Used like new Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) VK-3iX Vacuum Tube Preamplifier Even before it was broken in, the Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) VK-3iX preamplifier sounded so magnificent it was difficult to believe that I was listening to what essentially is an entry level product. But the VK-3iX is only an entry level product in that it is BAT's lowest costing preamplifier. It contains a great deal of sophisticated technology, far greater than the what would normally incorporated into a typical entry level product, and ends up being a relatively inexpensive gateway to the renowned BAT sound. The VK-3iX is probably a loss leader in the vein of the VK-3i it replaces, but it sports internal parts upgrades, cosmetics that make it match BAT's more expensive models, and most importantly, the ability to upgrade the unit to (for lack of any other terms) a super VK-3iX. Internally, the VK-3iX is not a simple update of the older VK-3 but practically a completely new design. It has new circuit boards as well as, again, the significant feature of being able to upgrade the unit. These upgrades include the SUPER PAK, the SIX-PAK, and the special edition (SE). BAT says that even the stock VK-3iX contains many aspects of BAT's reference preamplifier line which includes their Unistage design. BAT goes on to say that they eliminate complex buffer and follower circuits, and the vacuum tube current sources remain in the power supply to contribute to [it's] ability to portray the natural color and emotion of the musical performance. As in their VK-52SE ($10,500 with remote), the unit uses Vishay resistors in the series pass element of the shunt volume control that provides, according to BAT, a wonderful sense of transparency and top-end extension. The power supply of the VK-3iX is very large and is intended to increase the system's low-end heft