Balanced Audio Technology VK-51SE Pre Amplifier

Here we have a line-level pre amplifier from American company Balanced Audio Technology (BAT). As the company name suggests all their products are of a fully balanced design as, according to Victor Khomenko, BAT co-founder and Chief Engineer – “That’s the only right way to build a circuit”. Our example is in very good condition with a couple of minor blemishes – please see photographs. It is supplied in original factory packaging along with optional remote control unit, manual, allen key, screws, batteries and our standard three month warranty.
Balanced Audio Technology Say….
Balanced Audio Technology has a 25-year legacy of manufacturing fully balanced tube and solid-state power amplifiers, preamplifiers, and phono preamps. Every BAT product is meticulously engineered to maintain the purity and natural beauty of the original signal and hand-built in our own factory in the US by a small team of dedicated craftsmen and technicians.
Whether you choose one of tube or solid-state designs, our goal is achieved using these core principles: fully balanced design is best, dual-mono construction maximizes performance, zero global feedback achieves natural sound, and evaluate for real life performance. All you need to do is listen.
The BAT VK-51SE is a balanced, single gain-stage, tubed line preamplifier, employing no global feedback, providing five inputs, three outputs (2 pre-amplifier and one tape monitor). All inputs and outputs are balanced. There is an “optional” remote control.
As with other BAT amplification, the VK-51SE sports the Bat-Pack™ capacitor pack, and a surfeit of power storage (over 300 joules, more than most power amplifiers) AND the VK-51SE offers another Six-Pack™ of by-pass capacitors in the power supply chain.
The 51SE is a full function preamplifier, giving the user significant control over the unit’s primary functions from the remote, including programming inputs and setting relative volume for the various inputs.
Specifications:
Inputs: 5 XLR
Main Outputs: 2 XLR
Tape Output: 1 XLR
Maximum Gain: 17 dB
Volume Control Resolution: 0.5 dB
Volume Control Number of Steps: 140
Frequency Response -3 dB: 2 Hz to 300 kHz
Input Impedance – minimum each phase: 100 kΩ
Output Impedance: 200 Ω
Minimum power amplifier input impedance (with SIX-PAK™): 3 kΩ
Noise-unweighted: -110 dB
Distortion @ 2 Vrms output: 0.005%
Channel to channel crosstalk @ 10 kHz: -95 dB
Maximum output signal – RMS: 50 V
Absolute polarity: Switchable
Tube complement: 8 – 6H30
Power consumption: 180 VA
Dimensions: (W x H x D): 480 (W) x 400 (D) x 150 (H) mm
Weight: 18.0 kg

For a review from American publication Stereophile please click here