Rogue Audio RP-9 Preamp
Rogue Audio recently released the RP-9 preamp, which uses four 6H30P tubes from Russia. Apparently the basic architecture is similar to the RP-7 that contains four 12AU7 tubes, which I enjoyed very much over a year and a half period. In exchanging a couple emails with the firm's founder Mark O'Brien, I decided to do the RP-7 to RP-9 upgrade for $3k. I just got the upgraded unit back today after a 2 week turnaround from the day I dropped off the previous preamp at a UPS store.
Immediate impressions so far is that soundstaging is considerably more 3 dimensional with individual instruments easier to follow as a result. Given it's fresh from the factory with new board and tubes, it's going to take a while to burn in, so it hasn't assumed the full-blooded saturated tone the RP-7 had after that unit had burned in. If the RP-7 was any indication, the RP-9 will take better part of six months to burn in at the rate I listen to my system these days with international travel and family to spend time with. I'll post impressions in a few months once the preamp has settled in.
__________________
Primary System (Always in flux):
Analog Source: Rega RP10
Phono Preamp: Bryston BP2/PS3
Digital Software: Roon, Tidal Streaming
Digital Music Server: Melco N1A/2
Digital Sources: Totaldac d1-twelve SE MkII (factory upgraded from MKI) with "live power" 4 output power supply, Oppo UDP-205
Preamplifier: Rogue Audio RP-9 (factory upgraded from RP-7)
Amplifier: Vandersteen M5-HPA
Speakers: Vandersteen Quatro Wood CT w/IsoAcoustics Gaia 1 feet
Cabling: WW Platinum Starlight 7 digital wires, Totaldac Gigafilter USB filter, AQ Sky XLR, AQ Fire RCA
Speaker Cables: AudioQuest Oak spades ---> bi-wire spades
Power Cables: Esprit PC (for DAC), 2 WW Platinum Electra PC (Preamp/Phono Preamp), AQ NRG10 (Melco N1A/2), AQ Blizzard (Quatro Wood CT built-in subs)
Power Conditioning: 2 AQ Niagara 1000, 3 Oyaide R1 outlets
Sound Treatments: 23 ASC Tube Traps and 10 Panels
|