Phonostage question ...

My advice is to try it out for a couple of weeks with your Rogue. If after that you feel the Rogue is lacking something, then you can always upgrade. You can then look for a phono stage that addresses your current phono stages weaknesses. This will also allow you get a good feel for the differences between your existing Rogue phono stage and a potential phono stage, as you will probably have both in your system for a bit before you sell the one that you like the least. (And, if you buy used equipment, you can typically try out said equipment for a couple of weeks for only the cost of shipping, as you should be able to resell it for about the same cost, or sometimes slightly more if you are a shrewd buyer!)

My 2 cents worth anyway. (This is my standard method of upgrading components in my system).

Great advice Kurt! I wish I followed it more often myself, heheh.

Thanks Kurt. My quandry is how do I know the Rogue will lack something worthy of purchasing something else? Your idea of buying, testing and reselling is a good one but I admit that's a lot of work just to demo. I've done it but it's not my strength.

Anyone care to hazard a guess as to what percent of ones analog budget should be devoted to a phonostage? Is there a certain price point where a phonostage is worthy of a high end (10k retail) system?

I can not comment about the Rogue, but can share with you what made a huge difference in my system. I went from a Manley Steelhead to an Aesthetix IO Signature, 2 power supplies with NOS tubes.
I've also used other phono sections with excellent results, but the IO sounds more dynamic, offers considerable micro detail, sweet extended highs and bass to pin you to your chair.
If you start with a stock IO, which comes with a seperate power suply, it can be updated to a Signature and an additional power supply added when funds permit.
With your front end, the improvement will be huge.

Louis

I'd say in a high end system, the phono stage is very important, and a good guide might be to spend at least as much as the cartridge cost, and possibly up to 2 times the cost of your cartridge. At your level, an Aesthetix IO (used) might be a good selection. It is one of the best phonostages made, and would do your phono rig justice. I have seen them for about $2750 on the A'gon classifieds.