BAT's REX 3 Preamp. $30K for a reason, a preamp unlike any other

[PHC1]

Balanced Audio Technology, Upscale Audio, and Judge Judy. What have these got to do with a 25th anniversary? Well, the REX 3 preamp marks 25 years of stellar BAT design. This 18-tube balanced pre provides the greatest levels of transparency and musicality of any preamp in Balanced Audio Technology's history. As for the rest, we'll have to get Kevin to tell us that story!


https://youtu.be/lGXUdw_9cDY

[audioguy3107]

I've always liked pretty much every system I've ever heard using BAT electronics. They seemed to be more in favor during the 2000s than know for whatever reason. Their mono amplifiers were always awesome.

- Buck

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by audioguy3107

I've always liked pretty much every system I've ever heard using BAT electronics. They seemed to be more in favor during the 2000s than know for whatever reason. Their mono amplifiers were always awesome.

- Buck

Yeah, I was into BAT myself during those times with Dynaudio speakers. I actually sold the BAT gear and went with a pair of McIntosh MC501 monos as the next evolution of my system. Not that there was anything wrong with BAT and not that the McIntosh gear that replaced it blew it away... It was just a different presentation.

I think BAT is the type of sound that one either really likes or not. Considering we all hear differently, to my ears it was always a bit on the darker side but still very musical with a liquid midrange, the McIntosh sounded more neutral but just as engaging if a touch less refined at times.

I have not heard any of the new BAT gear in quite some time so I have no idea but I would be surprised if the "house sound" changed.

[gadawg]

I can't wait to hear a Rex3 Preamp as I currently have the Rex2 preamp and absolutely love it. Now to be sure synergy is coming into play here for sure and while some describe it as dark I would describe it as more lush and deeply tonally saturated which I really love. That said with my Esoteric Digital front end and running my VTL 6.5 phono preamp off of the transformer step up section it may just be that the saturated tonal qualities of the BAT is a nice balance to the more neutral sound of the other two. At any rate ... absolutely loving the Rex2 and will definitely audition the Rex3 at some point next year. The Rex series preamp may be the sweet spot of their lineup.

George

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by gadawg

I can't wait to hear a Rex3 Preamp as I currently have the Rex2 preamp and absolutely love it. Now to be sure synergy is coming into play here for sure and while some describe it as dark I would describe it as more lush and deeply tonally saturated which I really love. That said with my Esoteric Digital front end and running my VTL 6.5 phono preamp off of the transformer step up section it may just be that the saturated tonal qualities of the BAT is a nice balance to the more neutral sound of the other two. At any rate ... absolutely loving the Rex2 and will definitely audition the Rex3 at some point next year. The Rex series preamp may be the sweet spot of their lineup.

George

I like that type of presentation and will take a tonally saturated, meaty presentation over a neutral one any day. I don' care about neutrality as much as I care about an engaging and musically satisfying listening sessions with any genre of music I care to play.