Supratek or Rogue?


I will be upgrading my system from a Rogue Cronus Magnum integrated amp to a pair of the Rogue M-180 monoblocks and a separate preamp. My budget for the preamp is about $2500 so the obvious contender is the Rogue 99 line stage. However, I have recently found out about Supratek and their Chardonnay line stage. The Chardonnay is absolutely gorgeous and 6 Moons gave it a rave review a while ago. The company has a tremendous reputation and following among audiophiles as well. One of the biggest cons for me is the fact that Supratek has no dealer support in the US (or anywhere else for that matter), and if something goes wrong, you're pretty much on your own. Also, the wait time is at least 2 months, if not 6. I'd like to hear your opinions on the matter and see what you would do if faced with this dilemma.

The rest of my system: VPI Classic turntable, Lyra Delos cartridge, Camelot Technology Lancelot phono preamp, Silverline Audio SR-17.5 speakers.

Thank you.
actusreus

Showing 2 responses by kgturner

I've owned a Supratek Chardonnay and now own a Dual Cabernet. I've had the Dual Cab for over two years which says a lot considering how much I used to flip gear. I can't speak to the Rogue units, but the Supratek preamps I've owned have been flawless. Mick's partner, Kevin Covi, lives in New York and should be able to offer support though I'm not 100% sure he's still involved. They're all point to point wired so most competent tube tech should be able to make repairs if ever needed. The sound of Supratek is even more beautiful than their looks.
Audioconnection makes a good point about in house synergy between preamps and power amplifiers. However, I've used a Supratek preamp with Supratek mono blocks and while the sound was good, it wasn't anywhere near the level I've achieved with my current Supratek/Yamamoto combination. Just food for thought.