How to determine Preamp "Power"? VTL 5.5 vs BAT SE

Hello, have you considered the NAT Audio tube preamps? In particular, the Symmetrical model is a worthy contender.

The Symmetrical uses 12 tubes (each half of the tube is used fully). Incrediblly clean, dynamic and very natural sounding.

We import the line so naturally I am biased towards them but, you really should take a look at their website at this link: www.nataudio.com

Good Luck

To Musical sound:
I can't understand why when somebody ask suggestion about some products there is always somebody suggesting something else.
Are you promoting the stuff you sell or are you giving an answer (and I don't think so).
Just my humble opinion.

To 1graber2: I don't think that comparing 2 preamp or power amp simply on the tubes they use is useful. The only way to know how they sound is to listen, possibly into your system.
Cheers

I have had a VTL 5.5 for a number of years, previouly had a 2.5 for a really long time, but have no experience with BAT, other than listening to friend's systems.

It may just be me, but I tube roll 12ax7's a lot in my 5.5 and can really notice changes in the mids/highs, but not so much down below 50-60Hz to me. I have noticed the lows change more when changing power cords and IC's between the 5.5 and my SS amp(McCormack DNA-500) than tubes, for me. The lows can get really dark and less tight(is there such a thing). It could be I'm tone deaf down low too? I currently am running Mullard 12AX7's and like them a lot. Why? They seem to make the mid's/high's of the acoustic and classic rock and jazz I listen to really sing. Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt, Joni Mitchell and Diana Krall seem magical with Mullards and RCA clear tops, less so with Sovteks', JJ's and other Soviet stuff in mine. Changing the 12AT7's on the other hand does nothing that I can hear, either up high or down low. It could just be me too.

I hope some of that helps a little for you. Good luck and enjoy. I know I enjoy the VTL sound, but that's what I've purchased after listening, vice other good stuff, which there's plenty of.

Either way, enjoy the music and don't worry about equipment so much. Life is too short and there's too much music to listen to and wine to drink while doing it to waste too much time chasing hardware like some folks. The music is what we're after, right????

You might also look at the ARC LS26.

Musical_sounds, with all due respect, these forums are NOT for shilling. If you want advertising space, please pay for it like other dealers.

1graber2, I have owned several BAT preamps (VK-31SE/ VK-50SE/ VK-51SE) and have auditioned a couple others in my home (VK-3iXSE, VK-32SE). I also have owned many other preamps including a VTL, though to be fair, it was not a late model VTL product (TL-5).
The bottom line is I have never heard any preamp with more power in the bass than BAT preamps, and that includes SS preamps from Krell, Levinson, Threshold, etc.
I don't believe that the tubes being used have as much to do with the bass as the huge power supply BAT tends to use. The six-pack caps, the Super-Paks, etc. BAT preamps have beefier power supplies than many amplifiers out there.

That being said, the best preamp I have ever owned was a ARC Ref 3. Though it's bass was not as powerful as the BAT's bass is not my top priority, and the ARC was clearly better in several other areas.

Cheers,
John