Pre Amp Question. Old or New?

By far the bedt quality performance built 

Is Linear Tube Audio now New Version 3 

Not 1 company even at $10k+ have all brand name 

Premium parts throughout, and yes absoletely it matters 

Its under the hood that counts most

I have 40 years into Audio and go to many Audio get togethers 

Compare yourself  David Berning, Mark

And enginners put a Lot of time and testing into 

Thier latest effort, and s 3year transferrable warranty

And 30 day return policy , no one else does that !!

Personally I’d take either this LTA MZ3 or Backert Rhumba 1.3 over the RP-5 just for a couple alternatives and suspect either would perform more inline with the RP-7.  Best of luck. 

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650198006-linear-tube-audio-mz3/

https://tmraudio.com/components/preamplifiers/backert-labs-rhumba-1-3-stereo-tube-preamplifier-1/

Different models than you are asking about, but I had a Rogue RP-1 into a Rogue Stereo 100.  I then bought an ARC LS7 preamp.  I thought it sounded much better, more detailed than the RP-1.  My experience is similar to what the AI answer from @ghdprentice  was above.  Then I bought a LTA Microzotl preamp (level 2), which was a large upgrade from either of the other two preamps.  Much bigger soundstage, detailed, beautiful.  I have had the LTA for 2+ years and think I will keep it forever, though I may upgrade it to the new level 3.

OP it seems that a few of the replies read as adds for one product or another. 

Read carefully....

To OP, just be aware that member “Ghdprentice“ is a huge ARC fan so his comments mostly lean towards that brand.  I owned version 1 of the Rogue RP5 preamp and found it quite neutral which wasn’t what I wanted.  I wanted the rich tube sound which I did not get.  Changing the tubes to ones recommended by Uncle Kevin at Upscale helped out.  Rogue matched with Rogue is the way to go IMHO