Balanced Audio Technology
AmplifiersPreamplifiers & phono stagesDigital sources
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1995 |
| Founder | Victor Khomenko and Steve Bednarski |
Balanced Audio Technology, usually known as BAT, is an American electronics company based in Delaware, founded in the mid-1990s by Victor Khomenko and Steve Bednarski. As the name suggests, its designs are fully balanced from input to output, which the company believes reduces noise and distortion. BAT makes both valve and solid-state equipment, and it is known for using a small number of gain stages and no global negative feedback. Its VK-5 preamplifier and VK-500 power amplifier helped establish the brand in the late 1990s, and the VK-D5 valve-output CD player was also well regarded. Later products include the REX reference preamplifier and power amplifiers and the VK-80i integrated amplifier. BAT electronics are usually described as dynamic, detailed and musical, combining valve-like richness with good control, and they remain a fixture of the American high-end market. The company builds its products in the United States and supports older models with upgrades.
Notable Balanced Audio Technology products
- VK-5 preamplifier
- VK-500 power amplifier
- VK-D5 CD player
- REX preamplifier
- VK-80i integrated
More about Balanced Audio Technology
BAT founders, Steve Bednarski and Victor Khomenko, grew up half a world apart, but both were captivated early by the magic of recorded sound. They met as adults, having established successful careers at high-tech leader Hewlett-Packard. As experienced audio enthusiasts, they became increasingly convinced that they could produce components that sounded better than anything commercially available. Balanced Audio Technology was formed to make that conviction a reality.
Victor Khomenko brings unique insight to the science of audio design. His academic preparation (a Master's degree in electronics and physics from the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute) strengthened his already wide knowledge of tube and solid state circuit theory. He further developed his talents in the United States by designing laboratory instrumentation, where preserving the most delicate signals is a way of life. Steve Bednarski brings both a technical and a business background to the audio industry.
An engineering degree from Cornell and an MBA from Harvard were followed by leadership roles in the production, marketing, and development of laboratory instruments. These varied assignments gave him crucial experience in establishing and maintaining market leadership for technical products. Balanced Audio Technology makes fine audio equipment for the dedicated music lover.