Primaluna and Rogue

I've never heard the Prima Luna amps but make no mistake the Rogues are anything but bright. I think they do all of the things that a good tube amp does and not too much of the bad.

I have heard them in comparison to several other different tube amps and no they're not the dark, romantic tube amp but they do plenty enough to pull you in and involve you in the music and have that extra oomph so they're not as sloppy as some tube amps.

I have the Rogue Apollos and I have four other close friends that all run Rogues as well. They make a great product.

Hawk28, what did you end up getting? I use my Primaluna 7s with a First Sound Presence Deluxe and I can tell you the match is simply grand! I've been using EH KT88s because that is all I can afford, but I've rolled many a driver tube with great results.

Interesting enough, I've actually get the best sound in my system using 12AT7 in place of the 12AX7 tubes. Its actually quite amazing how much more open my Soliloquy 6.5 speakers sound with these. I recommend others to try this.

Stoutblock, Sorry for not responding sooner, but I haven't logged on in quite some time. I have yet to make a purchase, but I am still in between
rogue and Primaluna, and I am also still deciding whether to go all tube or tube pre/solid state power combo. Either way, the pre will be either Rogue or Primaluna.

Hawk28:

I have not heard the Primaluna so cannot contrast the Rogue with them. Between the Rogue M120s and M150s, definitely go with the M150s. I have the Rogue M180's. If you go with the M150's someday you should consider the upgrade to M180. The M150s are faster, quieter and run cooler than the M120. The M180 is significantly faster and quieter than the M150.

I got my M180s with Gold Lion KT88s. I replaced the small tubes with NOS RCA 5751s and 12AU7s. I tried NOS Telefunken 12AX7s and wanted to love them because I know how rare they are, but I had to go with my ears, and for me that meant the RCA 5751s. Going from the 12AX7 to the 5751 was like going from ultralinear to triode all over again in terms of system quietness.

I also have a Rogue 99Magnum preamp. I replaced the 6SN7 tubes with NOS RCA 5692s.

The Rogue M180s suit me because I like a lean, articulate, fast bass along with the midrange and upper frequencies of tubes. For me the Rogues are a good balance of those qualities. Refining the sound with a little tube rolling is to me a must, not only for the Rogues but for any tube gear I've heard. The new, stock tubes just don't do it for me.

But I want to add that the above works for my tastes and my system and should be taken in that context only.

Reynolds: Thats good info. What speakers are your Rogues pushing?