[sonicxtc]

Hi,
Anyone familiar with the Rogue 99 pre-amp? It uses four 6s7n tubes.
I was offered a partial trade for some gear I am selling. The gentleman has a Rogue 99 with extensive modifications by Bob Backert at RHB. Bob has a good rep from what I've read. I am unfamiliar with the Rogue 99. And, with the mods it will be a "different animal."
My current pre-amp is an Eastern Electric minimax (the upgraded/modded version EE released starting around 2009.). It has a GREAT rep and I like it.

Anyone familiar with the Rogue 99? With Backert's mods? Anyone ever compare it with the EE pre?

ANY input would be welcome.

THANK YOU.

While I'm not currently listening to much vinyl, this Rogue 99 has the optional phono board. IF anyone is familiar with its quality, that would be good info. too.

BTW, the mods include a custom circuit board, power supply upgrades, cap upgrades and NOS Aero tubes.

Thanks.

[Ericus Rex]

It sounds like it's not really a Rogue 99 anymore.  I doubt comparisons with a stock unit would do you much good.  Can you hear it before committing?

FWIW, I have a stock 99 which I like very much.  I think the 6SN7 is a sweet sounding tube.

[sonicxtc]

Thank you Ericus Rex,

No, I can't really hear it in advance. Based on what I've read this should be an improvement over the stock 99; probably quieter and more linear. And, I read the 6sn7 is a great linear tube. Thank you for confirming you like the sound signature of the tube. I'm "figuring" if the stock 99 is a solid unit and = or better than an Eastern Electric than it's probably worth a shot.
Thanks.

[Ericus Rex]

Sonicxtc PM'd me about my stock 99 so I cut-and-pasted his question at the bottom along with my answers, FWIW...


I've owned several pre's, most were based on the 6DJ8; Melos 211, Counterpoint SA5.1, Antique Sound Labs something-or-another, Music Reference RM-5 to name the most recent ones.  These have fed at least 1/2 dozen different amps over the past 4-5 years.  The things I like about the 99 compared to all of these are;  blacker background, more 'air' between instruments, fuller bass and the most satisfying thing is that vocals (mainly female vocals) now are prominently in front in the mix where they should be.  All my 6DJ8 pres had the vocalists slightly behind (or at least well into) the band.  I now guess that's the quality of the tube since it happened with every single pre I tried, regardless of amp or speaker.

I bought mine new 2 years ago and have had zero issues with it.

I have Tungsol 6SN7s (NOT the reissues) and Psvane 12AX7s in mine.

I haven't heard many tubed phono pres.  What I had before was a Ray Samuels Nighthawk (well reviewed SS unit).  I liked the 99 phono section enough to sell the Nighthawk and not miss it.  Considering I liked the $600 Rogue better than the $800 Nighthawk I guess it's considered pretty good but I haven't heard many other sub $1k phono sections out there.

I think used stock 99's with phono are around $1,500.

I like the Rogue stuff quite a bit (also have a Stereo 90 amp), but there are lots of people who think it's just 'Meh.'


Here's his PM:

Thanks for your comment re: my post.
Please tell me....
To what pre-amps have you compared your Rogue 99. About how old is it? Any reliability issues?
What brand of tubes do you use?
Is the phono section considered very good?

I agree with your comment. The Rogue I'm considering is not going to sound like a stock 99, but based on Backert's track record it should be more linear and quieter, so if stock is great, I'll take my chances.

BTW, do you know the "market rate" for stock unit?

Thanks for all your feedback. This is a great forum.

[twitch54]

I like the Rogue stuff quite a bit (also have a Stereo 90 amp), but there are lots of people who think it's just 'Meh.'

I agree with you, I'm about to pull the trigger on my M-150 mono-blocks and have them upgraded to 'M-180' status, after listening to the 180's and an ARC Ref150 I firmly believe the Rogues are THE bargin in KT-120 amplification !

Besides, Mark Obrien and his staff are local......and their American !

[Ericus Rex]

I briefy heard a Cronus Mag with the new KT120s not too long ago.  I have quite a bit of experience with the Cronus with KT90s and must say the 120 was a significant upgrade in performance.  That sure is one great tube!!!

[ltr317]

I just received the red carpet treatment earlier this week from Mark O'Brien.  Not only was I given a factory tour but he also invited me to listen to his home reference system afterward.  I posted my impressions on AA earlier, so I copied my post for here:

I just got back from meeting with Mark O'Brien. He invited me to tour the Rogue factory several months ago, but I wasn't able to do so until today. It was a real treat to hear Mark speak about the process of making one of his components. Each section of the factory is designated for a specific function on a makeshift assembly line. There are hundreds of parts bins, each labelled for no fault assembly. I saw a component that was partially assembled and Mark lifted the top circuit board to show all the point-to-point wiring underneath. I watched one of his employees soldered several caps and resistors for a few minutes and she barely made a dent. Mark said it takes several hours just to solder a circuit board, and a few more hours to complete the wiring, transformer assembly, connectors, silk screening, etc. Almost everything is done by hand, so no robots are allowed at the Rogue factory! Rogue product owners can rest assured of the quality and value you get from buying one of his components.

As a special treat, Mark invited me to his home after the tour to hear his reference system. The system is anchored by his top level Hera II preamp and Apollo Monoblock amps, coupled with Wilson Sashas, Meridian CDP and JPS cables, the sound was exquisite. Definitely the best system I've heard in quite a while. Music was effortless, dynamic, tonally rich and utterly transparent without any brightness. It was not my intention to ask for a review loaner before the tour, but after hearing his system, I couldn't resist. Lol.

Paul

The review loaner will be the Ninety Nine preamp. 

[SlushPuppy]

I just received the red carpet treatment earlier this week from Mark O'Brien.  Not only was I given a factory tour but he also invited me to listen to his home reference system afterward.  I posted my impressions on AA earlier, so I copied my post for here:

I just got back from meeting with Mark O'Brien. He invited me to tour the Rogue factory several months ago, but I wasn't able to do so until today. It was a real treat to hear Mark speak about the process of making one of his components. Each section of the factory is designated for a specific function on a makeshift assembly line. There are hundreds of parts bins, each labelled for no fault assembly. I saw a component that was partially assembled and Mark lifted the top circuit board to show all the point-to-point wiring underneath. I watched one of his employees soldered several caps and resistors for a few minutes and she barely made a dent. Mark said it takes several hours just to solder a circuit board, and a few more hours to complete the wiring, transformer assembly, connectors, silk screening, etc. Almost everything is done by hand, so no robots are allowed at the Rogue factory! Rogue product owners can rest assured of the quality and value you get from buying one of his components.

As a special treat, Mark invited me to his home after the tour to hear his reference system. The system is anchored by his top level Hera II preamp and Apollo Monoblock amps, coupled with Wilson Sashas, Meridian CDP and JPS cables, the sound was exquisite. Definitely the best system I've heard in quite a while. Music was effortless, dynamic, tonally rich and utterly transparent without any brightness. It was not my intention to ask for a review loaner before the tour, but after hearing his system, I couldn't resist. Lol.

Paul

The review loaner will be the Ninety Nine preamp.

That's awesome Paul! Wish I'd been there. I've had my eye on Rogue for a number of years, but the stars haven't aligned yet. If all goes well I'll have the Cronus Magnum with the new KT120 upgrade by Christmas. Should work well with my Maggie 1.7's. Gotta slow down on my CD purchases for a while if I'm going to make a Christmas deadline though 


Looking forward to your review of the Ninety Nine 

[ltr317]

That's awesome Paul! Wish I'd been there. I've had my eye on Rogue for a number of years, but the stars haven't aligned yet. If all goes well I'll have the Cronus Magnum with the new KT120 upgrade by Christmas. Should work well with my Maggie 1.7's. Gotta slow down on my CD purchases for a while if I'm going to make a Christmas deadline though 


Looking forward to your review of the Ninety Nine 

Dave - I forbid you to open Amazon for the next six months!   

[SlushPuppy]

Dave - I forbid you to open Amazon for the next six months!   

 

[sonicxtc]

I thank everyone for their feedback and Ericus for the PMs, too.

My gut tells me the Rogue 99 is a bit of a sleeper and with the mods it's probably quite an impressive unit. Time will tell. IF this all comes together, I will post my impressions of the modded Rogue.

[Ottawa HiFi]

I own a Rogue 99 Magnum.  Bought it second hand from a person in Montréal.  I think these are a great buy on the second hand market.  It replaces a Perseus Magnum preamp that I previously had.

The 99 was fitted with Tung Sol 6SN7 when I got it.  Amazing bass detail, but it sounded slow and dark.

The preamp was very quiet and yielded great detail, but I wanted more from it.  I contacted Mark O'Brien from Rogue and he suggested I try a quad set of NOS Sylvanias small bottle  6SN7.  I went for it.  Patiently waiting for them to arrive (they were tested in house and matched up - a nice touch).

In the meantime, I acquired a quad set of EH Gold 6SN7 from the tube store.  Yes, I've been tube rolling ever since.

Yes, the NOS sylvanias sound great.  The 99 is now extended into the highs; it's balanced and works flawlessly.  It's the best Pre to date in my system.

The EH Golds are fine tubes in themselves, and to tell you the truth, it's really hard to discern the differences with the NOS Sylvanias (It's not that easy to A-B tube preamps).

The Tung Sols (new version), are just a bass detail monster...but a the expense of the highs (in the 99).  So it's not for everyone's taste.

Now that it's running great, I will spring for a silver front panel that Rogue can supply me.  I do find Rogue easy to deal with and their prices are very reasonable, no matter what
you buy from them, be it tubes, modifications to existing units, or accessories like the front panel of my Rogue 99.

That all said: I would be curious to get my hands on an Athena preamp someday and have a taste of that 6H30 tube set.

[Ericus Rex]

I've tried a bunch of 6SN7s in my 99 and what I settled on were NOS Tung Sols from the 50s (I think).  By far the most well rounded 6SN7 in my tube box.