preamps - vtl tl5.5/rogue 99/linn kairn

Sedond, I think you should first decide what type of sound and music you like. What you want to get out of this preamp. I truly believe just throwing out a name of a nice preamp to you is not the road to the ultimate system for YOU. I think synergy(which your tastes are a major, and overlooked factor) is the most important aspect of a system. Ultimately deciding success or failure. Do you want to go to a more tube sound? Add some warmth to the wonderfully clear, crystalline, open sound of the Electrocompaniets? Or not? Also, what is your source? And do you plan to upgrade that later, or are you happy with it? I know about the neutrality and soundstage issues, but there is more. Do you play mostly rock, jazz, classical. There are a lot of great products out there. The trick is to merge one to your tastes and equipment. The one recommendation I do have is to BUY USED. A new $2000 preamp would be one of the weaker links in your impressive system. Buying used will allow you to get a preamp that was originally $3500 to > $6000. So when you upgrade later, it will surely be a component other than this preamp. I always buy a component(presuming it fits in to what I am building towards) that is above the others in my system. That way, it should be the last to be replaced. Last in, last out.

David- Give me a break. In your post you had stated that the 99 kills the the AIM3A period. Are you that insecure that you feel the need to make such an extreme statement. From what I have read the 99 is an excellent preamp, I would love to hear one. The 3A is also an excellent preamp (yes I own one) like any thing else I'm sure that depending on everything else you have in your system either one could excel over the other. This constant grand standing is really very High School. I'm glad your happy with your 99, other peoples mileage may differ. Best-Gary

Gmele-read the audio musings review of the 66 vs the a-1.very close over all with the 66 being the most enjoyable.the 99 is much better than the 66 so go figure it out your self.i have heard the a-1 yeah,its ok but way too dark (colored) for my taste.you dont have to resort to insults.i am not "grandstanding" just what I read and heard.sorry if that bothers you.you havent even heard a 99 so what are you talking about anyway.just want to stir things up?

David-I'm not looking to stir anything up here. As far as "grandstanding", don't take that personally, it's more of a reaction to what a lot of people do on this site. At this level of preamp I'm sure that one is better or different than the other but I doubt if it's night and day. I've read the Audio Musings article on the 66 vs AI. In the article it was unclear as to which AI he was listening to, all through the article he keep on referring to the Modulus 3, it wasn't until the end that he mentioned the 3A. There is a big difference between the two. Regardless I'm not looking to win points here or exchange barbs with anyone. From what I've read the 99 seams like an excellent preamp of which I look forward to auditioning. The price is certaily not an issue. All the best-Gary

bob, ya have to push the *record* button on the front of the rogue 99 in order for the record outputs on the back of the unit to work. try this, & it should work for ewe. as my subs are passive, i couldn't run them this way or they'd run full-range, thus the active x-over in my system.

trelja, i agree w/what yure saying, which is why i lost *no* money trying & selling two kairn preamps (one w/latest p/s), the rogue or the cary. i'm *wery* happy w/the melos, & have no intentions of selling it any time soon. comments on wanting to try the vtl 5.5 were more of a rhetorical nature - yust curious as to the sound of this unit. :>) i paid $1800 for my melos music director, spent $200 for additional upgrade caps - not bad considering it retailed for $4600. my musical tastes run the gamut from folk, latin, african, jazz, rock, classical, so i need a system that "does it all"! :>) the melos pre keeps all the clarity of the linn pre & the electrocompaniet amps, while adding that tube warmth, & substantially improving on dynamics and soundstage depth.

regards, doug