Rogue RP-1 Stereo Tube Preamp $1800
(3.2h, 15.25w, 14.5d, 17 lbs, Black or Silver)
Rogue Audio of Pennsylvania has made warm sounding tube electronics since 1996. Founder Mark O’Brien has especially been known for offering affordable gear- to go along with some big guns too.
Imagine that- cost effective, fine sounding gear made in the USA. This could be the “secret” to Rogue’s success!
RP-1 is Rogue’s entry level preamp. RP-1 is a great choice if you want to impart some tube flavor into your system for less than crazy money. RP-1 has that lush sound with great depth of field that tube lovers want.
I, for one, think RP-1 with a GREAT power amp like NAD’s C-298, is about as good a value as you can get in high end audio.
RP-1 is built on the same RPX platform as its bigger brothers, that run $3500, $5000 and $7500. RP-1 has most of the sonic attributes of its bigger brothers- sans a few features.
Inputs:
- Phono (MM&MC)
- 4 High Level Inputs (RCAs)
- HT Pass Through
Outputs:
Two sets RCAs
One Variable (Connect two amps, or perhaps an amp and a powered sub)
One FIXED
- Dedicated high end, discrete headphone amp with 1/4” jack
Also:
- RP-1 comes with a remote (not every preamp does)
- RP-1 uses a high quality toroidal transformer to be quiet.
- RP-1 uses gold plated jacks
- RP-1 uses two AU-12 low noise tubes
- RP-1 operates with slow turn on to avoid belching into the power amp
- RP-1 has a detachable power cord in case the upgrade bug bites
- RP-1’s face plate is high quality machined aluminum
- RP-1 has an easy to read OLED display
- RP-1’s display can be turned off if you like
Balance Control
RP-1 also has a precise tracking BALANCE CONTROL. Mark knows that not all audiophiles can sit dead center between the speakers. It’s her house too. Hence RP-1 has a balance control on its face that you can use manually, AND it has channel balance adjustments on the remote.
