Rogue Audio 99 Magnum preamp
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pearsall001
Posts: 5,000
I'm contemplating jumping back into a tube pre & this caught my eye. Any thoughts on the R99. It uses 4 - 6sn7 tubes that I do like. Just sitting on the fence now. Thanks
Phil
Phil
"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
Comments
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The one item I wish I never sold. It's not the quietest, but that all depends a lot on the tubes installed. The one I had came with a NOS matched quad of 1950s Sylvania GTAs. I tried many others but these were my favorite and the quietest. If it's equipped with the built in phono, that sounds great with new production Gold Lion 12AX7s and 12AU7s if you only need MM. If the right 99 Mag or Super Magnum pops up with the phono board, I will probably scoop it up and go back. My current ARC integrated just is missing some of that magic. I had the 99 paired with a Rogue 88 amp. Lots of tubes in this pair to keep feeding (18) so I mistakenly sold the pair for a lateral side grade to an ARC integrated and separate phono.
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Carl @schwarcw has one since 2009 IIRC. He sent it back to factory for upgrades. Carl has a real nice ARC phono pre and didn't use the internal phono so they very nicely modded the phono selection as an input for him. I think Aaron @ALL212 has one too. It's a great preamp.Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
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Gots the 99 SUPER MAGNUM.
It’s required by law to capitalize that.
Great pre!Aaron
Enabler Extraordinaire -
Thanks for all the positive input. I'm picking it up Saturday. I'm looking forward to hearing how it will perform."2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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pearsall001 wrote: »Thanks for all the positive input. I'm picking it up Saturday. I'm looking forward to hearing how it will perform.
Was that the one from USAM?The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
nooshinjohn wrote: »pearsall001 wrote: »Thanks for all the positive input. I'm picking it up Saturday. I'm looking forward to hearing how it will perform.
Was that the one from USAM?
No...local"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
That fence musta got uncomfortable quick! 😝👍
Brian
One-owner Polk Audio RTA 15TL speakers refreshed w/ Sonicap, Vishay/Mills and Cardas components by "pitdogg2," "xschop" billet tweeter plates and BH5 | Stereo REL Acoustics T/5x subwoofers w/ Bassline Blue cables | Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III integrated tube amp | Technics SL-1210G turntable w/ Ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 MM cart | Sony CDP-508ESD CD player (as a transport) | LampizatOr Baltic 4 tube DAC | Nordost & DH Labs cables/interconnects | APC H15 Power Conditioner | GIK Acoustics room treatments | Degritter RCM -
That fence musta got uncomfortable quick! 😝👍
It was a sharp bugger & my arse was hurting! 🙄"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
Then you stick some of these babies in there...5692's. Not for sale, just testing them for someone.
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 * -
SCompRacer wrote: »Then you stick some of these babies in there...5692's. Not for sale, just testing them for someone.
I'm sure I'll be playing around with different tubes... gotta keep digging that rabbit hole deeper & deeper! Those look rather pricey I assume."2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
pearsall001 wrote: »SCompRacer wrote: »Then you stick some of these babies in there...5692's. Not for sale, just testing them for someone.
I'm sure I'll be playing around with different tubes... gotta keep digging that rabbit hole deeper & deeper! Those look rather pricey I assume.
So many options with 6sn7, even more options with adapters. -
There was a modified Belles 21a preamp for $600 on Audiocircle. It sold pretty quick.Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
Speaker Cables: Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
Interconnects: Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
Puritan PSM156 -
pearsall001 wrote: »SCompRacer wrote: »Then you stick some of these babies in there...5692's. Not for sale, just testing them for someone.
I'm sure I'll be playing around with different tubes... gotta keep digging that rabbit hole deeper & deeper! Those look rather pricey I assume.
So many options with 6sn7, even more options with adapters.
I know... rabbit hole here we come Lol!"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
We're gonna need PICS!
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"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
Pics & review... yeah, yeah I know the drill! Lol! 🎶🎶"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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These are also superb tubes also early 50's are best. But anything through the mid 60's is very good too.
H9
"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
These are also superb tubes also early 50's are best. But anything through the mid 60's is very good too.
H9
Hey Brock,
Are you looking to part with any 6sn7's ? Once I'm up & running with the pre for awhile to get a feel of how it sounds with supplied JJ's. I know I'll be looking to do some tube rolling"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
pearsall001 wrote: »These are also superb tubes also early 50's are best. But anything through the mid 60's is very good too.
H9
Hey Brock,
Are you looking to part with any 6sn7's ? Once I'm up & running with the pre for awhile to get a feel of how it sounds with supplied JJ's. I know I'll be looking to do some tube rolling
Phil,
The integrated amp I own uses a very close cousin the 6SL7, so I don't have any 6SN7, otherwise I'd set you up. The various brands are similar and sound similar so I can give you some of the better 6SN7's to look for based on my 6SL7 experience.
Or I use this website as a guide. Most times I agree with his assessments. So it's a valuable resource as 6SN7's, which are more widely used than the 6SL7, can get real spendy.
https://tubemaze.info/?s=6sn7&submit=Search
Sylvania made a lot of variations over the years. It can be a rabbit hole, but if you do your research it shouldn't be too much trouble. Most, if not all, the variations of Sylvania sound great.
Stay with the 40's 50's and 60's tubes. These are called octal tubes and were around before the smaller glass tubes like 12AX7, 12AU7, etc. So there are some from the 40's and early 50's
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
Brimar CV1988 are equivalent to the 6SN7 and are absolutely superb! My guess is they are harder to find. But if you run across a pair and they aren't to $$, don't hesitate. Stay away from these, they aren't true old stock Brimar's. These are current day knock offs.
Look for these w/writing on the base. Not cheap I'm seeing prices fomr $400-$1200/pr. $1200 is a ridiculous price, IMO
I have a pair of Brimar CV1985's which is the 6SL7 equivalent they are dated 1946. I paid a pretty penny for them like 10 years ago and they are simply superb.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
Hey Brock,
Thanks for all the information you provided! Having years of tube experience really shows. Baby steps on my end. Lol! Rome wasn't built in a day... one tube at a time.
Picking the Rogue up today & can't wait to get it up & running. Thanks again 👍
Phil"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
These are also superb tubes also early 50's are best. But anything through the mid 60's is very good too.
H9
I've got a set of these, absolutely fabulous.
Prices have shoot up on all the 6sn7 tubes I've bought.
Tubes I bought for $50 a pair are triple that now. -
Keep the sexy tube pics coming!
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 * -
https://www.ebay.com/itm/266695507045?
Watch these see where they go😉
Be Leery of fake 5692 branded tubes like these. These are 6sn7. The factory branded them as 5692 to get more money
https://www.ebay.com/itm/134915262968? -
The Linlai elite tube is a great current production tube, I have the 6sl7 variant that beat my 1940's ken rads for sound quality. I also have been running them 24/7 in my dac for over 2 years, they seem to have some longevity.
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A few pics:
The tubes are EH made in Russia. Getting her all set up now.
"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
Congrats!
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Congrats!
Thanks! Just fired her up & my initial impression is...money well spent!
Also quiet as a church mouse...my ear flat on the Maggie's & nada!
Forgot one pic: the volume remote is huge...it classifies as a weapon. Lol!
"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
You're going to have fun with it for sure. It's a great piece of audio gear. And yes, take you're time rolling tubes.
But make sure to roll some different ones as they can take a piece of gear like this a couple more levels up with the right tubes. Plus it's part of the fun of owning tube gear.
Congrats
H9
P.s. I also really like the 5691's which are the 6SL7 equivalent. 5692's, as Rich pointed out, are the 6SN7 equivalent and also excellent tubes. But as stated there are many "fake" 5692's so be ware.
"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
