I tried an Aleph 30 mated to a VTL pre (it's a good impedance match), but I ended up with a simple Rogue 88 amp (I would have gotten a VTL ST-85, but they aren't for sell that often).
Aleph: Clean, well-resolved imaging, but, I hate to admit it, a little "jangly" sounding. Didn't matter what wires I was using, it always sounded hot to me. Also, there isn't that 3-d soundstage.
Rogue: Warm, but not overly "euphonic." Good resolution (with a good $200 power cord), and life-like 3-d soundstage. The winner in my system.
All of this said, I think that it's totally worth it to buy two or three amps used, and try them out. One will probably definitely be The One.
However, as others of already pointed out, you have to go with what's important to you. Neither the Rogue nor the the Aleph is a thunder-bass type of amp. See, I don't listen for "bass extension;" rather, I want to hear, as authentic as possible, the sound of "a bass." That is, I want to hear the wood of an acoustic bass, or, if it's an electric, I want my amp to be realistic enough to reveal whether it's humbucking pick-ups or single coils. If it's a little recessed in the soundscape, that's okay for me.
I'm glad I tried the Aleph. I think everyone ought to ^_^
For me, all tubes just work better, and it really doesn't matter what genre of music I'm playing.
I reckon the thing to do is to enjoy the music, not so much the amp.
Aleph: Clean, well-resolved imaging, but, I hate to admit it, a little "jangly" sounding. Didn't matter what wires I was using, it always sounded hot to me. Also, there isn't that 3-d soundstage.
Rogue: Warm, but not overly "euphonic." Good resolution (with a good $200 power cord), and life-like 3-d soundstage. The winner in my system.
All of this said, I think that it's totally worth it to buy two or three amps used, and try them out. One will probably definitely be The One.
However, as others of already pointed out, you have to go with what's important to you. Neither the Rogue nor the the Aleph is a thunder-bass type of amp. See, I don't listen for "bass extension;" rather, I want to hear, as authentic as possible, the sound of "a bass." That is, I want to hear the wood of an acoustic bass, or, if it's an electric, I want my amp to be realistic enough to reveal whether it's humbucking pick-ups or single coils. If it's a little recessed in the soundscape, that's okay for me.
I'm glad I tried the Aleph. I think everyone ought to ^_^
For me, all tubes just work better, and it really doesn't matter what genre of music I'm playing.
I reckon the thing to do is to enjoy the music, not so much the amp.