Preamp Advice for my System

What is the amp / speakers / Interconnects/ Speaker cables/ you are driving??????????????????????????????????

I'm driving Apogee Duetta Signatures with Bel Canto Ref 1000 monoblocks. Interconnects and speaker cables are low cost, nothing special.  

Your amplifier has a balanced input.
The BAT is a tube unit- the others are not- do you have a preference in that regard?
FWIW as far as I can tell, the BAT does not support the balanced standard. There are tube preamps that do.

The BAT-42KSE is a solid state preamp. It only has XLR outputs, but I connect my Bel Canto amps through a Paradigm crossover for my Paradigm Reference Servo 15 subwoofer. So, the connections go XLR to RCA at the crossover, then RCA to RCA at the Bel Cantos.  

You really should consider a tube pre amp.

I owned the BAT 42KSE and thought it was a real fine unit. I did not find it laid back as you are describing it. I was using it with Bryston 7B-SST and the speakers were Thiel SCS4 and previously Revel Salon1.

Maybe you should check out a different amp with the 42KSE. I sold mine due to down sizing and I knew I would miss the BAT, I did.

You should consider changing amp. But if you want to keep your Bel Canto Ref 1000 monoblock amps I would suggest getting a tube preamp. BAT makes great tube preamps. I would also look into the following tube linestage preamps : Audio Research, VTL, VAC, Lamm, Cary Audio, Rogue Audio, Primaluna, Frontier, Ayon.  

Your BAT Preamp could sound a whole lot better using the balanced outputs to the Bel Canto amps. The BAT has 2 sets of XLR outputs. Using the 2nd set of XLRs going to the crossover and running the Apogees full range should have a much better sound. I really think the Paradigm crossover is taking all the music right out of your preamplifier. I decent set of XLRs going from the preamp to the amps should turn that BAT sound up quite a few notches. And I mean an order of a magnitude with XLR cables at a price of $200-300. BAT preamps need XLR outputs to sound best. Spending money on a new preamp is a waste. I use REL subs in a pair right next to my Martin Logans, and they are directly connected to the speaker outputs of the amp. Apogees should be run full range. I find crossovers do more harm to your main speakers than help, in the way you have it setup now. I would bet my right foot, that what I’m telling you will give you what you’re looking for.

@bigddesign3  I agree that using the subwoofer crossover is killing your system.  Plus I found the Bel Canto Ref 1000 to be polite and little boring.  They are smooth. 

I'm going to give going XLR from the Bel Cantos to the BAT a try. When I first purchased the Apogees I ran them full range, but then the subwoofer bug caught me. I've been through some different equipment since then, so It's worth a try to take the crossover out of the loop. 

Thanks for the input.

Bigddesign - You can keep your right foot. I finally got new XLR cables and went directly from the Bel Canto's XLR to the BAT XLR. Took the sub and sub crossover out of the loop. You are right on - I forgot how good the Apogees can sound full range. Whole new level of clarity and dynamic range. Plenty of bottom.


Thanks

Good work team.  That's a positive outcome of posting on the forum...

richmos OP

The Ref1000 monbocks are: 
" The input impedance was to specification at low and middle frequencies, at 200k ohms balanced and 100k ohms unbalanced. These figures dropped to 160k and 58k ohms at 20kHz, respectively, but these are still usefully high input impedances."

 This is great for high'ish output impedance tube preamps, even for passives preamps, but! because the ref1000's are very low input sensitivity "3V", passives or unity gain preamps will only be great if your source can put out 3V or more
If you give me your source brand and model. I could help you out further.

Cheers George  

Georgehifi - My sources are Marantz SA-15S1 SACD player and Music Hall MMf-7 turntable.

Georgehifi - My sources are Marantz SA-15S1 SACD player and Music Hall MMf-7 turntable.

Your SA-15S1 won't be 3 or more volts, more like 2v, and your phono stage probably won't give out 3 or more volts more like below 2v. So passives and unity gain active preamps are out of the question.

Then look for any active tube or solid state preamp you like the sound of. As with the BelCanto's high input impedance they will all be a good impedance matches.

Cheers George

I just added an EAR 868 to my system and I am very happy with it. Very musical. I did change the stock tubes to NOS RCA’s. 

It replaced an ARC Ref 1, and I like the upgrade. 

I have solid state monoblocks and feel the tubes in the preamp add a little air, space and sweetness.