The Rogue gear I've heard certainly was smooth--a bit too smooth for my liking in that it obscured enough detail that it detracted from the music. I also had a chance to audition the McCormack RLD-1 which is a solid state unit but does sound a bit on the warmer side without sacrificing as much detail as the Rogue. The soundstage was voluminous and tonality of instruments and vocals were totally fleshed out and full. It also has the home theater loop, and you won't have to mess with any tubes if that's any concern. I'd highly recommend you give this unit a listen as it sounds like it offers everything you're looking for in a preamp. It's also reasonably priced for the performance at around $1700. Best of luck.
Tim
Tim