BAT's REX 3 Preamp Review w/ Upscale Audio's Kevin Deal. 30K for a reason, a preamp unlike any other

[@robertsupercalifragilistic7404]

I’m blessed to have an entire TOTL BAT SE system, every piece. It’s the most beautiful system I’ve ever owned. If I had only one complaint with an entire tube system, the madness you will experience trying to find a tube that might become noisy. It will take you about a week and a new nervous system.

[@ridirefain6606]

Always love it when Kevin explains the build, parts, and how they contribute to the perfomance of the component. Never fail to learn something from these type of videos. Keep it up.

[@JohnLee-db9zt]

Sometimes he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He mistakenly called the main PS caps (brown caps with black top) bypass caps. I know the silver oil bypass caps (entirely black about 1/4 to 1/5 the length of a cigarette) he’s referring to as I have used them myself.

[@ridirefain6606]

I do not doubt that Kevin misidentifies parts. His gifting is in sales and management not so much as a technician. To me, this observation is a Red Herring. What is more important is the existence of the part within the component, and an understanding what it does. Which is what is the purpose of this video is. On that point, I see Kevin is getting things right. Easily verifiable from the BAT website or an e-mail to Viktor.

[@JohnLee-db9zt]

@@ridirefain6606 umm...you mean like a car salesman showing you the engine bay of a new SUV and calling a radiator an alternator? That would seem like the the salesman has no idea how a car works.

[@ridirefain6606]

The used car analogy is hardly applicable or fair. It would be one thing if Kevin pointed to the remote and called it the external power supply. On something whose innards contains a lot of things that look alike and are used by others within the industry. I can see where getting something confused can occur. If you have concerns, the best thing for anybody to do is follow up with BAT or search for an independent review; and verify the claim. Splitting hairs on a blooper benefits no-one.

[@austenrichardgeorge842]

He's a salesman - be careful.

[@vintageaudiophile5535]

Had a couple BAT pres and always loved them. This looks fantastic and great overview by Kevin.

[@epi2045]

Kevin makes a good point of rooms changing the balance of the sound. One of my walls faces the lake and it’s all window glass causing it to be louder on the window side. As much as I would like to have my audio system on the window side, the lake view beats it out.

[@krochelli1]

build quality looks amazing, indeed!

[@mmdusa]

Gorgeous preamp. They really know how to make quality gear. Thanks Kevin!

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

Those are built ! 30k out of me pockets but knowledge is powerful either way ! I have been lucky a few times picking up highend audio at goodwill/estate sales why ? Because i watch videos like this and maybe one day I can pick a used one up on a deal ! Its happened many times I have burned yard sales up on audiogear and gotten crazy deals ! Thanks Kevin !

[@kevind2760]

I'm a little shocked at the snarky comments. I'd expect more from you folks. You know my channel and I'm the guy that wants to champion top 5% performance without the top 5% price. I'm on the side of the consumer. But one dude said in his comment a Dodge Charger is almost as fast as a Ferrari 458. Well maybe. That doesn't make it a 458. A person that is into it and has the financial wherewithal may not want a Charger. The Rex 3 is the ultimate for a guy that may have speakers costing $200k and digital costing $50k. You want to bust his nuts? Not cool. Just appreciate it for what it is...pushing the envelope of performance. If on the other hand it was a case of bullshit and charging for a NAME and an empty box....which happens in High End audio, then flame away. The Rex 3 is the real deal.

[@hamidrezahabibi8111]

I think this backertlabs.com/the-rhythm-1-3-preamplifier/ is on the consumer’s side without putting holes 🕳 in his/her pockets.

[@1wired4sound]

I don’t understand why some people feel the need to criticize uber high end audio. If you think it’s a waste of money, isn’t worth the extra money for an incremental improvement, fine. Buy what you can afford and be happy. I own a VK-33 and it’s fantastic. It’s what I could afford and I’m very happy with it.

[@Skyshakerrrr]

Well said amen

[@louisperlman8030]

Four power cords!?!?! would those be Audioquest Dragon or Nordost Odin?

[@kentonkirkpatrick5225]

I'd like to know if any high-end designer ever made a prototype using only OCC wire? OCC silver wire to wind transformers? Sonic results? Sincerely, BAT-Fanboy (VK-33SE & VK-255SE purchased from Upscale Audio of course).

[@viviantzanni4766]

Nice work keep it up Kevin. Check also Hegel h 390 it's a kick ass one plus Unison Research since you like pathos check unison unico 50 plus make a vedeo of them let us know what you think.Have both of them plus a bmc c1. That one has a massive transformer it is crazy. Might add a Dan diagoustino in my collection at some point. Good work bravo.

[@povertyspec9651]

I e-mailed BAT asking them when a particular used power amp I was interested in was made. Viktor replied five minutes later!

[@terrywho22]

76lbs!!! Wow... and tube rectification is quieter than solid state? I didn't know that, but I see that the ModWright LA36.5 uses 5AR4s and lists noise at -125dB!! The BAT isn't quite as impressive at -100dB, but I've heard BAT gear and it all sounds wonderful. BUT is the REX3 proof that well designed circuit boards are not incompatible with top shelf sound? The answer seems clear. Great video.

[@brainache555]

very often a little more distortion can sound better than less distortion.

[@terrywho22]

@@brainache555 Fair enough... as long as it's not odd, higher order distortion (7th, 9th).

[@kevind2760]

Noise floor at 125dB? Riiiiight. Never look at those specs because it's all BS. A PrimaLuna EVO300 will make the Modwright look and sound like....well compare for yourself. Do a side by side inside look with Google Images. The BAT is an all-out assault on everything you can and should do. And it should be at $30k!!

[@V1ralB1ack]

Something else you may want to consider is it's not so much which is quieter but that solid state rectification can have dips in voltage as solid state anything struggles with giving enough voltage while tube anything struggles with giving enough current. Either way it depends a lot on the transformers because better, world class transformers will be able to provide more voltage and that helps solid states not dip and tubes like Kevin says get better bass and the tube rectification can convert more of that voltage to current. Personally I'd look for simpler designs as they can sound more engaging and musical and take you there to the experience.

[@CoquiAudio]

the caps PCB design looks great 😊

[@kevinryan2556]

Hi Kevin love your videos. If you had $100K to spend on a complete hifi system, including vinyl and streaming, what would you get?

[@DuanePortal]

@@wa2368 great comment! Truth!👍🤓

[@Skyshakerrrr]

He won't answer. But can I amuse you. Agd class d 11k La scala klipsch 13k Pathos 30 watt class a 6.5k Utopia bookshelfs 22k 2 rel subwoofers top of the line 12k. Turntable fidelity harmony with the upgrade tonearm of course 13k Manley stealhead 10.9k That's about 90k. The rest take a 3 week cruise cheers.

[@ebkesq72]

Wondering how many of these Kevin is projecting he will sell per year.

[@povertyspec9651]

2 would be impressive

[@questioneverything1123]

I "google' image on ~ e v e r y t h i n g ~ that I buy, especially vintage gear. I like that Kevin recommended this... I will 'admit' I did screen captures of the video, to study later... Thank you for the exemplary expression and information. I own a 'hot-rodded' Atma-Sphere MP-1 (I love it) will never be able to 'afford' another pre-amp like it (in retirement, living on savings) I love that Victor has been vocal about drawbacks of electronic volume ladders, I sold my "old" Mark Levinson 380S, partially due to sonic restrictions of their highly flexible volume control system, as Victor had post it seemed to compress the dynamics... As an *electronics builder... I can see how and where there is 30K worth of quality work here... Hoping that I get to experience one of these pre-amps at RMAF (if the show goes on, in the crazy COVID1984 world) I will seek it out. *I build power amps, cannot imagine building pre-amps... they are a whole other beast.

[@iampuzzleman282]

Most high end preamps have rectification. So what’s ur point???

[@V1ralB1ack]

I guess it's that BAT went so far as to make the electricity running through it perfect. Like using a PS audio power plant basically to remake the ac electricity except the ps audio power plants are able to make perfect ac electricity for 6-10 devices at the same time because it's kinda stupid being this nit picky in a preamp to the point where you're packing in all that... To yea basically rectify it. And for only that one device. Might as well just sell the rectification unit separately.

[@shawnmathew825]

i owned the rex 2 pre and sold it right away because i did not hear / feel it was worth 10k+ more than the Primaluna pre-amp...

[@terrywho22]

Well, therein lies the rub. IMO, diminishing returns starts setting in for most components in the $5-6k range, but it's up to each of us to draw where exactly that line is. Thanks for that comment and congrats on being able to afford the best of the best.

[@povertyspec9651]

Need time to break in if it was brand new

[@shawnmathew825]

@@povertyspec9651 it was.. it was a dealer demo that they used for more than a year. And we had it for a couple months before we sold it cause we decided it wasn't worth it.

[@im_an_alvani]

The McFly clip, just priceless. Also this and Pathos chassis design is fantastic.

[@iampuzzleman282]

Sooooooo much space being used. Elephants as indoor pets might also be a good idea.

[@JohnLee-db9zt]

Google the preamp before buying? Don’t buy a expensive preamp without actually putting it in your system and listening to it.

[@dangoh2237]

Not for me! I am not into HT! I dun think that anyone will buy a hi-end pre-amp for HT! For stereo, yes. But not for stereo & HT.

[@danieloherrick6332]

Now I know how Giuliani got his law degree.

[@iampuzzleman282]

Lots of bias herein

[@einarbk885]

overpriced distortion machine

[@iampuzzleman282]

Waste of money