Preamps: Rogue v. VTL v. Blue Circle

VTLs used to have reliability problems being a new company etc but they have clearly gone a long way and I think they are the way of the future for tubes. They are trying to make them simpler to use and their more recent models are amazing. I have an ST150 amp myself and am very happy with it.

Thanks for all the input. My concerns with each of the preamps (both questioned and recommended) are:
Rogue 99: way too many on Audiogon. Why? Surely they didn't sell that many new?
BAT VK5i: only balanced. Need SE or adaptors, which raises the effective price and then am I better with something else? (I know, I didn't bring this up in my initial post).
BAT VK3i: baby of the BAT line. Does it compete with, say Rogue 99 (ignore what I said above for a minute). Is it truly a 'dark' sonic character as a reviewer indicated?
VTL 5.5/2.5: dunno what to think about this. There is not a strong consensus of opinion here.

Yes, I want perfection! And I want it cheap! (Just admitting what many of us have thought at times). Any SS candidates out there that qualify: smooth, etc.?

Kck:

You can find a VK5i for about $1700 if your patient. It does add a little colour to the sound, but so does every tube pre out there. But yes the BAT is has the slightest bit more. I was merely going by what you originaly stated in your initial post. I thought the VK5i would work well for you.

As far as the adapters for BAT gear, you will lose a little from your source. But if you don't have a pre ( now )in the same catogrey as the VK5i, you won't know what your missing.

I personally ran nothing but single end gear with the both the VK5i, and the VK3i with excellent results. Also you can buy the necessary adapters that Audio Research manufactures for $25 less per pair. You will still be under your $2000 price point. I see them all the time here at Audiogon for sale used.

You can also follow this thread that just started about XLR-RCA adapters.

VK3i vs Rouge 99? I'm sure the Rouge lovers will argue with me. But I think the VK3i will dance cricles around the 99.

sorry, forgot the thread link:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1068758113&read&3&4&

Kck, I can only comment on the Rogue 99, and will say that this pre is high end audio at a great price new or used. I purchased mine new.

This is my 2nd tubed preamp, so I was always comparing it to the former preamp, and out of the box the Rogue seemed lifeless. After a 100 hours or so of use and replacing the stock tubes, the Magnum 99 is truely a fantastic piece of equipment that should be considered.

I have talked to the owner Mark O'Brien more than a few times and he is always willing to help you. He suggested I try different tubes with the Rogue to compliment the other equiupment in my system. I purchased some NOS from him and they brought out the best for my listening tastes. He was willing to send me different tubes if the NOS were not to my liking. Great customer service.

You mentioned that you see many Rogue 99's for sale on Audiogon and seemed concerned about such. I have looked at the 99 for quite some time and the equiupment that you see for sale is typical of used gear. Cary, ARS, Conrad Johnson, VTL,....you can find them for sale every day but that doesnt mean that one should worry about purchasing them. It would only make sence that more a company sells, could also reflect the used equiupment for sale at any one time. This probally doesnt hold true to the higher priced goods because most people cant afford them so there is few in the consumer market and little to none for sale used.

Good luck and happy listening.

Kek