Rogue 66 or AES pre?

hi david, it's obvious that ewe haven't had the opportunity to *hear* a melos preamp... ;~) and, what's wrong w/ewe - posting a response instead of yust pinging me w/negative wotes?!? ;~)

regards, dug seed in

ps - i know the real reason ewe won't switch preamps - yude have to change yer moniker! :>)

Actually Dud,my first choice when I was looking to buy a pre was a Sha-Gold.....my dealer had a used one in stock but steered me to the 99 instead.He said "no contest"Just his opinion of course.I will give you your well deserved negatives in due time!!!How dare you voice your opinion here!!!!

ya know, dave, in all seriousness - yer dealer recommending the rogue, is kinda funny - perhaps he carried rogue, & wanted sell gnu product? the reason i say this, is one dealer i spoke with - audio connection, in verona, nj (wery helpful, & i'd shop there if i lived there), was trying to help me w/preamps. they carry rogue *and* cary - two pre's besides the melos, that i was considering. (at the time, i was considering the sha-gold, not the ma-333 that i ended-up buying). anyway, i mentioned i was also considering a used sha-gold, & they proceeded to tell me that they used to be a melos dealer, & that if i could find one in decent shape, that i should yust *do* it - that it wood smoke *anything* from cary or rogue. not only did they discourage me from buying someting gnu from 'em, it wasn't even them that had the used melos i was considering! needless to say, i was duly impressed w/their attitude - something along the lines of them rather having *no* customer than one that wasn't satisfied. unusual in this day & age, & i always check out their site to see if they have anyting i mite be interested in - *this* is the type of store where i *wanna* shop. they were willing to have a cary preamp drop-shipped to my house for a no-strings-attached demo, where the local dealer woodn't even let me take his demo-unit home for audition...

regards, doug s.

Dud- Melos/Rogue... all I know is I have one killer preamp that I got new for less than the price of the used Melos (except phono which came later with an even trade for my Black Cube)its been a while,but I think he wanted $1500 (sound right?) for the melos and I got the 99 with added NOS 6SN7's for just < $1400(plus a non $$ favor) and I couldnt be happier.With the right speaker placement and some additional room treatment my 99 and Aleph-3 combo SMOKES on metal and rock which is 75% of what I play.I've read other Aleph-3 owners felt bass was lacking with this fine amp.Also "heard" lack of bass with the 99 :) not here in my treated 15x24x8 foot room! My system is KILLER and Im very happy with my sound.

PS there was a dealer in Florida who offered me a new 99 for $1325 drop shipped from Pa.I still cant figure why some dealers wont budge and others offer deep discounts.