2. amps-preamps
  3. 1068092871

Preamps: Rogue v. VTL v. Blue Circle

OK, I am a bit of all over the map in terms of price, but I am looking for best value, not necessarily within a specific budget. WOuld like to be under $2K though. Buying used.
My candidates are:
Rogue 66 and 99 Magnums
VTL 2.5 and 5.5 (someone told me the VTLs have reliability issues. True?)
Blue Circle 21.1

No phono required. Where would you cast your votes in terms of value? I like a transparent enough, but not too revealing preamp, slight tubey character but not too much, and large soundstage depth and width. Good extension on both ends also a factor.
Help?
kck

Showing 1 response by kck

kck OP
184 posts
 
Thanks for all the input. My concerns with each of the preamps (both questioned and recommended) are:
Rogue 99: way too many on Audiogon. Why? Surely they didn't sell that many new?
BAT VK5i: only balanced. Need SE or adaptors, which raises the effective price and then am I better with something else? (I know, I didn't bring this up in my initial post).
BAT VK3i: baby of the BAT line. Does it compete with, say Rogue 99 (ignore what I said above for a minute). Is it truly a 'dark' sonic character as a reviewer indicated?
VTL 5.5/2.5: dunno what to think about this. There is not a strong consensus of opinion here.

Yes, I want perfection! And I want it cheap! (Just admitting what many of us have thought at times). Any SS candidates out there that qualify: smooth, etc.?
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