Author Topic: Balanced Audio Technology Vk 60 Tube Amplifier  (Read 21207 times)

Offline Bunky

  • Obsessively Audiophilic
  • ****
  • Posts: 340
Balanced Audio Technology Vk 60 Tube Amplifier
« on: July 25, 2007, 05:01:54 PM »
This Big dark heavy gunmetal grey Tube Amp showed up at my doorstep today. it uses four 6SN7 driver tubes per channel and two 6C33C-B power triodes per channel and features automatic individual biasing of the output tubes. Having a rated 60 Watts per channel in stereo configuration It uses no solid state devices in the signal path.It is a dual mono construction, Zero feedback design.It uses a single-ended bridge output stage combining the best features of both push-pull and single ended circuits. i got the topology info from the white papers that were shipped with it in the original double boxes along with the owners manual,tubes and a skinny IEC power cable.it seems at least as powerful as my Sonic Frontiers SFS 80 which is rated at 80 Watts per channel. the SFS 80 sounds really nice but i feel that the VK60 is a better sounding Amplifier from top to bottom.I am a happy camper :D thanks....WCW III
Remember, information is not knowledge; knowledge is not wisdom; wisdom is not truth; truth is not beauty; beauty is not love; love is not music; music is the best.
-- Frank Zappa

lonewolfny42

  • Guest
Re: Balanced Audio Technology Vk 60 Tube Amplifier
« Reply #1 on: July 25, 2007, 07:31:04 PM »
Quote
This Big dark heavy gunmetal grey Tube Amp showed up at my doorstep today.

Wow !!! Holy Batman....do you think it's lost ?

Maybe... notify the police....fill out a missing amp report.  :rofl:




Enjoy WCW...its a nice amp....does get a little hot....but good solid bass. :D/


Offline Bunky

  • Obsessively Audiophilic
  • ****
  • Posts: 340
Re: Balanced Audio Technology Vk 60 Tube Amplifier
« Reply #2 on: July 28, 2007, 05:09:14 AM »
I plan on getting another VK 60 and replacing the 4 Jensen paper in oil capacitors in the signal path of each Amplifier with .22 V-cap teflons.i want to convert both amps to mono configuration and be running a Hot Rodded 120 wpc pair of monoblocks in my tube rig.does this sound like a good idea ? thanks....WCW III
Remember, information is not knowledge; knowledge is not wisdom; wisdom is not truth; truth is not beauty; beauty is not love; love is not music; music is the best.
-- Frank Zappa

Offline richidoo

  • Out Of My Speaker Cabinet
  • ******
  • Posts: 11144
Re: Balanced Audio Technology Vk 60 Tube Amplifier
« Reply #3 on: July 28, 2007, 08:27:37 AM »
You might get stuck in your listening chair forever!

For me, going from 70wpc stereo to 100wpc monos made a BIG difference. Teflons sound like a good idea to try. Might be interesting to try to jury rig a switch to allow you to switch back and forth because when the teflons finally break in you will have long forgotten what the jensens sounded like. Of course the difference may be obvious. I would like to know which you preferred, as I have same jensens in my cary. Even Cary says upgrade to the oil/coppers.

What are your speakers, Bunky? If they are hungry, not sharing the power transformer will be noticeable improvement. You could also try biamping for kicks before you break out the soldering iron.

Be sure to show us a pic when you get all 24 tubes glowing. 16 vintage 6sn7s might need a credit card upgrade too.  haha
Rich

Offline Bunky

  • Obsessively Audiophilic
  • ****
  • Posts: 340
Re: Balanced Audio Technology Vk 60 Tube Amplifier
« Reply #4 on: July 28, 2007, 09:08:02 AM »
Hey Rich,Right now i am running them with a minty pair of vintage Polk Audio RTA 12C'S with some New and improved replacement silk dome tweeters. these are oldies but goodies and one of the best non SDA loudspeakers that Polk Audio ever made.i am thinking of getting some Silverline Audio Sonata or Sonatina loudspeaker's or maybe some Audiophysic loudspeakers. i am still undecided at this point  :-k thanks....WCW III
Remember, information is not knowledge; knowledge is not wisdom; wisdom is not truth; truth is not beauty; beauty is not love; love is not music; music is the best.
-- Frank Zappa

Offline richidoo

  • Out Of My Speaker Cabinet
  • ******
  • Posts: 11144
Re: Balanced Audio Technology Vk 60 Tube Amplifier
« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2007, 11:16:29 AM »
Probably not a tough load then? Of course the extra power helps with harder to drive speaks.

Offline Bunky

  • Obsessively Audiophilic
  • ****
  • Posts: 340
Re: Balanced Audio Technology Vk 60 Tube Amplifier
« Reply #6 on: July 29, 2007, 09:32:35 AM »
I just got back from washing clothes and we are playing my daughters Sublime CD and i noticed that the bass is really tight without any mud on the bottom, it does very nice bass for a tube amp 8). the VK 60 seems pretty hard to beat used for the money.thanks....WCW III  :)
Remember, information is not knowledge; knowledge is not wisdom; wisdom is not truth; truth is not beauty; beauty is not love; love is not music; music is the best.
-- Frank Zappa

Offline mca

  • Certifiable
  • ***
  • Posts: 209
Re: Balanced Audio Technology Vk 60 Tube Amplifier
« Reply #7 on: July 29, 2007, 09:45:13 AM »
That's an amp I have always wanted to try. Would be interesting to have a three way with that and my Bella Extreme 3205 and Music Reference RM-200 amp.

So many cool amps, so little money  :(
Modwright Transporter, Ayon Spirit II Integrated, Daedalus Ulysses speakers, Running Springs Haley conditioner, Reality cables, Black Sand Violet PC's.

Offline Bunky

  • Obsessively Audiophilic
  • ****
  • Posts: 340
Re: Balanced Audio Technology Vk 60 Tube Amplifier
« Reply #8 on: July 29, 2007, 06:33:40 PM »
You might get stuck in your listening chair forever!

For me, going from 70wpc stereo to 100wpc monos made a BIG difference. Teflons sound like a good idea to try. Might be interesting to try to jury rig a switch to allow you to switch back and forth because when the teflons finally break in you will have long forgotten what the jensens sounded like. Of course the difference may be obvious. I would like to know which you preferred, as I have same jensens in my cary. Even Cary says upgrade to the oil/coppers.

What are your speakers, Bunky? If they are hungry, not sharing the power transformer will be noticeable improvement. You could also try biamping for kicks before you break out the soldering iron.

Be sure to show us a pic when you get all 24 tubes glowing. 16 vintage 6sn7s might need a credit card upgrade too.  haha
Rich
i have done some research and have decided to use some matched EH 6SN7 Goldpins which are supposed to be the best of the newly manufactured 6SN7's, they are supposed to sound pretty neutral and they dont cost an arm and a leg. thanks....WCW III
Remember, information is not knowledge; knowledge is not wisdom; wisdom is not truth; truth is not beauty; beauty is not love; love is not music; music is the best.
-- Frank Zappa

Offline richidoo

  • Out Of My Speaker Cabinet
  • ******
  • Posts: 11144
Re: Balanced Audio Technology Vk 60 Tube Amplifier
« Reply #9 on: July 30, 2007, 05:36:42 AM »
That will be interesting to hear about! The world needs a great current production 6SN7! 
Rich