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I hear it's quite a bit better, better phono, better subwoofer out, quieter, better headphone jack.
The original was pretty darn good, with improvements it could be pretty amazing.
"A lie is half-way around the world before the truth can get its boots on."
-Mark Twain
Follow Ups:
The phono, headphone, and volume control were the things that sucked about the Cronus I...the amp section was always fantastic, and that's what more than justifies the price.
Edits: 09/25/15
I bought a brand new one yesterday from local Rogue rep. I have never heard an earlier version so cannot make comparisons. My setup is with Harbeth 7es3 in a smaller/medium sized acoustically treated room. Previously used a Luxman 505U integrated SS amp.The tubes supplied were the JJ for the 12AX7 and 12AU7 sections. The power was (4) Tung Sol KT120s.
Soundwise very happy but have some comments/criticisms later on. The tubes are still breaking in but getting nice solid "meaty" bottom frequencies and punch along with a mid-range that is clear maybe with the touch of tube magic in the mids (very slight but nice and pleasing holographic). My first impression was that it sounds like a SS amp. But as I listen more can start to differentiate from a SS amp that I have had for 2 years. The punch is there but it's not take control Luxman SS 100W bottom end. Still very impressed with the overall sound. Plenty of power with the Cronus II. Im at 9-10oclock on the volume knob and its medium loud, no way to get to 12 oclock without waking the neighbors. Also I noticed the unit get hot, the face plate gets very warm.
Now for the criticism. I'm getting a single tick/pop on the left speaker when I engage the mute on the remote. Happens every time. I swapped speakers cables with no fix. I suspect it's a noisy/defective relay switch. I have contacted Rogue and waiting on their response (prob. Monday)Second I notice a little bit of a buzz/hum in the speakers. Is this normal? I suspect it is as I faintly remember my Jolida 502BRC years ago having the same thing.
Once I get this tick/pop thing resolved, and let the tubes break in more, maybe I will swap out the middle 12AU7 tube which I hear has the most effect on the tone.
Hope this helps...
-Theron Day
Edits: 08/22/15
Sending the Rogue in for a fix on a noisy remote control motor.....butAfter several weeks the Harbeth 7ES3/Rogue Cronus Magnum II sounds excellent. I really like the new New Sensor Gold Lion 12AU7 in the center pre section. Warm but excellent focused detail, punch deep solid base. Best of both worlds. Still trying to get used to the difference after having a Luxman 505u (100 W Solid State) for the last two years...
-Theron Day
Edits: 09/25/15 09/25/15
I have just heard the Cronus Magnum II in a shop today and it sounds great. The headphone amp seems to better isolate from the speakers too.
I moved from the Yamaha A-S3000 to the Rogue Cronus Magnum and I hated the lack of bottom end until I switched to the 4 ohm taps. The Cronus Magnum II I heard was on 4 ohm taps too.
I may do a home trial and comparison between the Cronus Magnum and Cronus Magnum II. I've already ordered the new volume control chip for my Cronus Magnum.
with Egyptian name, also had very audible hum, even with cheater plug, and the volume got very loud very fast on the dial,
hard to get the sweet spot.
I took it back.
That hum was completely unacceptable.
Have no heard it but looks like they could have done more feature wise. Not adding a extra speaker tap for 4 or 8 ohm speakers is a fail.
Not adding a extra speaker tap for 4 or 8 ohm speakers is a fail.
The tap is easily accessible from the inside of the chassis. Swapped mine to 4 Ohms.
Not really. Having to take the unit from the rack, remove tubes, unscrew the cover and fiddle around near high voltage capacitors to change taps is a fail. If you have 6 ohm speakers and want to check what sounds better it entail a hour of work as opposed to 5 minutes with the correct tap.
You must have flippers for hands. So sorry.
"A lie is half-way around the world before the truth can get its boots on."
-Mark Twain
you know nothing..
+1
"fiddle around near high voltage capacitors" ? ? ?
Come on. You leave the amp off for 5 minutes and there's no longer high voltage on the caps but if you're still worried you short 'em out with a screw driver. It's not rocket science. Besides the caps aren't near the speaker binding posts.
It's not like one changes the taps several times a week. I changed mine once almost three years ago and that's it. Took all of 10 minutes.
Abe, I'm a Cronus Magnum fan and owned it for a while. My point is the upgrade is short without addressing the speaker tap issue. I had to send my unit in for repair because I unknowingly pulled a wire loose when changing the taps. And no, I'm not a rocket scientist. I prefer super genius.;^)
BTW, my Line Magnetic 211ia tube integrated has 4 and 8 ohm taps.
Dont own one but have to agree , pulling up any amp to change the output tap is a Big fail
Edits: 09/25/15
My point is the upgrade is short without addressing the speaker tap issue.
Well, lets agree to disagree. I don't see it as an 'issue' considering how often people will change the tap. I suppose it would be a nice feature to include but in my mind it's not a 'fail' or show stopper.
I've read good things about Line Magnetic amps and would love to try one someday.
I'd me more interested in what they did to improve overall noise floor. I wouldn't use the built-in phonostage, headphone amp, or variable buffered outputs.
nt
Rogue Audio offers a real bang for the buck. Great gear and excellent customer service.
I wonder if one can get one without the phono section, as I would not
need same. Perhaps Rogue would substitute improved wire or caps or ???
It's not something they would do on the original Cronus Magnum, so I doubt they would do it now. The phono stage is not an add on option.However, I just saw Abe's post below stating they did swap it out for another line input so that is apparently an option.
Edits: 08/22/15
I don't have first hand experience as mine has the phonostage, but I've read of others who have had theirs removed and replaced with wiring for an added line input.
An authorized dealer should be able to order one for you w/o the phonostage and have Rogue wire it to have just an extra line input. I know that Rogue did this for the previous version on request so I don't see why they wouldn't with the new Cronus Magnum II.
Everyone seemed to Love the Cronus Magnum I, personally I wasn't too impressed. I tried to Love it, or even like it but I just could not get a coherent sound.
Something is wrong with my ears.
Dynobots Audio
Music is the Bridge between Heaven and Earth - 音楽は天国と地球のかけ橋
Dynobot Nothing wrong with your ears. antique tubes.
Edits: 08/23/15 08/23/15
Antique tubes are supposed to sound the best...
Dynobots Audio
Music is the Bridge between Heaven and Earth - 音楽は天国と地球のかけ橋
No toobs sound the best antique or new ones ,continuous deterioation
I had pretty much the same opinion of the original Cronus. It seems to be their house sound. Grossly overrated IMO.
Jack
The original Cronus sounds nothing like the Cronus Magnum with KT120's. Totally different animal.
Your experience with the hybrid is very similar to mine with the Cronus.
Considering how many recommendations it had here, I was disappointed.
Jack
I can't comment on the original EL34 based Cronus as that one had a smaller power supply and would not accommodate the heftier KT90 or KT120 power tubes.On the other hand, I've had the Cronus Magnum for a while now with the KT120 output tubes. I also had the 'hybrid Class D' Rogue Medusa (larger sibling to the Hydra).
I owned both the Cronus Magnum and Medusa at the same time and they were not at all similar. The Medusa was veiled, rolled-off, and compressed compared to the Cronus Magnum. I would rank the 'hybrid Class D' Medusa well below some 'standard' Class D amps that use off the shelf parts. I kept the Medusa for about 3 months before selling it. I've owned my Cronus Magnum for about 3 years and plan on keeping it.
Edits: 08/24/15
I can comment on both as I had the Cronus upgraded to the Magnum. I checked over some of my earlier posts on both amps (it was quite a while ago) and found that the original was indeed rather limited compared to the Magnum - even using the same tubes. The latter produces much better resolution, dynamics and sound staging dimensions.
I think every audio manufacturer has a House Sound, some people love it, others grow to like it, some just can't enjoy it.
Dynobots Audio
Music is the Bridge between Heaven and Earth - 音楽は天国と地球のかけ橋
The implication in the other post was that a lack of coherence typifies Rogue's house sound. That is what I was disputing, not that there is a similarity in sound to their products.
Edits: 08/23/15
I see
Perhaps this person hears a lack of what he calls coherence and recognizes that as the House Sound.
Subjective impressions
Dynobots Audio
Music is the Bridge between Heaven and Earth - 音楽は天国と地球のかけ橋
House sound? Have you heard any of their other amps? It might have been true when they first started out - I didn't like their products then - but it sure isn't now.
Rogue's all-tube products sound completely different compared to their 'hybrid Class D' line. The latter sounding pretty bad IMHO. I think their all-tube amps sound wonderful.
I find I get a more coherent sound from mine using Genalex KT66 re-issues than I do using any other power tubes (and I've tried them all). Obviously a bit of power is lost but they drive my 86db, 8 ohm nominal, 3.9 ohm minimum speakers fine.
Edit: that's 87db efficient speakers. Sorry.
- What speakers were you using?
- Did you try changing the impedance tap inside the amp (4 Ohm vs 8 Ohm)?
Going to KT120 tubes and changing the tap from the default 8 Ohm to 4 Ohm made a world of difference for me.
Hey Abe
At the time I was using Dynaudio Audience 82 speakers they are 4ohm so I used the 4ohm tap. I used the KT120 tubes too.
Various Dacs, wire, power cords etc.
After about 4 months I gave up...
Dynobots Audio
Music is the Bridge between Heaven and Earth - 音楽は天国と地球のかけ橋
Just out of curiosity what amp do you use now that you prefer over the Cronus Magnum?
I've owned other tube amps that were better than the Rogue and some that were worse. I still prefer the Rogue Cronus Magnum to most solid-state amps, but I'm pretty impressed with the Ayre AX-7e integrated that I'm on at the moment.
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