2. amps-preamps
  3. 160678-122222

Need more slam! Help!

Hi all,

For the most part I am very happy with my current system. I’m still pretty new at the hobby, been about 3 years or so but in that time I feel that I’ve been able to cobble together a pretty nice system.
I currently have a vpi prime scout with an ortofon 2m black cartridge running to a musical surroundings phonomena to a rogue rp1 preamp, to rogue st90 amp and concluding with vandersteen model 3 signatures. Audioquest diamond back interconnects and kimbercable speaker wire.

First, here’s what I love about my setup - huge soundstage, really open and three dimensional. And this is probably what I find most exciting in home audio reproduction, I love feeling as if I’m looking at the stage from the third row and can pick out where everyone is, truly magic to have that feeling from the living room couch. I am pleased with the speed and accuracy of my system, it feels very articulate and controlled.
Now for what I’m yearning for, basically just more omph. I want a lot more snap on a snare hit, I want to feel the music more in a physical sense. I guess you could describe this as a more “live” sound but that’s not exactly what I mean. I really just want some more slam. Where should I be targeting, thinking power amp? Thanks in advance!
128x128sammyshaps

Showing 3 responses by avanti1960

avanti1960
1,411 posts
 
sammy, 
i have been in your situation with similar rogue audio amplification.
there are a few things working against you at the moment.
1, your vandersteen speakers have a flat, neutral response while most speakers do have a bass peak in the bass and midbass area.  
adding more power will not add more slam.  
2, the rogue rp1 has only 3db of gain.  i had the rogue rh5 which had adjustable gain, 3db, 12db and 16db.  the 3db setting was very soft and flat, lacking dynamics.  the 12db setting was awesome!
i highly recommend a preamp with more gain at some point. 
however there are some measures you can take.
a, put some brimar 12au7 in the rp1.  i added them to the rh5 and bass slam was improved noticeably, again altering the flatness in your speakers response.  upscale audio has good deals.  
b, a rel subwoofer.  i have 2 rel t9i in my system. they are musical, seamless and easy to integrate and provide a good amount of heft. 
they will not step on that famous rogue image and will add to the already spacious rogue sound stage.  
fyi even with the rogue stereo 100 and parasound a21+, the rogue rh5 linestage sounded lifeless at 3db gain.  that is your main issue.  
peace and good luck!
avanti1960
1,411 posts
 
as a follow-up the rogue stereo 90 is a decently dynamic, powerful tube amp, as is the stereo 100.  
making the change to a 200 WPC power amp (for example) will not yield much more slam and you will lose the charm and refinement that comes from a tube power amp.  
add "slam" through your preamp, preamp tubes and subwoofer.  
the REL subs are the only ones I have tried that do not blur the clarity of the midrange.  
avanti1960
1,411 posts
 
@ditusa 
@sammyshapsThe earliest versions of the Rogue RP-1 had low gain and users were complaining about the anemic sound.  Later versions were in fact updated to 7db of gain.   Either way they do not sound dynamic or powerful.  

my linestage was the RH-5 headphone amp / linestage, not the RP-5.  
The RH-5 has adjustable gain of 3db, 12db and 16db. 
AT the 12db setting "slam" was very good.  
http://rogueaudio.com/Products_RH5.htm
More to discover