Has anyone compared Rogue RP-7 to Cary SLP05 and / or Audio Research Ref 5se?

@ghdprentice: Are you referring to the "The Perfect Sound: A Memoir in Stereo" by Garrett Hongo?  It's an excellent book.

I agree with russ69 that the Cary SLP-98 is a great preamp.  I used one for a little over 15 years.  I recently replaced it with a Cary SLP-05.  As much as I love that SLP-98p, the SLP-05 is in another league.  I don't really know that I need anything more.

Agree with ghdprentice.  Don't change the tubes yet.  Those stock EH 6SN7s are excellent tubes with the SLP-05.  Once you've determined what you think can be improved then you can make tube changes.

I don’t hear any brightness in my system with the EH 6sn7 tubes but I know others might have a different experience.  I do have a pair of Sylvania grey glass VT-231s I used in my SLP98p.  I’ve also got some RCA and GE 6sn7s I may try eventually.  But for now there’s no need other than to scratch that audiophile itch.

As I recall Garrett had purchased a pre-owned Airtight ATM-2 amp.  He decided to use a pair of Tung Sol 6550’s in place of the Russian KT 88 pair the seller had included.  The 6550’s died on the first power up.  Apparently the problem was that the tubes couldn’t handle the start up voltage of that amp.  Replacing a fried resistor and the tubes solved the issue.