Balanced
Audio Technology was founded in 1995 with the goal of producing a line of
superbly engineered, meticulously crafted audio products that recreate any music
with unmatched fidelity and believable presence.
Entering the competitive US high-end market with one tube preamplifier
(the VK-5) and one tube amplifier (the VK-60) Balanced Audio Technology garnered
high praise and these products were immediately elevated to Class A status and
deemed to be classics.
Balanced Audio Technology has since shown remarkable growth in market share and product range. To do this they have employed innovative design and development methodologies, and their stated strategy to offer serious audiophiles high quality gear at price points that provide particularly good value. Balanced Audio Technology currently has a line-up of four source components, six preamplifiers and seven power amplifiers to satisfy the requirements of connoisseurs of tube-based as well as solid state technology.
The engineer behind Balanced Audio Technology's unique equipment is Victor Khomenko, who built his first radio as an eight-year-old in St. Petersburg, Russia. He has created a line of elegant, balanced designs which puts virtually no barriers between the music and the listener. The products feature single gain-stage preamplifiers, power amplifiers with only two gain-stages and simple, convenient, understandable user interfaces and remote controls.
Both the VK-P5 and VK-P10 phono-stages feature fully differential balanced circuit designs and the innovative Flying RIAA equalization network. The VK-P5 offers exceptional value and superb sound in an all-tube phono-stage, with user adjustable gain of either 50 or 55 dB and selectable cartridge loading of resistance from 100 Ω to 47 kΩ and capacitance from 100 pF to 1000 pF. The VK-P10 is truly one of the great phono stages. This three-stage zero-feedback phono preamplifier, employing a passive differential network, will work extremely well with virtually any phono cartridge with an output in the range of 0.1 mV to 5 mV.
The VK-D5 tube CD player established a new benchmark in CD player performance by combining a fully balanced digital design with a unique high-current six-tube output stage. The transport mechanism is supplied by Philips and uses BAT's proprietary servo board to minimize jitter, and the digital section uses four 24 bit DAC's in a fully differential configuration. The DAC's output is then fed to an unusual passive differential I/V circuit and then to a single vacuum tube gain stage that performs the functions of filter, gain stage, and buffer, all in one circuit. By employing a high-current plate-loaded circuit , the VK-D5 eschews op-amps, buffers, or followers in the signal path. Fewer parts equals a simple signal path - a cornerstone of BAT's design philosophy. The result is an analogue-like delivery which breathes life into CDs. The VK-D5 has been a Stereophile Class A product since it's release.
A special edition CD player, the VK-D5SE, builds on the considerable strengths of the standard player. The SE utilizes premium passive components such as Vishay bulk silver foil resistors and custom oil-filled capacitors, BAT's exclusive high-current, low-impedance 6H30 SuperTubes and an upgraded power supply to deliver superlative performance from a single box player. The VK-D5SE delivers treble with sweetness and detail but without the customary CD brightness, it's midrange is exquisitely open and "breathy" and it has really deep, full, well-controlled bass.
Balanced Audio Technology offers a full range of both tube and solid state preamplifiers. They are all line-level, fully differential balanced circuit designs with the option of remote control. The models VK-3i, VK-20, VK-30 and VK-40 can all be equipped with the optional VK-P3 phono module, which is installed internally and provides stellar low-noise performance for both moving magnet (46 dB gain) and moving-coil cartridges (60 dB gain).
The solid state range consists of the entry-level VK-20, which implements BAT's Unistage design, and the reference standard VK-40, with it's massive energy reserves, dual mono construction and the finest components.
The tube range consists of three standard models and two special edition versions. The very popular VK-3i is a six-tube design which offers an outstanding combination of musicality, versatility, convenience and value at the entry level. The VK-30 six-tube design incorporates the next-generation Unistage topology, dual-mono construction, custom oil-filled capacitors and the new BAT microprocessor controlled user interface. The VK-30 achieves the same current delivery as the legendary VK-5i to provide captivating musicality and superb authority. The VK-50 is a worthy successor to the cherished VK-5i in every respect. Over 100% greater current delivery combined with BAT's next generation architecture, the twelve-tube VK-50 provides a stunning leap in performance over the previous reference model. Both the VK-30 and the VK-50 can be upgraded to Special Edition specification, the VK-31SE and VK-51SE. This features BAT's exclusive high-current, low-impedance 6H30 tubes in a powerful gain-stage that is combined with larger transformers, upgraded power supplies, Vishay Bulk Metal foil resistors and custom oil-filled capacitors. These preamplifiers are reference grade products which have received the highest accolades and ratings world-wide.
The VK-60 was Balanced Audio Technology's first power amplifier, a signature design which soon became an industry classic and consistently achieved the highest praise and recommendations for its combination of power and musicality. This magnificent amplifier has now been replaced by a new line-up of similar looking but significantly improved tube amplifiers.
The VK-75 replaces the classic VK-60, using the Russian 6C33C-Bs in an all-triode, fully automatic biasing, high current, single-ended bridge output configuration (not push-pull), fully balanced differential, zero-feedback design. As its name implies, the VK-75 delivers 75 watts per channel into 8 ohms, a desirable 25% increase over the already robust performance of the VK-60. This has been achieved through a complete re-engineering of the power supply, power supply transformer and circuit design of this new model. While retaining the beauty of the VK-60's open layout, the VK-75 receives a new two-piece faceplate to complement its stellar performance, which is both more dynamic and extended sounding than the benchmark VK-60.
The VK-150 is the mono-block version of the VK-75, offering 150 watts per channel of output power. The VK-75 can be fully upgraded to the VK-150 mono-block for a nominal cost. This exciting upgrade path continues to differentiate Balanced Audio Technology from its competition.
Both the VK-75 and the VK-150 are also available in (or can be upgraded to) Special Edition status. These superlative special editions incorporate the 6H30 tubes in the driver stage, which relies upon a dedicated 6V6 vacuum-tube as its constant current source, and the entire front-end circuit is driven by a new dedicated power supply. The resulting amplifiers are truly magical and in a league of their own.
To complement their comprehensive tube amplifier range, Balanced Audio Technology offer three powerful and highly musical solid state models. They all feature only two gain blocks in a zero-feedback, fully symmetrical design. The VK-200 delivers 100 W per channel into 8 ohms, while the VK-500 produces 250 W per channel into 8 ohms from a true dual-mono construction. The VK-500 may be enhanced with the optional BAT-PAK which triples its energy storage, or upgraded to the VK-1000 mono-block configuration for the ultimate in high-current capability. The VK-1000 delivers 350 W into 8 ohms and 1000 W into a 2-ohm load.
Balanced Audio Technology recently introduced their first integrated amplifier, the VK-300x, with 150 W per channel and the option of either solid state or tube preamplifier section.
As relatively new kids on the block, Balanced Audio Technology have achieved the pinnacle of high-end sound quality and recognition as well as a fiercely loyal customer base, through a combination of the finest design and engineering, exceptional customer support, including 5 year warranties, and sensibly priced upgrade paths.Balanced Audio Technology is pleased to introduce their long-awaited entry into "multi-channel" amplification, the VK-6200. This superlative modular amplifier will soon be partnered by a high-end reference AV control processor.
For more information please contact Aeolian at (011) 487 2254 or visit www.balanced.com
