Primaluna and Rogue


Hey all, I've done a lot of reading on the Rogue Audio and Primaluna gear. I Like what I've read, and I actually heard the m150's a while back and came away impressed. I have not personally listened to any Primaluna gear.

Do any of you have thoughts either way? I'm looking at Prologue 6 & 7, vs. Rouges m120 and M150. A lot will have to do with what becomes available on Audiogon, but I am prepared to purchase Prologue 6 new if necessary. Thanks
hawk28

Showing 4 responses by learsfool

Tpreaves is correct - these are two very different sounding products. The Rogue amps are the more modern type of tube amp design, much higher powered, much brighter, more solid-state-like sound. The PrimaLuna amps have a much smoother, warmer, more life-like sound, and they throw a bigger soundstage and image better. They are also better built, in many people's opinion. Art Dudley just reviewed the Dialogue monoblocks in the latest Stereophile, FYI. I went with the Dialogue 2 integrated myself. By the way, if you do the Prologue 7 as opposed to the 6, you will have much more flexibility for tube-rolling. I really like the Adaptive Auto-Bias feature of the PrimaLuna amps, as well. I have been very satisfied with my choice.
If you don't think they sound bright, fine! I meant in comparison to the PrimaLuna's, and actually in comparison to all other tube amps I have heard. I have heard them over the exact same set of speakers, wire, etc. as the PrimaLuna's, and everyone present agreed that the Rogue's had a much brighter, harder sound. I am not saying this was a bad sound at all, by the way, just different, and not what I personally cared for. The PrimaLuna's certainly sound more life-like and throw a much bigger soundstage, IMO, if that is important to you, and I have never heard of anyone having a problem with them, whereas I know a few people who have had problems with their Rogue amps. Just sharing my own experiences, YMMV.
Sogood, I did not hear the Rogue on my Klipsch speakers, I heard them through a pair of ProAc Studio 140's, through which I have also heard my amp. The Rogue's have much more power than I need to drive my Cornwall 2's, for sure (so do the PrimaLuna's for that matter), but then, I can drive them with almost anything I want, that's not really an issue for me. And either amp should drive all of the speakers Hawk is considering just fine. I haven't heard the Focals or the Alon, but the Sonus Faber's are very nice. Personally, I would make the speaker choice first, though - the speaker will have the greatest effect on the sound of your system. If you don't like the sound of them, it doesn't matter what you drive them with, really. Doing it the other way around is putting the cart before the horse, IMO.
No, Don, the Rogue would probably not sound bright in comparison to the NAD. Those NAD's are not bad little amps, my brother has one of their integrateds.