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BAT VK-51 SE or McIntosh C200?

I am in the process of upgrading my system, one piece at a time, and am starting with the preamp. I think I've narrowed it down to these two preamps. Anyone have any advice? I listened to both the BAT 31SE and the Mac C2200 in my system, and preferred the MAC for its better high-level extension. I am currently using a Bryston 4B ST amp driving Dynaudio Confidence 5's. Thanks all!
sotaphile
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
the mac is by far the long term pre here......the phono section rocks too.....mixes well with bryston
bigbucks5
183 posts
 
Confused...

Are you talking about the C2200 or the C200...quite different.
aball
1,994 posts
 
If you liked the C2200 best, get the C200. Stereophile's review of the 51SE and C200 said they were about the same in terms of sound quality but the C200 had a better user interface and costs almost $1k less.
sotaphile OP
22 posts
 
I auditioned the C2200, but would consider the C200. I realize that the former is tube and the latter is solid-state, but I'm hearing and reading that the C200 is a better sounding unit.

Thanks to everyone for their advice so far...
metralla
945 posts
 
Aball writes:
about the same in terms of sound quality but the C200 had a better user interface and costs almost $1k less
I find it impossible to fault the user interface on my BAT 50SE (the same I believe as the 51). One doesn't need much from a preamp these days - and the BAT just seems so intuitive for the functions I use.

I confess that I far prefer the restrained looks of the BAT over the Mac.

Regards,
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