AXPONA 2014

Balanced Audio Technology introduced at AXPONA five new phono preamplifiers priced from $3500 to $12,500. The five models are variations on a theme starting at the bottom with the $3500 VK-P6 and ending at the top with the VK-12SE Superpak.

The one that most interested me for review on analogplanet.com was the VK-P6, which appears to be the best "bang for the buck" and the one I feel most readers would find most interesting and affordable.

Housed in the same heavy duty chassis as the top of the line model, the P6 features two massive toroidal transformers also used in the flagship REX II preamplifier.

It's a ten tube (8x6922, 2x6S7N) zero feedback, dual mono design using BAT's "Flying RIAA network" circuit topology best discussed in a review context.

The P6 uses sweet-sounding Musicap® capacitors. Gain is either 50dB or 55dB with resistive loading choices of 100 ohms to 1000 ohms via internally mounted dip switches.

55dB should be sufficient for MC cartridges with outputs of .4mV and higher.

As soon as one becomes available for review we'll get it.

As you move up the line the models add "Six-Pak" oil filled output caps different tube configuration for an additional 10dB of gain, step-up transformers and in the top two models transformer coupled output stages.