Two good choices but totally on opposite ends of the spectrum sonicly. The First Sound is like a solid state pre minus the hash and ss nasties. Rouge is like Conrad Johnson- full of bloom and lush. Both are great and both are great build quality. And both are good in certain systems while maybe not so good in others like everything else. Both can be very musical and both can add just the right amount of detail/tone in the right system. The Rogue being more forgiving, the First Sound being more accurate. The music you listen to will give you a preference- bad recordings being better through the Rogue. Good recordings not allways being better through the First Sound. If you can not hear these in your system, I would go for the Rogue but I sure would want to here the First Sound in the system too.
First Sound Presence and Rogue 99
I would like to know if anyone had the chance of comparing the First Sound Presence Deluxe MKII vs the Rogue 99 preamp. What are the differences in the sound and who was the clear contrast winner. What does the Rogue sound like in general. I have not heard much from reviews comparing it with other preamps, although I have heard much comparison between First Sounds with LAMMs and even the Joule Electras. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Paul
Paul