Rogue Audio

Rogue has significantly improved the performance of its all-tube integrated amplifier, the Cronus Magnum III ($3295) and completely redesigned and upgraded three other products. These are the Ares II ($2295, and the Ares Magnum II ($2995) phono preamplifiers and the Pharaoh II hybrid integrated amplifier ($3995).

The Cronus Magnum III upgrades involve replacement of critical circuit resistors to premium PRP resistors and critical capacitors to Mundorf EVO aluminum/oil capacitors. The power supply has also been improved with polypropylene bypass capacitors.

The Ares II and Ares Magnum II have been completely revamped with an all-new main circuit board that lowers the noise floor significantly. They have also added a mono switch for those who love listening to vintage monophonic pressings. The Magnum version, of course, still maintains the same upgrades over the standard Ares version. These include Cardas wiring and RCA jacks, a superior step up transformer for very low output moving coil cartridges, and upgraded PRP resistors and Mundorf Supreme capacitors.

The Pharaoh has been completely redesigned from the ground up. There are a new, upgraded phono preamplifier, a hybrid tube/MOSFET headphone preamplifier, and a new line stage redesigned for better performance. Also the power section now uses the same Hypex Ncore modules first introduced in the DragoN power amplifier.

All in all, these improvements are well worth the small price increases of the new models.