Thanks to all have responded so far; I appreciate your time
To paraneer. I have a Rogue Sphinx integrated whose pre-outs i am using.
To 213 running: You asked "Is there something lacking in the sound"?? Well that is always the question for most audiophiles, that is, is what I have good enough?? So you then speculate maybe I should look for something better to bring the system to a new level of sound and enjoyment....but is it worth it??
I can't say there is anything particularly lacking in the sound, However, a wider deeper sound stage, more air around instruments, and therefore more presence, and therefore greater musicality would be great. Some of what I just stated, maybe more speculative, than achievable, or possibly only marginal using a separate pre-amp . For the record, I have considered at least 15 different brands of pre-amp, and at least 5 models within the brands. I need to have a smooth acting remote, and if possible a good phono stage.
The new Rogue RP-1 has both features, but there has been little buzz about its sonic performance on this blog or in the audio press. The BAT VK-200 amp has a combo of XLR and RCA connectors. I would like to take advantage of the supposedly sonic benefits of XLR to XLR interconnects. All I need is a pre-amp XLR input for the amp, and one for my Ayre CD player. The company recommends using the XLR outputs to inputs for the best sound.
It is not necessarily a "no brainer" to go with a used and older BAT pre-amp because usually remote and phono stage are costly options. As good as a product that BAT is, an older BAT pre-amp from 10 -12 years ago may not be equal to the Rogue Sphinx integrated pre-amp. Though, overall, BAT is in a different league than the Rogue. The VK-200 amp clarified and convinced me of that fact.
There is a Coda CP pre-amp that may still be available to me, but it is a boutique product with no reviews, though several members claimed it is a very good pre-amp, and is still current in the Coda It has a remote. phono stage and a mix of XLR and RCA connectors . Thanks
