PREAMPLIFIER UPGRADE QUESTION

I think the Rogue is fully balanced, is it not?

As an interim step, if not already, you could upgrade the tubes in the RP-1. I put a set of Mullards in from Andy’s tube services and have really enjoyed them. Enjoy those while you continue research on high grade pre

Also you might try the PS Audio BHK Pre.  That has 12AU7 valved input stage. And you can possibly trial that unit and they give you a decent amount for the Rogue.  Although you proly do better selling RP-1 on your own as people snap those up pretty quickly. 

Audio GD HE-1 XLR 10 tube Pre from Underwood HI FI....It has it's own Regenerative Power Supply that makes it's own power from the outlet...none of the units you list have this technology...Game changer for 2 channel SQ.........$5,000   Read the Part Time Audiophile review.....The best under $12K he's ever reviewed !

These Backertlabs preamps look great. The website however is probably a contender for the #2 spot of the worst audio websites ever designed. Just amazingly bad. 

I like Bryston.  I only have one of their streamers that has been discontinued but they have still provided support for it and it sounds great as a ROON endpoint and standalone.  That kind of effort is hard to find that in this industry.  You would expect synergy with their pre eh?

Having said that I like Tube pre with SS/AB/Switch amps.  I remember one of the most impressive pieces I heard back years ago at RMAF was an Octave integrated with a set of Dynaudio speakers.   Modest setup relative to others at the show but impressive.   Their HP SE series of Pre might be worth investigating.    I been lusting for one ever since that show :) 

kjl1065

I went through the same process in January/February before buying my new preamp. Over two weeks I listened to a bunch of preamps from some of the above recommended companies, either on friends systems and even traveling several hundred miles in some cases to dealers. I tried to keep things as fair as possible, but some variables were there: different speakers, different amps.....but some cases were like for like. I must also mention that I am convinced that a preamp should be tube based.

My thoughts that I posted back in February are here 

For a synopsis, I eliminated the Rogue RP-7/RP-9, Backert Labs standard Rhumba, ARC 5SE, Atma-Sphere MP3, and a couple of others; because their sound (while excellent) were just not up to some others. I eliminated the Don Sachs/Lynn Olson Raven preamp because it was not in production yet when I purchased my preamp.

The best of the lot were the BAT VK-80 preamp fully balanced, Backert Labs Rhumba Extreme 1.4 (much closer to the flagship Rhythm than the base Rhumba and fully balanced), and Aric Audio Motherlode (non the balanced XL version). I ended up purchasing an Aric Audio Motherlode XL (fully balanced) preamp; and I could not be happier with my decision....it is the best preamp I have ever heard; period and exclamation point.

I will say that if I had not heard my Motherlode XL, I would have been THRILLED with either the BAT VK80 or Backert Labs Rhumba Extreme 1.4. They are amazing.

Here are my recommendations with 4 months of experience later (or rather if I had to do it again), and having listened to a couple more preamps. Before buying I would HIGHLY recommend reaching out to the designers to have a conversation: Aric Audio Motherlode XL (Aric Kimball), BAT VK-80 (Victor Khomenko), Backert Labs Rhumba Extreme (Bob Backert), Don Sachs/Lynn Olson Raven (Either Don or Lynn), Supratek various balanced preamps (Mick Maloney). I have spoken with all of them, and give freely of their time.

Great luck on your decision