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What tube preamp is a step up from Rogue Magnum 99

Hi,

I wanted to try a tube preamp as I think my system sounds a little bit lean.

My local dealer let me take a Rogue Magnum 99 for an in home test.

In my system, the Rogue was an improvement because there was higher resolution and a more live presence (probably a lower noise floor with the separate power supply?) and better bass.

However, I am wondering what other preamps excel in providing a great "live" presence and bass.

I have read about the Cary SLP 98 and the BAT VK 51SE but I do not have access to try these out at home. The reviews seem to single these out as being a little bit warmer than, say, ARC equipment, and they are supposed to do bass well.

While I could purchase the Rogue now I want to avoid the upgrade in the future. I would rather spend more now and definitely move up.

I would appreciate any learned comments to help me out with this decision.

My system is:
Ric Schultz modified Oppo 105,
W4S STP SE Preamp
W4S ST1000 Amplifier
Cullen Cables
Maggie 3.6 Speakers

Thanks!
dsper
mulveling's avatar
mulveling
1,915 posts
 
Get the Rogue Athena. The 99 is nice, but the Athena is way better sounding and well worth the price difference (which Rogue hasn't ever raised, yet). I also prefer the Athena/Hera to the VAC Renaissance III line stage -- however the sonic signature is obviously different there.
goldprintaudio's avatar
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goldprintaudio
502 posts
 
Since you liked the Rogue as much as you did, you may want to check out their new pre's that are coming. The RP5 should be out very soon.
mattmiller's avatar
mattmiller
1,497 posts
 
I 2nd the Modwright! Good call Winoguy. But, I find that I like the Manley Labs Jumbo Shrimp even better, (I loved my Modwright SWL 9.0, My dad has it now) or Manley Labs 300B! All of these preamps use a different tube set but they all sound warm detailed liquid with lots of rise and decay and proper TONE, and PRAT too! I do not like the BAT with 6H30's it sounds un- musical and Dry with no top end (at least in my system) to the point where I can't listen to it at all.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
Try plugging your Oppo directly into your amp and see how it sounds. Better or not?
mulveling's avatar
mulveling
1,915 posts
 
I'm a Rogue fan too, but frankly I'm uninterested in a new 3K+ preamp that uses a quad of 12AU7, as their RP5 does. Seems they haven't done any new flagship-level tube stuff since the Apollo.

The 6H30 based Hera (Athena too) works magic in my system -- no lack of musicality there. There was no question when I swapped a Hera I in for my 99 Magnum 5 years ago -- the 99 went up for sale immediately. The Renaissance III was a worthy challenger, and very musical, but in the end I felt the Hera was more detailed and tonally accurate. I still miss the MM stage in that Ren III though; that was a GREAT built-in phono stage.
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