Rogue Audio Cronus "Dark" Integrated Amplifier Review | AJ Reports...

[@gabriellegiovanni7899]

A reviewer that loves music. What a idea! I have a Rogue Tempest II Super Magnum (75 lbs.) It has kt90s and no limits to the bass or treble like you can get with kt88s. LOVE IT!

[@davidhaase3179]

I have this amp and this review is spot on. I absolutely love it. Everything sounds smooth and engaging. I've never been a huge fan of Willie Nelson, but listening to You Are Always On My Mind just blew me away, in addition to anything by Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Neil Young at Carnegie or Massey Hall, the Stones, the Dead, Jascha Heifetz, you name it. I can and do listen to this amp and my Joseph Audio speakers for hours on end. I added a Perlisten D15s sub, and the whole combination blows me away. Glad to see such a favorable review of this amp. Rogue has earned more attention.

[@paulwisconsin456]

Nice review, thank you

[@robertanderson7049]

Much better amp than a Black Ice Audio amp. The Sphinx is also good.

[@saint6563]

Always been a Rouge fan. Glad to see them getting recognized, again, by a leading HiFi publication.

[@smaarch1]

I own a CM1. Excellent amp and company. Thanks for the review

[@timball4892]

Having owned/own 8 Rogue products I can attest they are awesome. I also know that their sound can be impacted but the load presented and you really should list the speakers that you used. It gives us all an additional reference point

[@jacobpaternostro9109]

I own the Pharaoh II. Do you know how the CMIII compares?

[@LorenzoNW]

If you're using a stock power cord, upgrade it (i.e. Audience forte f3 or f5) to dramatically improve the bass. And a good power conditioner (i.e. Audience or Puritan) along with an IsoTek Full System Enhancer CD and/or Furutech DeStat III to lift that veil.

[@mikekatsaros1829]

Ihave one and it sounds excellent

[@plaubelmakina8916]

For the full effect, use with a good set of horn speakers.

[@scottroberts4551]

I had my unit upgraded to the Dark version - love it. I've got a Gustard R26 (ladder) DAC, BlueSound Noded w/LPS, Magnepan LRS+ speakers - amazing with jazz. What equipment was used in your review???

[@TimGales-f4w]

What did they charge you for the upgrade?? What do you notice as differences after the fact?

[@DaveSchulze]

Look at pairing Magnepan 0.7 with my Cronus Dark. Plenty of bass? Punch?

[@scottroberts4551]

@@DaveSchulze The LRS+ has ok bass for what it is but I recently added a Rythmik sub.

[@scottroberts4551]

@@TimGales-f4w it was about $1395+shipping. Sounds more powerful and smoother.

[@DaveSchulze]

@@scottroberts4551 I have a single REL that I used w my MMG so I should be good w the 0.7. Just wondered how the tube amp would do w the planar for “thump”.

[@Fedgery007]

Great review.

[@adrianalexander2651]

Aaron - nice review.

[@DrNoahBoddy004]

I’ll need to find out from VTL, just how much they paid in the development of Microprocessor Controlled Auto-Bias Monitoring. And while I really like Rogue, I don’t relish handling a chore that dicey.

[@jamesrobinson9176]

Had the cmiii for a while now. It's been played for at least 2000 hours, flawlessly, had to give a tiny tweak to 1 tubes buas. It makes great music. Styx paradise theater never sounded so good. Wiim pro+>rogue cmiii>goldenear triton one.R.

[@sdavidfreud]

What DAC and Phono Pre-Amp do you recommend for the Rogue Audio Cronus "Dark" Integrated Amplifier? I want to link it to my two sound sources - my iMac and my turntable. Thanks.

[@inlikeflynt56]

Love my CMIII Dark.

[@ericelmore887]

Are you using KT 120 ‘s or 88’s? Is it a noticeable bump in refinement from the original CM3?

[@adsph]

Nice take here. Thank you.

[@russm535il]

I have owned one for years and it is fantastic. I wrote Rogue w several after purchase questions - they followed up immediately with great advice. Mark the owner even took the time to contact me. It’s great to deal with a company like this great tech nice people high-quality products handmade in America 😊

[@TimGales-f4w]

The dark edition he reviews here just came out mid way through 2024.

[@condoruite]

im either going to upgrade my cronus magnum 1 into a cronus dark, for about $2500. Or i sell it and get the atlas dark and the rp1 preamp. which would be closer to $6000 minus whatever i can get for the CM1. Any thoughts from anyone? i believe the rp1 is dual mono so that would probably allow better air around instruments...?

[@lakeoffrost4069]

I have the cmiii.... wondering how much of an upgrade it is from cmii to the dark version

[@YouSoundButtHurt]

I think it's about $1500.

[@alangraham642]

I have 3 that I had the factory upgrade to the dark, more than worth the effort!!!!!! There's even a bigger difference going from the 2 to the mk3 contact Rogue and talk to them... their customer service is top knoch....YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED. I'd easily do it again

[@erniel3034]

@@alangraham642 Glad to hear, as I'm considering upgrading my Atlas Magnum 1 to Dark, for $2K. Hoping it widens the soundstage. Is that an area, where you heard some improvement?

[@glenncurry3041]

Not "faster". Solid state devices have always been the lower bandwidth devices. RF stages in transmitters were tube based well past solid state taking over audio. The proof tubes are still the high frequency ruler is in every microwave oven. They all still use a tube to get that high frequency high power needed.

[@gino3286]

Very nice amp with a strange layout of transformers Why not make it symmetrical with the power transformer in the middle ? and the two channels completely identical Even better a separate power transformer

[@nigeltoh9945]

Reading off a prepared write-up is tolerable, but playing music in the background is irritating.

[@Simplyveej]

Never thought I’d hear Tchaikovsky and Beyoncé in the same sentence. The latter does not belong.

[@steveprice4419]

Terrible review You need to tell us the other equipment used in the review or it it a waste of time

[@Typhoonbob]

Wow, lame review. A first from AS

[@goodsound4756]

At that price point there is plenty of competition...

[@panzrwagn]

Like ...?

[@goodsound4756]

@@panzrwagn Galleon, Unison, Fezz, black ice, LTA, Brunoco, Octave, Cayin, Willsenton, etc

[@goodsound4756]

@@panzrwagn every time I've put an answer with seven brands here, it gets auto deleted by KZbin.....

[@canaridissident7309]

Made in China. Yes. Otherwise, nope.

[@BlueSkinedCrackBaby]

How do you feel this amp would work with having a pair of REL T/9x taking care of the low end with it?

[@DaveSchulze]

I use it with one REL R-305 and it's GREAT!

[@BlueSkinedCrackBaby]

@ I’m saving up for one, thanks for the reply.