Rogue RP-1 pre-amp. Just another SS pre-amp, or high end caliber??

cedargrover.  Thank you for response. Yes, you are right, it is a tube pre-amp. I appreciate the link you provided which offers the Soundstage review

The Rogue would be hooked up to a BAT VK-200. My major media source is an Ayre CX-7eMP  As of now, it is hooked to the pre-outs of the a Rogue Sphinx integrated amp; and it sounds  good.. 

However, my intuitions  tell me the VK-200 deserves a better front end BUT, at what cost.

I ran a similar earlier thread asking about whether the pre-out of an integrated amp could provide sound quality equal  that of  a separate quality pre-amp. The reviews were mixed, but favored the separate pre. 

I have looked at a variety of pre-amps including several older BAT pre-amps which even used are not inexpensive and  almost always have neither a remote or phono stage. I could always buy an out board  phono box or stage, but a good simple remote  is a given.  BAT offers both at $500 each....far.too much added dough 

BAT VK-200 is a mix of balanced and unbalanced connectors, but I am not convinced if using  a balanced pre-amp will make a major difference in the sound quality of either than amp, or the  Ayre CD player which recommends using  a balanced output to input cable. 

In addition to older BAT pre-amps, I have considered  a Coda CP preamp, and  a used Conrad Johnson 18LS  which comes with remote and received very good reviews. The Coda CP has both remote and phono stage, the CJ has no phono stage and a few HT features I would never use. The Coda is current, and the CJ LS18 was issued in 2004.

Lastly, did you check out the phono stage of RP-1 ?? 

According to Rogue it is superior to the one  in their Sphinx integrated which I think is quite good, but has a low overall output  with some MM cartridges., and MC high out put MC's.     

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Scott, Thank you for the recommendation.  The remote and phono add about $600 to the retail price of $1899.  I have not seen or read any reviews on the pre-amp .

However, I have considered it.  Van Alstine is a great designer, but his add-on like those of  Balanced Audio Technology, (I think ) cripple many potential sales. BAT 's phono  and remote add $1000 to the bottom line 

To mtbrider, Thanks. I just got the AA catalogue, I will check it out

To ggc, Thanks for the heads-up. I did see the ad and communicated with the seller. I believe he is asking $2500, and is somewhat firm on price.  Considering it has both phono and remote, pre-amp appears to be a good deal. It would look a lot better at $2200, or even $2000. 

As I noted before. the BAT VK-200 gets hot. It is located in on a Sanus audio rack that allows for 3-4 inches of airflow and near a sliding window above it that can be opened.  I do have a concern that BAT pre-amp might run "almost" as hot because it uses several tubes. I don't need to two room heatesr in Los Angeles's climate

When I started this project, I limited myself to about $2500 for separates, I probably can net $1000 for my Rogue Sphinx integrated. I changed the 2 stock output tubes to Mullards CV 4003  to cut down the glare and a bit of edge produced by the Rogue  Hypex Class D design  So the my total investment in this piece was about $1550.

 (BTW,  anyone who claims you make money on turning over audio equipment must be somewhat of a dreamer; I have lost more than gained)

 Nevertheless, your comments about the importance of matching frequency response is credible and makes good sense. I want to make sure I can unlock all of the potential of VK-200 amp.

Thanks to all the others who responded so far, your comments are helpful.