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Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum Integrated Amplifier (TAS 209)

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by Wayne Garcia (/articles/?authors=9) | Dec 16th, 2010 Categories: Integrated amplifiers (/articles/?categories=11) | Products: Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum Integrated Amplifier (/articles/?products=27)

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While it continues to drag on in all but name only, our Great Recession has a good many of us either putting off new audio purchases altogether or setting our upgrade sights at significantly less lofty heights—say from the Big Dipper to the nearest vacant lot?

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Rogue Audio is another company known for producing high-value gear, and in this regard the Cronus integrated amplifier is a magnificent success. The standard Cronus ($1795), which has garnered much praise from consumers as well as critics, is a 55Wpc model based on the EL34 output tube. The $2195 Cronus Magnum reviewed here features a quartet of Electro Harmonix KT90 output tubes and generates a significantly beefier 90Wpc. The “Magnum” tag applies to a few other products in Rogue’s Titan gallery, and reflects a set of upgrades designed to increase transparency, improve dynamics and frequency extension, and provide for a smoother overall presentation. In the Cronus integrated these tweaks include a larger and more sophisticated power supply, the addition of polypropylene bypass capacitors, as well as precision Dale-Vishay resistors “in critical spots,” goldplated tube sockets, upgraded input signal tubes, the KT90s mentioned above, as well as superior binding posts for more solid speaker cable connections. Regarding the latter, though I well realize that adding a third post for a 4-ohm load would add a bit to the unit’s cost, be prepared—should your speakers be rated at that load, as are my Magnepan 1.7s—to roll up your sleeves for a bit of minor mechanical work. For most us, even those who may not rank among the mechanically inclined, removing the amplifier’s outer case and loosening a nut in order to switch out a few wires is no big deal. But here I must criticize the owner’s manual, which calls for the use of a 5/16” open-ended wrench for the job (adjustable “crescent” wrenches are too thick for the operation). Not having one in my kit, I drove to the local hardware store (thankfully only a few miles away) to purchase one. Arriving home, guess what? It didn’t fit the nut. Adjusting my crescent wrench as best I could in an attempt to “gauge” the proper size, I returned to the hardware store. Aha, 7/16 should do the trick. Wrong again. Doing my best to keep cool I returned a third time, and, taking no chances, purchased both 3/8 and 12mm, wrenches, which seemed to exhaust my options in the general size range. The 12mm model did the trick. Although I’d wasted a solid hour, felt my blood pressure rise, and spent more money than I should have, I am at least consoled by the newly increased flexibility of my toolkit.

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I was also consoled by the sonic results. The Cronus Magnum is not only a terrific sounding piece, but also one that pairs beautifully with the magnificent Magnepans. As I would hear on a wide range of music, the Cronus strikes a beautiful balance between elegance and power. Its dynamic scaling is very fine—lilting with chamber music, muscular with rock and orchestra. Yet that muscle is sinewy and well defined, bringing a great sense of tunefulness and detail to low-frequency instruments. For instance, on Rhino’s outstanding release of the Grateful Dead’s The Warner Brothers Studio Albums (reviewed in this issue), the Cronus Magnum brought great clarity, instrumental texture, and tonal richness to Phil Lesh’s one-of-akind bass lines. Although the Magnum may not carry the sledgehammer-like weight of a hefty solid-state design—a quality that has its own rewards—I rather like its more elegantly musical low-frequency delivery. This musicality extends across the spectrum, as was nicely demonstrated with Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major— Argerich/Abbado/Berlin Philharmonic [DG Originals CD]. The balance between soloist and orchestra was spot-on, with a lovely lightness and transparency, lively dynamics, swift transients, and a recreation of a soundstage that was a pretty convincing facsimile of, say, orchestra center. The Magnum is also remarkably transparent to the source, allowing listeners to “peer” into a recorded performance in a way that is highly unusual in this price class. Turning to the playful brilliance of H.K. Gruber’s superbly recorded Frankenstein!! was akin to pulling back the curtain on the session. If you don’t have this Chandos CD, which was listed by Jonathan Valin in last issue’s “Guide To Audiophile Demo Discs,” you really should. It has it all. As channeled through this Rogue integrated this delightful cabaret-style piece of mad fun revealed not only the Cronus Magnum’s transparency, but also its excellent sense of focus, recreation of the air surrounding instruments, as well as Gruber’s own singspiel vocal delivery, dramatic dynamic swings, snap of the percussion, and a soundstage that at times extends well beyond the speakers’ boundaries, with nicely layered depth. Along with lacking the ultimate bottom-end heft, the Cronus Magnum can also sound a tad grainy, as you’ll hear with something like Johnny Hartman’s I Just Dropped In To Say Hello [ORG/Impulse 45rpm LP]. That said, the Rogue also brings out the dark-hued, smoky beauty of Hartman’s voice, the throaty brass of Illinois Jacquet’s tenor saxophone, the lilt of Hank Jones’ piano, and the creamy tones of Kenny Burrell’s and Jim Hall’s guitars that draw you so deeply into this terrific recording. At 90Wpc the Cronus Magnum’s medium-power held up notably well with something much heavier, such as Jeff Beck’s “Brush With The Blues,” from the CD Who Else! [Epic]. One of my “go to” discs, this live track has the sort of punch-in-the gut bass and drums sound one hears over most P.A. systems, which also typically lack much detail or subtlety. The Rogue’s balance flipped things a bit, emphasizing whatever intricacies the recording allowed. And the amp maintained an impressive composure during the climatic stretch in which Beck lays waste to his Stratocaster, while the rhythm section urges him on like a two-man lynch mob. The Cronus Magnum also requires its owner to set and (occasionally) re-set output tube bias. Thankfully, the unit comes supplied with the appropriate screwdriver, which even has its own little nesting spot atop the chassis, and setting bias is the proverbial piece-of-cake. I have nothing to add in my praise for this outstanding effort. The high end and music lovers alike can only benefit from such a satisfying design. So satisfying, that when the economy does rebound Cronus Magnum owners may not be tempted to upgrade at all, but simply sit back and enjoy the music through this terrific product.

SPECS & PRICING Power output: 90Wpc Tube complement: 3 x 12AU7, 2 x 12AX7, 4 x KT90 Inputs: Phono, CD, Aux 1, Aux 2 Outputs: Fixed and Variable Dimensions: 14.5” x 7” x 19” Weight: 50 lbs. Price: $2195 ROUGUE AUDIO INC. 3 Marian Lane Brodheadville, PA 18322 (570) 992-9901 (tel:(570) 992-9901) rogueaudio.com (http://rogueaudio.com)

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ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT TW-Acustic Raven One turntable; Tri-Planar Ultimate VII arm; Benz Gullwing and Transfiguration Phoenix movingcoil cartridges; Simaudio CD-1 compact disc player; Artemis Labs PL-1 phonostage; Magnepan MG 1.7 and Electrocompaniet PSB 1 loudspeakers; Tara Labs Zero interconnects, Omega speaker cables, The One power cords, and BP-10B Power Screen; Finite Elemente Spider equipment racks

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Mo 5 years ago

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Spent last night listening to this amp loaned to me by my local hi end shop to audition it in my home for the weekend. The loaner version was fitted with KT-120 instead of KT-90 output tubes, which I think is standard now in the Magnum version in late 2013. After warming up for an hour or so, I began to notice the music had a 3 dimensional quality to it that I have never noticed before, despite being intimately familiar with the music. On several occasions I was startled by little details in the recordings as instruments filled in little passages. As the reviewer noted, it really does make you feel like you're peering into the recording session itself. Brilliant amp. I'm definitely ordering my own copy when the local shope re-opens on Tuesday! Other equipment: Rega RP6 (stock), Sonus Faber Cremora monitors - these are 4-ohm nominal and the Cronus easily drove them with the appropriate transformer tap connected to the speaker output jack. 4△

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J Srnec 5 years ago

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I have owned this amp for 18 months; the Magnum model with the K-120 output tubes. Absolutely love it! It is paired with a Pro-ject 6Perspex turntable and the Sumiko Blue Point Special EVO 3 HO MC cartridge and Totem Hawk loudspeakers. I know it is an overused term, but this set up just sounds like music. I have, after 40 years in the hobby, reached a point with this system where I can just relax and listen in total enjoyment! Back to spinning vinyl...and having fun again, even more than when I got into the hobby in the early 70's. 6△

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Triumph66 6 years ago

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Hi, I'm a little bit late to the party here, but my number one concern about this amp was if it would drive Magnepan MG 1.7s. So this is a perfect article in relation to what I am trying to find out. I just wanted to thank you for a great review! 2△

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Abe 5 years ago

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I've had the Cronus Magnum with KT120 power tubes for almost a couple years now. It continues to impress even among the other amps that I own including a pair of Ampzilla 2000 2nd Edition monoblocks. After moving the internal speaker taps to their 4 Ohm position, the Cronus Magnum did a fine job of driving my Thiel CS2.4 speakers with effortless dynamics.

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I also owned the Rogue Stereo 90 Super Magnum with KT120 tubes with similar power output as the Cronus Magnum. I brought it over to a friend's house and hooked it up to his pair of Magnepan MG1.7's. It was a bit compressed sounding on those speakers compared to the Ampzilla monoblocks. I believe the Magnepans could use more power than the Rogue Stereo 90 or Cronus Magnum can deliver. The Cronus Magnum sounds great on my Thiels as well as my less demanding Tannoy Definition D500 speakers. My current setup is in my office and I'm using a Mac Mini with uncompressed music files driving a Luxman DA-06 DAC to the Cronus Magnum with KT120 power tubes and the Tannoy Definition D500 speakers (91dB / 6 Ohm nom.). 1△

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RayPaganJr

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5 years ago

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Man, I just heard this amp today and I was really impressed. So much so that I will be purchasing this beauty next week after I close on a home I just sold. I will be pairing it with my Von Schweikert VR4JR speakers. I'm going to start to remodel my music room to welcome it home soon. 1△

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Brian

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2 years ago

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Just auditioned the Magnum II version of this with the KT-120 tubes. After a couple of hours, I decided to order. I also auditioned an Ars-Sonum Sinfonia at the time. Both are very capable amps, but in the end, the Cronus just felt more "present" to me. Perhaps it's the KT-120 tubes, as opposed to the EL34's, but the Cronus just had more oomph. Beautiful midrange, but also excellent low and high-end (for my "older" ears). I also like that it has a built-in phono stage and a headphone jack. The ability to try different tubes is also a plus over the Ars-Sonum. I don't think you could go wrong with either; however, the Cronus is the best fit for me. Other equipment used: Rega RP-10 with Merlin TSM monitors (8 ohm). The Cronus really made them sing!

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