Preamp Choice: Rogue 99 Magnum vs. BAT VK30

Peter s

My friend Brian emailed you and told some of the things you mentioned to him.

I went from the stock tubes in my Rogue 99 Magnum, which I do not even know what they are because it does not say, but have been told they are either GE or Russian NOS. Anyway I bought some of the cheaper RCA NOS tubes from Andy at Vintage Tube Services, I asked him for a tube that was not too expensive but musical, with lighter bass response and the RCA is what he sent. He told me they were not the best RCA NOS but still good. I agree with him, compared to the original tubes the RCA has less bass and is more midrange oriented with a more open and detailed presentation. They might be slightly bright for my taste but then again I have Maggie 1.6s which can be agressive if everything is not just right.

I am sure within the next few weeks we will compare preamps (as Brian has the VK 30) and report back.

I hope this helps

Phil

Peters

In a very rough guess I would say my listening impressions are the same as yours. Yesterday I listened to my friends BAT VK30 and VK200 combo on his B&W N803 speakers It seemed very nice, more liquid and laid back than my Rogue Magnum99 and Plinius SA100 MKIII that we had heard on the same system about 6 weeks ago. I would agree my stuff was more detailed and forward also the bass was punchier.

Again this is a preliminary impression of only a few hours listening and weeks of time between actually hearing the first system.

cheers

Phil

KeithR

Do have much experience comparing the SLP 98 to the Rogue 99 Magnum? What other differences did you hear? I had a chance to buy a 98 at a very good price but could not bring it home to audition and could not find much info on it :( so I went with the Rogue which has served me well.

It is a beauty I agree.

thanks

Phil

peter s

I finally heard the BAT VK30 on my system, I have not had the Rogue 99 Magnum for about 5 weeks but keeping that in mind this is what I heard.

On the plus side the BAT has a quality that is hard to put your finger on but it indeed is nice and musical, the sort of thing that makes you listen to the instruments and forget about the stereo. Also the BAT never sounded bright in the least (but was a little dull for my tastes).

Even though it has a better tone than the Rogue I still prefer the 99 as it is quite a bit more detailed, dynamic and defined and also has a bigger soundstage (one downside for me though with the Rogue was it sometimes 'glared' in the high end, I am convinced that this is my less than ideal room size can not handle the Rogues 'big' dynamics)but the real clincher for me is the bass where the Rogue trounces the BAT (which was meek and ill defined). I really missed the low end definition where you know exactly what is going on down there in the BAT, also the BAT sounded 'murky' in comparison.

Bottom line: I can see where the midrange and high end might be a draw between these 2 depending on musical taste or systems but (in my system) there was no comparison in the bass, where the Rogue is amazing (like one of the mags said, a Gila monster wrestling the woofer to the ground)