, it's a major hair splitting contest between the two of these fine preamps from Balanced Audio Technology. The VK30, and VK50 have a friendlier remote design, but the VK5i has nothing to be ashamed of.....It is still one of the worlds finest preamps ever produced. Considering what some 5i's are selling for recently on the used market, it is a very affordable alternative as well. Be certain to check this fine specimen out if you're considering a preamp upgrade. You could do no wrong by buying this one blind if necessary. A easy 5 star plus rating!!!

Similar Products Used:

BAT VK30, BAT VK50 SE.

After auditioning my BAT VK-5i my friend replaced his CAT SL-1 signature pre-amp with the BAT. We auditioned it both in his system and in mine, and in both cases the BAT offered greater clarity, detail and transparency. He's had the BAT unit for 8 months now and loves it even more than the day he bought it. He considers it 'a significant upgrade' from the CAT. I would have to agree after hearing them both. Perhaps the CAT might sound better in a particular configuration than the BAT, but I would seriously doubt it. The BAT sounded so much better in our systems.
Bill Wells reviewer for 'The Audiophile Voice' magazine also preferred the BAT to the CAT. He reviewed the BAT against "the likes of the superb Audio Research LS 5 and LS 22, the long-time industry favorite and highly renowned CAT Signature, and the outstanding Sonic Frontiers SFL-2" (quoted from review). After listening to all units he summed it up this way: "Without question, it (the BAT) is the very finest unit of this type that I have had the opportunity to experience in my reference system. Since arriving at my home, the VK5 has been a constant source of enhanced musical pleasure. It does so many things right that I simply can not, and will not, take it out of my reference system. As the saying goes, "it’s a keeper!" The rest of the review offers the specifics on why this unit sounded better. If you don't happen to have that issue of 'The Audiophile Voice' BAT has several reviews including the above archived on their website and you can read more there. I have yet to read a review of BAT equipment in which the reveiwer did not keep the equipment after listening to it in their reference system.

"CAT barbeques the BAT"? If you already own the CAT and can't afford to upgrade to the BAT I can see why you might want to think so. If you're buying new you might just get a different result. We did.

BAT VK-5i
I added the VK-5i to my system back in Australia about six months ago, replacing the ARC LS2 which had been my preamp for the last few years.

I'd tried a few other pre-amps but none of them made enough difference to warrant parting with the LS2. And then along came the BAT.

Immediately it was as if my system had put on a bit of healthy weight around the middle - not fat, but just simply filled out.

And there was more space around the musicians and instruments (I'm talking about vinyl reproduction here - I still don't like the way cds usually force the musicians to line up single-file between the speakers).

And everything just sounded more musical - more like real music than a mechanical reproduction of it.

And this was important. Adding the VK-5i had brought noticable sonic improvements without losing the most treasured virtue I'd previously enjoyed from my system - something a couple of musician friends simply describe as a "live sound".

And then there are those things which don't make any difference to the sound, but they sure make me feel good.

The sight of ten valves glowing up through the grille of the amp do something to my adrenalin which no transistor or computer chip has ever quite managed.

And the 10 valves of the VK-5i added to the 16 incandescent bottles inside my ARC VT100 have brought down my heating bill quite a bit.

The BAT VK-5i is the second best improvement I've made to my system in the last couple of years. The best was getting my ears cleaned out.

I finnally took the VK5i instead of the VK-50.After the dealer was kind enough to arrage home audition of both VK-5i and VK-50 at my home last Saturday. They came with understanding that I may end up not buying.

Associated equipments are as follows:
1) Wadia2000 transport with Mark Levinson DA #30 connected via ST glass fiber.
2) Power amp a single BAT VK-60 purchased 2 weeks ago.
3) B&W 801 Series 3 connected with Monster Sigma.

I had two friends who shared same interest attending through out the audition as well. We compared the VK5i with my old preamp Mark Levinson #26S. The Mark loose out to both BAT. First, the dealer removed the ML#26S and replaced with 5i demo unit. There was drastic sound improvement in all aspects which meant that I will settle for BAT. Which BAT became the next decision. We then switched to VK50 demo unit, which has not been used much (may not be in the running condition as it was not burned in yet). The notes became thinner than with the VK5i in the mid and upper mid region. Violin had less weight. We then
gave benefit of the doubt on the burn in situation. We asked the dealer
to open the brand new VK5i from the box and compared so it will be on an
equal footing as far as burn-in is concerned. Apparently, the brand new
VK5i is not as warm as the demo unit but still maintain a better tonal
balance. We switch back to VK50 then back to 5i again and then the
decision was made for the 5i. By the way, decision is unanimous amoung
us that the 5i is better regardless of price different. I may not be a
trained audiophile, but the differences between the 2 units was not a
subtle one. The 5i tends to be warmer and less fatique than the VK50.
This, in fact, leads me to believe that the VK30 may be a better buy.
However, the dealer had not ordered such model so it's not a choice.

Why discontinue the unit? It wil be interesting to share the
experiences with other BAT customers. I would love to hear from them.
My feedback is just one voice from many happy BAT customers. I had
horrible experiences with Mark Levinson recently with their customer
service policy and business attitude so no matter how good their
products are claimed to be, I will not give them any more of my money.

By the way, the B&W801 S 3 has never been so good. It is recommended
for those who want alternatives from more analytical sound given by
Thiel and Dunlavy. The BAT & B&W reproduced sound so close to my
occasional live concert experiences.

A very fine product indeed. Just wonder about product performance and positioning of the VK50.

I owned this preamp for eight months. Overall, I really liked it. Definitely it presents a very rich, detailed sound that is immediately pleasurable. I find it strange however that many reviewers describe BAT equipment as "not what you usually expect from tubes" or "neutral and dry like solid state" In contrast, I found the 5i to have qualities exactly corresponding to the "tube stereotype." The mid band dominates, and is loaded with information, the very top and bottom are just slightly underemphasized, and there absolutely not a trace of edginess or brightness. On the downside, the soundstage is not great. First the stage is narrow, not going too far past the outside edges of the speakers, and second the mid band is overly 'focused' in the center of the sound stage, such that the layering is compromised. The remote, build, and looks are all fantastic. Over time, the 'clump' in the midrange, which can heighten the intensity of closely miked vocals, the focused, yet small sound stage, and the emphasis of warmth and body became the trademark BAT sound for me. I found their CD player to sound similar, as well as their power amp. Supposedly, the stock Sovtek 6922s contribute a lot to this "character" so theoretically changing these tubes could improve things. I switched to a CAT mark II preamp, loaded with NOS tubes (Radiotechnique inputs and Telefunken outputs). The soundstage is literally twice as wide, the mid band 'clumping' is gone, the dynamics are slightly improved, and the overall organic nature of the sound is a level up. Music now sounds one more step away from a stereo system and one more step closer to the real thing. I still respect the BAT a lot- it is a major step over most big brand crap (rhymes with Grell and Dark Hevinson). In my opinion, the BAT's personality, although a good one, is a little too strong for a preamp. A more neutral piece will let the space of each recording to be more distinct, and can heighten the musical experience. Happy listening,
Bryan

(System: Meridian 508.24 CD player, CAT mark II preamp , VAC Ren. 30/30 amp, Merlin VSM-SE speakers, Nirvana and Cardas cables, turntable coming)