[rbyar]

Good Evening,

I would like to know your opinions on the Rogue Audio Cronus Integrated 90WPC Magnum Integrated Tube Amp.  Specifically your opinion of the quality of construction(based on their price point of $2,000) and their ability of handle Maggie 1.6QR speakers.

Your thoughts, opinions and experiences would be greatly appreciated.

REB 

[Ericus Rex]

Hi REB,

I've never owned the Cronus.  But a friend of mine lent me his Magnum for a couple of weeks.  I do own two other Rogue pieces (99 and 90).  The build quality of the line is astounding for the price point.  Nothing lightweight or flimsy about it.  Comparable builds are either much more expensive or done in China.  I honestly don't know how they do it for such a reasonable price.

I'll leave the Maggie compatibility question for another AC'er.  I never bottomed it out with my 90.5db speakers but Maggies are a different beast altogether.

[decal]

I heard this combination (the "Magnum" 90 wpc version) at a dealers and it sounded pretty darn good to my ears.You'd really have to listen to the combination yourself to determine if you like it though.The quality of Rogue Audio gear is simply outstanding.I own a Tempset "Magnum" integrated and have no  sound or quality issues.BTW,great customer service also.

[AudioSoul]

    I own the Cronus Magnum and think it is one of the best sounding tube amps out there. (for the price)
    I am using mine with the Stealth Magnum phono pre with excellent results. I have not tried it with the built-in MM phono
    pre. If you cant tell, I like it a lot. I have had a lot of SS and tube amps and preamps come through my door and this is the
    best combo yet.......

[HAITIMAN]

Good Evening,

I would like to know your opinions on the Rogue Audio Cronus Integrated 90WPC Magnum Integrated Tube Amp.  Specifically your opinion of the quality of construction(based on their price point of $2,000) and their ability of handle Maggie 1.6QR speakers.

Your thoughts, opinions and experiences would be greatly appreciated.

REB

I own a Rogue Cronus Magnum matched with a pair of Salk Songtowers. I am extremely pleased with this amp. Build quality? Steel, copper, and glass. Built like a Harley. I have to take a deep breath every time I have to lift and carry it. I have opened it up in order to change out all the small signal tubes for NOS and can attest to the high quality of the guts. There are printed circuit boards as well as some point to point wiring, nevertheless good old fashioned made-in-America stuff. Big sound, not overly "warm", big dynamics, and plenty of headroom. Dead silent in my system.

[davidrs]

REB,

In case you have not seen the review,

it was reviewed in TAS January 2011 by Wayne Garcia - a very positive review.

- David.

[Ericus Rex]

Just found this today.  Right up your alley.

Page 5, 4 threads down:

http://www.ultrahighendforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=199&t=4105&sid=18f233488deabe3daff24ad23f027674&start=60

Modified for correct page...oooops!

[HAITIMAN]

Just found this today.  Right up your alley.

Page 5, 4 threads down:

http://www.ultrahighendforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=199&t=4105&sid=18f233488deabe3daff24ad23f027674&start=60

Modified for correct page...oooops!

Nice find.

[Emil]

Has anyone compared the Tempest to the Cronus?

[Ericus Rex]

Has anyone compared the Tempest to the Cronus?

Sort of.

I have the Stereo 90 in my system and the Tempest III is based on this amp.  I have had a chance to listen the Cronus Magnum in my system against my Stereo 90/99 pre combo.

First off, I must admit that I'm not totally comparing apples to apples.  For one, my Stereo 90 is the upgraded "Super Magnum" version (the Tempest III is available with this upgrade; +$700).  Next, I've only heard it with the 99 preamp.  While the amp sections are similar, the 99 pre is far more advanced than the preamp section in the Tempest III (and nearly 3X the price as seperates).  The preamp sections also do not use the same tube types.

So after all the qualifiers here goes:

I could happily live with the Cronus Mag.  It's a great little amp that does alot right.  Going to my combo I hear:  a greater range of dynamics, blacker background, more air between instruments, stronger and tighter bass, an overall more 'effortless' sound.

I would imagine that the Cronus Mag and the standard Tempest III sound more similar.  But you add the Super Mag upgrade and they are different beasts altogether.  Plus, if you listen to vinyl, the Cronus phono stage is good but not great.  The available tube phono section for the Tempest III sounds very good (it's based on the phono stage in my 99 pre).  But you add up the costs and the Tempest III with phono section and Super Mag upgrade costs $3,700.  It should sound much better at nearly double the price!

[Emil]

Thanks Ericus Rex for responding.

I've seen used Tempest 2 Magnums going for the price of new Cronus Mags. Thats my dilemma at the moment

[Ericus Rex]

I don't know how the Tempests (orig, II and III) compare with each other.  Sorry.

[jmowbray]

Good Evening,

I would like to know your opinions on the Rogue Audio Cronus Integrated 90WPC Magnum Integrated Tube Amp.  Specifically your opinion of the quality of construction(based on their price point of $2,000) and their ability of handle Maggie 1.6QR speakers.

Your thoughts, opinions and experiences would be greatly appreciated.

REB

I auditioned Magnepan 1.6's driven by the Rogue Audio Cronus and ended up purchasing both. I went with the Magnum upgrade which the Maggies liked (providing a bit more punch) and have enjoyed this setup in a fairly large room (23x17x10) with no problems achieving decent SPL's (SWMBO keeps telling me to turn it down - and I'm in the basement).

Great combination, IMO.

Jack