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Rouge Audio RP-1

My much beloved Cary Audio SLP-3 preamp is in the shop.  Hopefully it comes back fixed but I am looking at replacements just in case.  The Cary presents a great sound stage and vivid colors and cost just a little over $1K over 15 years ago.

  Not many new tubed preamps in that price range, from what I can tell.  The RP-1 is one of the few.  I don’t care for the Prima Luna house sound, and I’ve owned McIntosh before, but consider them poor value, as I feel they are charging a premium for their face glass and meters.

  I don’t need the phono stage of the RP-1, so not happy about having resources devoted to that.  It also has a headphone amp, which I guess I could use, although I don’t do much headphone listening; so again a dilution of resources , imo.

  Does anyone have any familiarity with this pre amp, and can they compare it with a Cary?

mahler123
mahler123 OP
3,991 posts
 

Thanks for the responses.

The RP-1 sounds like it might be a bit to entry level for me, but the RP-5 gets into McIntosh price range at over 4 K.  If I have to , depending on what happens with the Cary, I might just opt for Mac, since I at least like the house sound.

  The last comment about Dennis Had (sp?) intrigues me

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,832 posts
 

RP-1 is excellent. Throw in a matched pair of Brimar CV4003 from upscale audio and it will compete with much higher priced preamps. The built in phono stage is very nice even though you don’t need it - I wouldn’t worry about it there’s no compromise is RP-1 performance because of it. 
I only have very fond memories of RP-1. 

jbuhl's avatar
jbuhl
1,109 posts
 

RP-7 with upgrades over on USA for ~$2.8K.

I been running an RP-1 with Mullards for years.  Good support from the company. 

avanti1960
1,740 posts
 

@mahler123 

The RP-1 is the best value in ~ $1K preamps.  That said I felt it sounded bland and it did not respond to tube change improvement attempts.

If that is your budget I suggest you wait for a used Rogue Perseus Magnum (excellent) or RH-5 headphone amp / preamp.  

 

soix
11,230 posts
 

Maybe take a look at Quicksilver that’s around $1500 new.  Good luck with the Cary. 

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