Rogue Audio RH-5 Tube Hybrid Headphone Amplifier and Preamplifier

Description

MY TAKE - Established in 1996, Rogue Audio has a well-earned reputation for quality and performance. Their products have received rave reviews and awards from the audio press worldwide. We especially appreciate the fact that 100% of their products are proudly crafted right here in the USA.

The Rogue RH-5 delivers outstanding performance. The tube hybrid designs offers the flexibility of changing the tubes to fine tune the sound to personal preference. All Rogue products are designed and built in the USA  - Galen Carol

The Rogue Audio RH-5 headphone amplifier brings Rogue's groundbreaking RP-X technology platform to the personal audio world. The new RH-5 will deftly drive the most demanding headphones with a clarity, richness and tube smoothness that must be heard to be believed. Beyond its remarkable performance and design, the feature rich RH-5 provides a wide variety of connectivity and user selectable listening options. Ultra quiet, powerful and sublimely musical, the RH-5 offers a superb new option for high end headphone users.


Features include three pairs of RCA inputs and one pair of balanced XLR inputs. Headphone outputs are provided via 3 pin and 4 pin fully balanced outputs as well as two 1/4" TSR headphone jacks enabling a shared listening experience. Three gain settings allow the output to be matched for either high, medium or low sensitivity headphones. An easy to read OLED display elegantly communicates component settings and volume. The display can also be turned off if desired. The seven button remote allows you to turn on the RH-5, change volume, select source and mute output as well as dim the display.

The RH-5 is not just a superb headphone amplifier, it can also be used as the cornerstone of your two channel audio system. Offering both balanced and single ended preamplifier outputs, the RH-5 will also do a wonderful job of driving your preferred amplifier and speakers. An optional phono board also allows you to play your favorite records through either the headphones or loudspeakers. The optional onboard MM/MC phono board has user adjustable gain settings of 43 and 55 dB to accommodate most popular cartridges. A wide variety of loading options also means your favorite cartridge can be configured to sound its very best.

REVIEWS:

The Absolute Sound: “1) Because many of today’s best headphones use low sensitivity planar-magnetic drivers, which require an amp with low output impedance and high-power output – and the RH-5 is just such an amplifier – the questionable drive capabilities of most headphone amplifiers might be limiting these headphones’ potential.

“2) Because of its full-bodied sound, selectable gain, and extraordinary ability to drive low-sensitivity headphones, the Rogue Audio RH-5 is an important new high-value product.

“Best of all, my meandering investigations have answered my opening questions in the affirmative:  The Rogue RH-5 was able to resolve subtle difference among components under review.  It will make an effective anchor at the center of my reviewing practice – just as I hoped it would.”  - Herb Reichert

Headphone Guru: "The RH-5 is a testament to Mark O Brien’s creative genius. The amplifier has a fantastic build quality and is designed and built in the Pennsylvania factory. The sound was always musical. The midrange is where most of the RH-5 magic comes to life. Vocal music comes to life on the RH-5 with outstanding clarity and makes the artist realistic. If you’re a fan of vocal performances, the RH-5 delivers big time and the performers always came to life with exceptional transparency and articulation in the delivery of lyrics. Female artist sounded seductive and alluring and kept me focused on their performances.

"Listening to large-scale orchestra recordings was like going on a musical journey. Dynamic passages were exceptionally reproduced with outstanding layering and space. I never felt that anything was missing in the performance and many times it felt as if I was listening in a world-class concert hall. The reproduction of the rooms was especially transparent with excellent decay and musical tonality was spectacular.

"While listening to piano and horns I always felt the R-5 nailed the tone of the instrument and the tonality was always correct. If the recording had thunderous bass the RH-5 was able to reproduce it and never faltered in making bass recordings come to life. The RH-5 bass had texture and slam when necessary and always made the performance believable. Treble extension in large-scale recordings soared and reproduced horns and triangles and bells with musical realism and nailed the tone of the instruments.

"The hybrid design was a good choice by Rogue. The combination of tubes and transistors blended synergistically. Tube magic was evident in the spectacular soundstage the amplifier produced. The speed of transistors helped with extraordinary dynamics that made large-scale performances a revelation. The RH-5 is dead quiet; I heard no noise or distortion. The amplifier just played music and delivered terrific sound. Music lovers who want the best of headphone listening will not be disappointed with Rogue’s RH-5 while listening to headphones.   The dedication of Mark and his team is evident in RH-5. The sound is big and dynamic and offers exceptional value. The fact that it can also be used as a pre-amp is a bonus. The R-5 is a stellar design from a company dedicated to bringing value and incredible sound to the market.   Rogues stellar effort delivers the performance many personal audio enthusiast crave and can serve as a centerpiece in your personal audio system. Highly Recommended." - Frank Iacone

Everything Audio Network: "I had not one single complaint about the RH-5, through the 100 hours or so of listening over several months, it had no problems. No tube noise, and the remote worked perfectly — even when I aimed it off center of the IR receiver on the front face plate. As with the RP1 and RP-5, I love the 30 second countdown as the tubes warm up, The RP-X switching and control engine is a major step up over conventional analog controls, routing and switching, and it gives the Rogue a much higher-end feel and operation precision.

Rogue Audio has  taken the traditional HP amp circuit applied a bit of custom, hybrid circuit magic, and netted a fantastic-sounding, HP listening path that you would not believe is tube; it is that quiet. Couple the great sound with its massive drive capability, full array of connection options and a top-tier line stage (plus an optional phono stage), the RH-5 is all that most HP-focused audiophiles will ever need. I nuzzled up to it, immediately, with my Austria-manufactured AKGs and never looked back. I guess I liked it. Stellar Sound Award? You betcha!" - John Gatzki

FEATURES:

-  3 and 4 pin balanced XLR headphone jacks (fully balanced outputs)
- Two pairs of standard 1/4" headphone jacks
- Two 12AU7 tubes with mosfet buffered outputs
- 3.5 WPC
- Three pairs of RCA inputs
- One set of XLR balanced inputs
- Optional MM/MC phono board!
- Three gain levels for matching headphone sensitivity
- XLR balanced and single ended (RCA) preamp outputs
- Full feature remote control included
- Easy to read OLED display with on/off
- 15.25"W x 15"D x 4.5"H 17 lbs