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Rogue Audio RP-1 vs. RP-5

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Posted on May 8, 2017 at 08:24:15
JoshT
Audiophile

Posts: 6622
Location: Eastern Massachusetts
Joined: July 4, 2000
 I'm considering getting one of these preamps to insert in my two-in-one (home theater and 2 channel) system. My system profiles are woefully out of date, but I currently use a Krell Foundation as both my TV/HT processor and my 2 channel preamp, with a CJ MF2250 for the front R & L speakers, which are Dynaudio Focus 160s. The Foundation is actually quite a nice preamp, but has a somewhat limited soundstage and I miss the days when I had an excellent tube preamp.

So far, I have auditioned both the RP-1 and RP-5 briefly at Goodwin's High End in Waltham, MA. In their listening room, I must say that the RP-5 is noticeably better to my ears. The RP-1 is quite lovely, but a bit too lush and rolled off. It reminds me somewhat of the old CJ PV14L. The RP-5 is more incisive and detailed while retaining some warmth. It reminds me somewhat of the old CJ Premier 17LS.

BUT . . . I've been tricked by that particular listening room before. It always seems to render equipment I've auditioned more warm and rounded than what I hear at home, so I will likely home audition both preamps in my home system in a week or two. Might as well give the RP-1 another chance at home.

I'm wondering if anyone here has heard both in either the same system or systems they're familiar with. I love the price of the RP-1, and while I gather its headphone amp and phono stage are inferior to the RP-5's, I don't listen much to headphones and I already have a phono preamp (the PS Audio GCPH) that I really like. So, I don't feel the need to pay for those features (or other things like the processor loop). But if the RP-5 sounds as much better than the RP-1 in my home system as it did at Goodwin's, I'll spring for it and will dig deeper in my pockets.
___
"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."

 

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RE: Rogue Audio RP-1 vs. RP-5, posted on May 8, 2017 at 14:04:09
BCR
Audiophile

Posts: 2446
Location: connecticut
Joined: April 7, 2009
 Why do you want a preamp with features you'll never use?

 

"Why do you want a preamp with features you'll never use?", posted on May 8, 2017 at 14:13:45
JoshT
Audiophile

Posts: 6622
Location: Eastern Massachusetts
Joined: July 4, 2000
 That's certainly not a goal of mine, but the only feature I know I would not use is the processor loop. If I like the phono stage enough on one of the Rogues, I could sell the PS Audio GCPH. I do listen to headphones from time to time.

My goal is to find the best possible preamp at a price I can justify, and these two preamps seem to meet those criteria. I wouldn't rule them out, therefore, just because I might not use a feature or two.

Especially given their prices. At $3,500, the RP-5 is less expensive than anything else that I am aware of and interested in, let alone the RP-1 at $1,700.
___
"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."

 

RE: "Why do you want a preamp with features you'll never use?", posted on May 8, 2017 at 14:40:35
BCR
Audiophile

Posts: 2446
Location: connecticut
Joined: April 7, 2009
 If you don't like the Rogue,you should give the new Conarad-Johnson preamps a listen. This place is up in your neck of the woods.

 

Thanks. I LOVE CJ preamps, but . . . , posted on May 8, 2017 at 15:23:09
JoshT
Audiophile

Posts: 6622
Location: Eastern Massachusetts
Joined: July 4, 2000
 I had the Premier 17LS and have still never heard its equal in my system. But it was finicky, particularly in a HT system. Sometimes when I hit the HT button on the remote I got the kind of POP! that you sometimes get if you forget to turn it on before the power amp, and almost every time it "popped" it blew rail fuses on my power amp, an MF2250 (CJ solid state). Even in a 2 channel only system it did that a couple of times when changing sources. Granted this didn't happen very often, but when it did it was infuriating. So, I'm a bit reluctant to go that way again.

If I were to go CJ again, I'd probably go for a used CT5 or older Premier 16LS.

I think I will like the Rogues. I have the Cronus Magnum II in another system and really love it. But I also want to see how easy the PR-1 and PR-5 are to use in an HT system. They appear to be more stable than the CJ stuff from what I've read. And, they are more affordable.

Anyway, I'll keep the group updated with my experience and decision. Thanks!
___
"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."

 

The price difference would pay for some REALLY good tubes..., posted on May 8, 2017 at 15:32:09
MWE
Audiophile

Posts: 2202
Location: Burlington, NC
Joined: June 8, 2000
 for the RP-1, which may well bridge the SQ gap.

Mark in NC
Mark in NC
"The thought that life could be better is woven indelibly into our hearts and our brains" -Paul Simon

 

RE: Rogue Audio RP-1 vs. RP-5, posted on May 8, 2017 at 16:06:50
AudioSoul
Audiophile

Posts: 4594
Location: north central AZ
Joined: July 9, 2005


Why even ask opinions on these two preamps if you are going to audition them in your own system? Don't let others opinions influence you. Let your ears tell you which you like best....

 

Why? Mostly for the fun of the discourse. And then also for the archives I suppose . . ., posted on May 8, 2017 at 16:24:46
JoshT
Audiophile

Posts: 6622
Location: Eastern Massachusetts
Joined: July 4, 2000
 I'm not going to decide until I listen to them in my home system. In fact, I might decide that neither significantly improves on using the Krell Foundation's all analog preamp stage, with the PS Audio GCPH for vinyl. After all, I enjoy the system now.

But I always enjoy discussing gear on these forums, and when I search the archives I think it's helpful to see more, rather than less, user feedback. That's why I pointed out my impressions in the dealer's sound room and how I've noticed it can be misleading.

I'll report back on my findings in the hope that others are interested (even though, like you, I recommend that people audition themselves before buying whenever possible).
___
"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."

 

RE: Thanks. I LOVE CJ preamps, but . . . , posted on May 9, 2017 at 07:23:40
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 Instead of getting a used CAT5 why not buy a new ET3/SE. It has the HT bybpass, remote and to be honest, many of the CJ fans seem to like it a little more.

With those teflon caps, metal foil resistors, stepped attenuator and zero feedback design - Lordy that is one hard design to beat!!!

 

RE: Rogue Audio RP-1 vs. RP-5, posted on May 9, 2017 at 10:27:42
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46295
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 "It reminds me somewhat of the old CJ PV14L." Rolled off AND dynamically challenged as I recall. I owned that CJ for about a year.

I tend to prefer a slight bit of warmth and 'meaty midrange' but not at the expense of rolled-off frequency extremes or less than stellar dynamics. Tough to come by in many tube preamps but a few get it right all around, at least for my taste.

Let us know what you decide on in the Rogue preamp. Good luck!

 

RE: Rogue Audio RP-1 vs. RP-5, posted on May 9, 2017 at 14:58:33
JoshT
Audiophile

Posts: 6622
Location: Eastern Massachusetts
Joined: July 4, 2000
 Yup. I home auditioned the PV14L and loved it for some stuff, but ultimately opted for the Premier 17LS, which was better in all respects and still the state of the art in any system I've owned. The PV14L was a bit noisy too as I recall.

I am hoping to like both the PR-1 and PR-5 in my home system, and it would be great to find the PR-1 as satisfying for what I need as its big brother, but who knows? Will definitely report back on my impressions.

Edit: For clarification, I sold my 17LS years ago. It was too finicky for HT bypass use.
___
"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."

 

RE: Rogue Audio RP-1 vs. RP-5, posted on May 10, 2017 at 08:09:58
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 Hey now it sounds like you're having too much fun doing this!

So you found a dealer that is letting you do home demos? Great

after you're done do post a review of even the stuff you didn't choose. I would like to hear your impressions of each piece.

Good luck and happy listening.

 

Thanks, and will do!, posted on May 10, 2017 at 10:02:45
JoshT
Audiophile

Posts: 6622
Location: Eastern Massachusetts
Joined: July 4, 2000
 This weekend is my wife's birthday, so it won't be until the following weekend at the soonest.

I really like this dealer. They're closed on Sundays and Mondays, so I can audition from Saturday evening through Tuesday morning.
___
"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."

 

RE: Rogue Audio RP-1 vs. RP-5, posted on May 14, 2017 at 11:26:28
stereo5
Audiophile

Posts: 1356
Location: New England
Joined: June 22, 2008
 I have a Rogue RP-5, purchased new from Overture. The RP-5 and the RP-1 both use the same tubes, JJ 12au7 and they are nothing special. I replaced the tubes with Mullard NOS 12au7 and the sound is much better all the way around, better bass and more extended highs. I heard the RP-1 and didn't care for it at all. I really love the RP-5 preamp and it is extremely reliable and totally dead quiet.

The RP-5 phono section is excellent, it works for MM cartridges and also low output MC cartridges and there are many settings that can be changed, like capacitance, gain and impedance. You get that tube sound, but with a tight bass and extended highs. I have had mine for 4 months now and this is one of the few pieces I have bought where I didn't have buyers remorse. Previously I was using an all tuber Audible Illusions Modulus 3B preamp which was no slouch, but the RP-5 is better.


"I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the
most of us...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."


 

What didn't you like about the RP-1? n/t, posted on May 14, 2017 at 12:34:05
classfolkphile
Audiophile

Posts: 533
Location: Florida
Joined: December 17, 2002
 n/t

 

RE: What didn't you like about the RP-1? n/t, posted on May 14, 2017 at 18:30:33
stereo5
Audiophile

Posts: 1356
Location: New England
Joined: June 22, 2008
 It just wasn't to my liking


"I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the
most of us...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."


 

Thanks stereo5, posted on May 14, 2017 at 20:48:47
JoshT
Audiophile

Posts: 6622
Location: Eastern Massachusetts
Joined: July 4, 2000
 I'm hoping to home audition both next weekend. In the dealer's listening room, I found the RB-1 to sound a bit flabby, but wonder if it would likewise benefit from better, or different, tubes.

For the RB-5, are there any tubes you'd recommend over the stock tubes that are more readily available and less expensive than NOS?
___
"If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."

 

RE: Thanks stereo5, posted on May 15, 2017 at 13:15:39
stereo5
Audiophile

Posts: 1356
Location: New England
Joined: June 22, 2008
 The tubes I mentioned were the ones that Rogue recommended to me. I paid 60.00 each from Upscale Audio. Trust me when I say it is a night and day difference.


"I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the
most of us...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."


 

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