Balanced Audio Technology VK-80 Stereo Tube Preamplifier (Closeout)

This unit does not have the optional phono preamplifier. 

VK-80 SuperTube Preamplifier

The VK-80 preamplifier features the same technology as the no-holds-barred REX 3 preamp, scaled down to a one-box chassis. Inside you’ll find a quad of 6H30 SuperTubes, the Gen3 SuperPak with the world’s finest capacitors, dual-mono toroidal transformers, and our Gen2 Transformer Coupled Outputs.

The VK-80 is comfortable in any system, at any price point, and should be on your short list before spending more. All you need to do is listen.

Flexible Interface

The graceful architecture is complemented by a powerful, easy-to-use customer interface. You can dim the display from the comfort of your chair by using the BAT remote. Fade music at the touch of a button. Switch phase to see if a recording is made in reverse absolute polarity. Even name your sources. For example, name your home-theater playback input “THTR.” Then, fix the volume for your THTR input to control your home-theater system from your pre/pro remote.

The Uncommonly Good Transformer Design Gets Even Better

VK-80 incorporates a second-generation output transformer using the finest Cardas copper winding. With its second-generation transformer-coupled outputs, VK-80 offers an outstandingly dynamic and transparent rendition of the original musical event. Each of the preamplifier’s transformer-coupled outputs comes encapsulated within a mu-metal shield, which is substantially superior to any capacitor in maintaining purity of signal transmission. True to its heritage, VK-80 also uses the 6H30 SuperTube to form a high-current, low-impedance gain stage. For extra convenience, the fully balanced VK-80 incorporates balanced and single-ended inputs (as well as outputs).

Never Fret About Volume Levels Again

The signal in the VK-80 preamplifier is effectively transmitted through only one gain stage. This Unistage™ circuit provides the ultimate simplicity of amplifying the incoming signal only once and uses no global feedback to double-back on the straight-through integrity of said signal. Pass music through too many gain stages, and you’ll no longer recognize the genius and beauty of your favorite recordings. And with VK-80, you can always get the volume just right. A proprietary electronic shunt volume attenuator offers 140 steps of 0.5dB resolution that give precise, repeatable volume settings that sound continuous to the human ear.