Line stage is superb

Phono stage is a little soft

This review is for the extra cost Magnum version which incorporates several upgrades.

Having read several reviews of this preamp both online and in magazines, I was not certain what to expect from this unit. I had been using the SP9 for more than 13 years and had been satisfied with its performance overall despite its tendency to sound a little bright at times. I intended to search for a reasonably priced all-tube preamplifier to ease the hardness of most compact disks. I felt that the component I could live with would not have to surpass the SP9 in any other aspect, as it has always proven itself to be of reasonably high performance quality. The 66 Magnum fulfills this need and then some.

Soundstaging, inner detail and microdynamics are much better served by the the Rogue. Bandwidth is also wider yet more controlled than that of the SP9 - which sounds slightly compressed in direct comparisons - yet the Rogue seems never to add or detract to the music. It's just doing what it's supposed to do without adding any sonic signature of its own. In fact, the preamp allows the subtle differences between the sound of different tube brands to be noticed quite easily, so if you buy this unit you might want to try something other than the Sylvania 12AU7s that come with it. So far, I've had good luck with Telefunkens and Mullards (I prefer the military version of the Mullard, but these are a bit hard to find).

The preamp's one weakness is its phono stage. By comparison with the SP9, it is not quite as tight in the bass, and is a little too soft in the upper midrange. I have not yet experimented with different brands of tubes, but if I were to do it all over again, I would opt for the line stage version with the remote, and use my existing SP9 for vinyl playback.

In all, though, I find this preamp to be a bargain at its price. You could spend more and get far less performance. Components in my system include:

Rogue Audio Magnum 66 preamp with phono section
Quicksilver Audio MS-190 tube amplifier
Sony SCD-333ES SACD/CD player
Rosinante Evolution Signature speakers
SOTA Star Sapphire turntable/JH Formula 4 arm/Shure cartridge
Velodyne ULD-12 subwoofers.

Similar Products Used:

This unit replaced an Audio Research SP9

Sound quality far beyond its modest investment. Great build quality and killer looks.

None so far.

Like the rest of the Rogue line this preamp gives you so much for your modest investment. I have played with several
homemade preamps and some passive preamps (thats another can of worms to debate over) and can honestly say this is a great preamp for your money. Its got excellent soundstaging, great depth, and gives the music a certain "air" about it. Now that may sound stupid but instruments seem to be well placed, focused and have good presense. The
amp also delivers great detail. That is something that I didnt notice right off the bat because I was to used to some older solid state gear that was harder sounding but had good detail. This preamp has great detail without it being "in your face". It invites you to listen for hours w/o
any fatigue. Coupled with a good power amp (the Rogue 88) and you've got a great system w/o a major investment.

Similar Products Used:

Belles preamp, various homemade tube line stages and a couple of passive preamps

Price, Soundstaging, Harmonic Accuracy, Bass

Remote & Phono stage not available in same unit. Phono stage performs better with MM than with MC.

The Rogue 66 was my first purchase of a tubed component - what a world it opened up!

I always liked tube gear - I'd heard some very fine sounding, very expensive components at various local dealers and friends. But I still believed the old solid state mantra that inexpensive tube gear was bloomy, colored and loose in the lower frequencies. Outstanding tube performance would cost serious $$. Then I auditioned the Rogue.

Wow! I'm now a believer, and I doubt I'll ever be without tubes somewhere in my system again. I couldn't believe how great this modestly priced pre sounded. Hardness I didn't even know was there disappeared. The soundstage was huge - wide and deep. The images were more dimensional, the instruments sounded much more realistic with very natural timbres and - for lack of a better term - juciness. Everything was much smoother, there was plenty of detail and air, and surprise! the bass was extended and firm. Didn't matter whether I played classical or rock, CD or vinyl. The Rogue was happy to support it all.

The Rogue is maybe just a bit warmer than real life, but this can be an asset in many systems. It's possible to tailor the sound to your individual preferences with a tube roll - I found with Amperex Bugleboys I got more of everything I liked before plus an added harmonic richness. Would like to try some other tubes to test the limits of the Rogue.

The Rogue 66 is a true giant killer. It sounded wonderful in my budget system, and it still sounds great in my higher resolution system listed below. I'm currently auditioning some other units for an upgrade (I would love a remote and a polarity switch) but I find I will have to spend mucho dinaro more to significantly better the Rogue.

This piece has earned its Stereophile Class B rating and then some. Not the very best available at any price, but among the very best at its price and above. How does designer Mark O'Brien do it?? Give it a listen.

My system:

Cary 303 CD
Rogue 66 Preamp
Meitner MTR 101 Mk2 Monoblocks
Alon V MkII Speakers
Nordost Quattro Fil ICs
Coincident CST Tri-Wire

Price, Soundstaging, Harmonic Accuracy, Bass

Remote & Phono stage not available in same unit. Phono stage performs better with MM than with MC.

The Rogue 66 was my first purchase of a tubed component - what a world it opened up!

I always liked tube gear - I'd heard some very fine sounding, very expensive components at various local dealers and friends. But I still believed the old solid state mantra that inexpensive tube gear was bloomy, colored and loose in the lower frequencies. Outstanding tube performance would cost serious $$. Then I auditioned the Rogue.

Wow! I'm now a believer, and I doubt I'll ever be without tubes somewhere in my system again. I couldn't believe how great this modestly priced pre sounded. Hardness I didn't even know was there disappeared. The soundstage was huge - wide and deep. The images were more dimensional, the instruments sounded much more realistic with very natural timbres and - for lack of a better term - juciness. Everything was much smoother, there was plenty of detail and air, and surprise! the bass was extended and firm. Didn't matter whether I played classical or rock, CD or vinyl. The Rogue was happy to support it all.

The Rogue is maybe just a bit warmer than real life, but this can be an asset in many systems. It's possible to tailor the sound to your individual preferences with a tube roll - I found with Amperex Bugleboys I got more of everything I liked before plus an added harmonic richness. Would like to try some other tubes to test the limits of the Rogue.

The Rogue 66 is a true giant killer. It sounded wonderful in my budget system, and it still sounds great in my higher resolution system listed below. I'm currently auditioning some other units for an upgrade (I would love a remote and a polarity switch) but I find I will have to spend mucho dinaro more to significantly better the Rogue.

This piece has earned its Stereophile Class B rating and then some. Not the very best available at any price, but among the very best at its price and above. How does designer Mark O'Brien do it?? Give it a listen.

My system:

Cary 303 CD
Rogue 66 Preamp
Meitner MTR 101 Mk2 Monoblocks
Nordost Quattro Fil ICs
Coincident CST Tri-Wire

Great bargin.Dynamics and sounstage.

None

This is truly an amazing product regardless of price.Seperate power supply,Phono stage,all for 1295.00.I dont know how they do it but the sound is warm detailed.Involves you.Soundstage is massive and every thing is well placed.Mids and highs are precise,vocals are clean crisp warm.I cant recomened this preamp enough.Get a used one for about 800.00 you cant go wrong.Put it up against units 3 times the price the difference wont even come close to justifing the increase in cost.I have not upgraded the tubes but have been told that for about 100.00 you can get better sonics that a 1000.00 wont get you.

Similar Products Used:

Audio Reaserch,Mcintosh,Luxman,

Price. Its Tubed. Sound Stage, Detail, and Ambiance.
Outstanding performance at low volume levels.

Not enough gain in 'Phono section' for some mc cartridges even with transformer(I have Denon-very low output. No headphone jack. No volume remote.

Listened to twenty or so pre-amps from chicago to St. Louis and one would find it a great challenge to experience the sound of Quality Tube Reproduction at this price range....Most likely, non-existant! The unit is well built and has pleasant appearance(Purchased with black face plate).

I have coupled with Acurus(A200) ss power amp and the music reproduction is outstanding especially compared to my adcom(w/60 watt amp). More detail, very crisp, ambiant, and very life-like. I am truely hearing instruments in background that I never took notice before. I especially like the sound at low volume levels which, by the way, is a true test of how good your gear is. Can it perform at high volume levels.....You Bet! Without even flexing. Already had my neigbors knocking on my door for its excellent reproduction of bass.

Would like larger volume control like the 99. Needs phone jack...Everyone is avoiding this including cd mfgs. Rediculus to have to buy a seperate headphone amp. Make sure your phono cartridge is high or med. output or its phono section may be less than acceptable....needed to set volume at 1-2 o'clock to get any dynamics. I know its my cartridge characteristics so I am looking into other alternatives.

Bottom line...this pre-amp is outstanding, especially for the bucks. There's better but at an extra $1k to get started.

Rest of Gear: B&W 803 Matrixs
Denon 30l Turntable w/denon 103 cartridge
Denon DCM-420 CD: Upgrading to Rotel 971
Denon Tape-Deck....Rarely use at all.
Sony Mini-disc...repl. Tape-Deck use.
Equinox interconnects
Kimber 8tc speaker cable...most cables
much to cumbersome to work with
considering my set-up.

Similar Products Used:

Previously owned adcom ss pre-amp/tuner. Auditioned CJ Sonagraph, Rotel, BAT, Marsh, VTL, and others