BAT introduced the two-chassis, $18,500 REX preamplifier at CES. The 18-tube preamplifier incorporates vacuum-tube rectifiers, C-multipliers, oil capacitors, and shunt regulators to filter the power supply's DC voltages. The control module incorporates a 140-step volume control that uses a 16-bit digital control with Vishay bulk-metal–foil resistors as pass-through devices. Each input to the preamplifier can be adjusted individually.
BAT set up an all-tube system (above) to demonstrate the REX preamplifier, including a VK-D5SE CD player and VK-150SE monoblock amplifiers, driving the highly regarded two-way Magico Minis on their matching stands. Source was a Basis turntable and cabling was by Kubala-Sosna. BAT's Stephen Bednarski played two outstanding demo selections, Shinedown's "Simple Man" and Sting's "It's Probably Me" (from his
My Funny Valentine at the Movies album). The sonics were totally involving, moving me to want to hear more from this new preamplifier.
