All those things are better on the modded Voyager. It is just in another league. My friend thought I was crazy when I told him I'm buying it as my system sounded so good. Keeping the EVS though. Now in a secondary system. At some point (waiting on roofing issues), the main system will be apart for a bit until painting gets done and I'll be using the secondary system as my main audio system for a bit.
I don't know how the Rouge sounds (or what they use for everything internally). All I can say is I had a Mivera SE, (with the one half inch thick front and rear panels which were not made throughout the run of SE amps and he stopped making those) and everything possible upgraded, including two Synergistic Research Blue fuses (I added later) and the EVS was in a totally different league. Others heard it as well over my place. The (modded) Voyager is yet in another league.
I broke the EVS in using a secondary system (and for a drop before I got the EVS I tried the Mivera in there and the Mivera was in that system for well over a year and I sold the Mivera a bit over a month ago) and the Mivera which imaged nicely, sounded flat vs. the EVS. So while I haven't heard the Rouge, which obviously did well in Jay's comparison (was it something like 43% thought it was better? And yes I understand the internet can't capture what is in the room), I'd think the EVS would have done better as besides upgrades to the internals, the modules themselves were modded (by the mad professor). There are others that Ric sold the amp to and compared it to the stock Mivera (I believe one of Ric's customers had a couple of Mivera amps and used them in mono to compare the to EVS).
Yyz, who sold me the modded Voyager informed me he offered it to Jay and I'm not sure how much time elapsed, but when I bought it I don't believe Jay got back to him. It was also noted in Jay's thread (by ricevs on October 7) " What would be really cool is if Phil would bring over his EVS1200 and the modded Voyager he is about to receive to Jay’s place and they could do a four way shoot out with the stock Rouge and the Block Monos (make sure you use good footers under the class D amps....not the stock feet). You could do this in a few hours and then make a video where you both comment on the differences.....none of this silly 3 minute song A/Bs of unknown amps please. Just tell us what you hear. We trust you. You could then play a minute or two of the best of the three versus the Block....for reference. This would be very informational for many." I also noted on that day (in Jay's thread) " So as far as any shootouts that Jay wants to do, that is up to Jay." I'd guess I'm under 3 hours from Jay (and noted that)
So I guess we'll really never know the answer. I appreciated what Jay did. What it showed to me is that the Rouge performed very well and how much additional money got things to another level. Jay also noted that everything before the amps contributed to the sound and it is the same in my place. I use a Lumin U1 music server and an EMM Labs DAC 2X (version 2) along with a Modwright LS36.5DM. I currently have the EVS in a system with a Sherbourn Pre-1 and a Teac UD-503 DAC. Those just aren't in the same league as what is in the main system.
I don't know how the Rouge sounds (or what they use for everything internally). All I can say is I had a Mivera SE, (with the one half inch thick front and rear panels which were not made throughout the run of SE amps and he stopped making those) and everything possible upgraded, including two Synergistic Research Blue fuses (I added later) and the EVS was in a totally different league. Others heard it as well over my place. The (modded) Voyager is yet in another league.
I broke the EVS in using a secondary system (and for a drop before I got the EVS I tried the Mivera in there and the Mivera was in that system for well over a year and I sold the Mivera a bit over a month ago) and the Mivera which imaged nicely, sounded flat vs. the EVS. So while I haven't heard the Rouge, which obviously did well in Jay's comparison (was it something like 43% thought it was better? And yes I understand the internet can't capture what is in the room), I'd think the EVS would have done better as besides upgrades to the internals, the modules themselves were modded (by the mad professor). There are others that Ric sold the amp to and compared it to the stock Mivera (I believe one of Ric's customers had a couple of Mivera amps and used them in mono to compare the to EVS).
Yyz, who sold me the modded Voyager informed me he offered it to Jay and I'm not sure how much time elapsed, but when I bought it I don't believe Jay got back to him. It was also noted in Jay's thread (by ricevs on October 7) " What would be really cool is if Phil would bring over his EVS1200 and the modded Voyager he is about to receive to Jay’s place and they could do a four way shoot out with the stock Rouge and the Block Monos (make sure you use good footers under the class D amps....not the stock feet). You could do this in a few hours and then make a video where you both comment on the differences.....none of this silly 3 minute song A/Bs of unknown amps please. Just tell us what you hear. We trust you. You could then play a minute or two of the best of the three versus the Block....for reference. This would be very informational for many." I also noted on that day (in Jay's thread) " So as far as any shootouts that Jay wants to do, that is up to Jay." I'd guess I'm under 3 hours from Jay (and noted that)
So I guess we'll really never know the answer. I appreciated what Jay did. What it showed to me is that the Rouge performed very well and how much additional money got things to another level. Jay also noted that everything before the amps contributed to the sound and it is the same in my place. I use a Lumin U1 music server and an EMM Labs DAC 2X (version 2) along with a Modwright LS36.5DM. I currently have the EVS in a system with a Sherbourn Pre-1 and a Teac UD-503 DAC. Those just aren't in the same league as what is in the main system.