It's been 10 years since Balanced Audio Technology (BAT) introduced their first products: the VK-5 line-stage preamplifier and the VK-60 power amplifier. (I <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/tubepoweramps/766">reviewed both</A> in the December 1995 <I>Stereophile</I>, Vol.18 No.12.) The success of these and other BAT products has allowed designer <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/interviews/767">Victor Khomenko</A> (the "VK" of the model designations) and partner Steve Bednarski to quit their day jobs at Hewlett-Packard; they were joined by Geoff Poor as a partner to handle the sales end of the enterprise. BAT's current lineup includes several preamps, phono stages, a CD player, and tube as well as solid-state amplifiers. The top of BAT's preamp range is the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/tubepreamps/1103bat">VK-51SE</A&gt;, which costs $9000; their top tube power amp is the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/tubepoweramps/536">VK-150SE monoblock</A> ($17,000/pair); if you want their best phono stage, the <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/phonopreamps/871">VK-P10</A&gt; will set you back $8000.

Home theater has dramatically influenced the design of aftermarket subwoofers. Multichannel processors automatically provide a properly filtered low-frequency signal to drive a subwoofer, relieving the need for the sub to be shipped with a passive crossover network or an active electronic crossover. When Genelec offered one of their subwoofers for review, I decided it was important to try to evaluate such a product, even if it meant I'd have to scramble around to find a quality external electronic crossover.

Home theater has dramatically influenced the design of aftermarket subwoofers. Multichannel processors automatically provide a properly filtered low-frequency signal to drive a subwoofer, relieving the need for the sub to be shipped with a passive crossover network or an active electronic crossover. When Genelec offered one of their subwoofers for review, I decided it was important to try to evaluate such a product, even if it meant I'd have to scramble around to find a quality external electronic crossover.

Home theater has dramatically influenced the design of aftermarket subwoofers. Multichannel processors automatically provide a properly filtered low-frequency signal to drive a subwoofer, relieving the need for the sub to be shipped with a passive crossover network or an active electronic crossover. When Genelec offered one of their subwoofers for review, I decided it was important to try to evaluate such a product, even if it meant I'd have to scramble around to find a quality external electronic crossover.

Home theater has dramatically influenced the design of aftermarket subwoofers. Multichannel processors automatically provide a properly filtered low-frequency signal to drive a subwoofer, relieving the need for the sub to be shipped with a passive crossover network or an active electronic crossover. When Genelec offered one of their subwoofers for review, I decided it was important to try to evaluate such a product, even if it meant I'd have to scramble around to find a quality external electronic crossover.

<I>"It's rather warm in here."<BR>&mdash;violinist Mischa Elman, at Jascha Heifetz's Carnegie Hall debut</I>

<I>"It's rather warm in here."<BR>&mdash;violinist Mischa Elman, at Jascha Heifetz's Carnegie Hall debut</I>

In the past few installments of this column I've promised to talk about another subwoofer equalizer system. Now I'm going to pull the old switcheroo and discuss a different subwoofer EQ. The SMS-1 is a new, standalone digital equalizer system from Velodyne, based on the EQ built into their DD-series subwoofers. Larry Greenhill went <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/subwoofers/604velodyne">gaga</A&gt; over the Velodyne DD-18 in the June 2004 <I>Stereophile</I>, particularly because of the ease and sophistication of the EQ system. Apparently, one of the Velodyne sales guys asked the obvious: What about making the EQ available separately for use with other subwoofers?

In the past few installments of this column I've promised to talk about another subwoofer equalizer system. Now I'm going to pull the old switcheroo and discuss a different subwoofer EQ. The SMS-1 is a new, standalone digital equalizer system from Velodyne, based on the EQ built into their DD-series subwoofers. Larry Greenhill went <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/subwoofers/604velodyne">gaga</A&gt; over the Velodyne DD-18 in the June 2004 <I>Stereophile</I>, particularly because of the ease and sophistication of the EQ system. Apparently, one of the Velodyne sales guys asked the obvious: What about making the EQ available separately for use with other subwoofers?

In the past few installments of this column I've promised to talk about another subwoofer equalizer system. Now I'm going to pull the old switcheroo and discuss a different subwoofer EQ. The SMS-1 is a new, standalone digital equalizer system from Velodyne, based on the EQ built into their DD-series subwoofers. Larry Greenhill went <A HREF="http://www.stereophile.com/subwoofers/604velodyne">gaga</A&gt; over the Velodyne DD-18 in the June 2004 <I>Stereophile</I>, particularly because of the ease and sophistication of the EQ system. Apparently, one of the Velodyne sales guys asked the obvious: What about making the EQ available separately for use with other subwoofers?