I would avoid it for the use of 6 (six!!) 12AU7’s alone. 6SN7 is a better sounding tube. I would however expect it to sound more "tubey" than the Rogue RP7, because of the latter’s MOSFET output stage.
The older Rogue high-end 6H30 preamps Athena and Hera shouldn’t be ignored if you want a change from your RP series Rogue. Those were all-tube designs, had a far sweeter sound IMO, and the only downsides were the clunky remote volume control and too much gain on the Hera II (Athena and Hera I had normal gain levels). They’re usually hugely discounted from MSRP when they show up on used markets now. I still keep an Athena for backup because I like it, and I have an ARC Ref 6 and VAC Master here too.
Balanced Line Stage Tube Preamps
A recent balanced tube preamp shopper asked for opinions on Rogue vs ARC, ending up with a strong verdict for the Cary -05. Just wondering where the PrimaLuna EVO 400 might fit in this discussion. Functionality is pretty much identical across the board for all: 2 XLRs, 3 RCAs in, and both out. I don't need Cary's headphone section but do really need a remote. Question is all about the sonics. Fellow tube sound fans say Rogue is too dry and clinical. But what about PL? I wouldn't expect it to match Cary or ARC (or C-J) in an ideal room, but is it more tube-y than Rogue? (I do need 2 XLR and 3 RCA, so less versatile candidates need not apply).
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@mulveling Thanks for the tip! I’m off to check out the used market. |
If you are looking at a balanced line tube preamp, its helpful to ask if the preamp supports AES48. If the manufacturer does not know, that likely means 'no'. One advantage of going balanced (properly) is that you no longer have to buy expensive cables to make it sound right. The cables will all sound the same and no going back to single ended. |
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