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

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.

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

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.

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

build quality looks amazing, indeed!

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.

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.

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.

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 !

the caps PCB design looks great 😊

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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).

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

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...

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

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

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

Now I know how Giuliani got his law degree.

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

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.

Lots of bias herein

Waste of money

overpriced distortion machine