Rogue Amps: Unlike other Tube amps

I own the amps that were reviewed in Stereophile this month. I made the trip to the book store last night on my way to another Audiophile friends house and read the review. I'm running them with the Audio Aero Capitole MKII and the Virtual Dynamics NITE series Interconnects. I found the stock input tubes to be a bit lifeless so I swapped them out with NOS Mullards and NOS Holland Phillips. This combo of input tubes totally changed the amps. They now sound much more open and extended at both frequency extremes. I've really enjoyed this amp and have had them since the end of this winter (a record for any component in my system). You've probably seen my auction for these amps... Well I'm selling for the same reason as everybody else on this site; to upgrade :) As a gauge of how much I move gear, I've swapped 7 CD players, 4 speakers, 5 amps and 4 sets of cables in this past 12 months. The Rogues have spend the most time in the system.

Buckingham, something I noticed in the review is the mediocre S/N ratio of 70 db. Is the hiss level higher than you've experienced on other tube amps you've owned? Which stock input/driver tubes does Rogue include with the Magnum 120?

Interesting, though I don't agree with your observation. I observe that the Rogue Amps seem to sell well compared to other equipment, and depreciate less than most equipment. This varies to a certain degree with models; the magnums sell quicker. I have considered a Rogue pre-amp for a long time, (I am auditioning one now) therefore watching their comings and goings and have found they move well before most sellers are inclined to negotiate on price.

What sells fastest is any piece well below average price.

Tubecrazy, there is no hiss present with these amps. I made a point of using the amps with higher end power cables from Virtual Dynamics to remove most impurities from the power to make the noise floor as black as possible. I also ungrounded the circuit board but kept the chassis grounded to avoid ground loop hums. The stock Magnum versions use the Electro Harmonics 6550EH power tubes and 12AX7 and 12AU7 tubes. I thought the reviewer was quite happy with the amps, the review was quite positive. With any gear, you have to try it in your system. Let me know what you end up with.

I'm wondering about the new S'phile review of the Rogue 99 pre-amp (as I've been on a "search for the Holy Grail" for some time, in thinking of upgrading from my VTL 2.5TL). Is it as great as the reviewer claims? Equaling or bettering the VTL 5.5? Some of the posts here have me wondering. I guess I never thought (w/o having heard it however) that the Rogue would be as good as the better ARC or CJ or VTL gear, but then they are all quite a bit more expensive aren't they.