Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Rogue Audio M-180 Amplifier (Tube) by Bazza

Model:	M-180
Category:	Amplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price:	$5500
Description:	monoblock amplifiers
Manufacturer URL:	Rogue Audio

Review by Bazza on September 25, 2010 at 12:22:13
IP Address: 66.183.222.93 Add Your Review
for the M-180

After living with the Rogue Audio M-150s for 5 years I got the upgrade bug and began investigating different products. As part of my search I went back to Rogue's website and was surprised to see that they not only had the new M-180 model but could upgrade my M-150s to M-180 status for $1495. I have been extremely happy for 5 years and after speaking with President Mark O'Brien, I decided to take the plunge and sent my amps back to the factory for the upgrade. They were back in 3 weeks packaged in new boxes with the M-180 markings so I really felt up-to-date! There was some shipping damage and the Rogue staff were quick to sort it out for me (more proof that their high service quality reputation is warranted).

There has been much written about the original M-150s including by me http://www.audioasylum.com/reviews/Amplifier-Tube/Rogue-Audio/Rogue-M-150-Monoblocks/amp/79234.html so I will only report on the difference between the 2 models. Rather than using the newly supplied tubes I reinstalled the ones that I had been previously using prior to the upgrade (Electro Harmonix KT88s, RCA cleartop 12au7s, and Tungsram 12ax7 (these NOS tubes from eastern Europe fly under the radar even though they are excellent and very close to the German models at a lower cost).

There wasn't a single aspect to the musical presentation that wasn't noticeably improved. The order of improvements I noticed were increased transparency and air, lower noise floor that allowed more micro details to be heard, more coherence to the music flow, and faster and more articulate bass (I didn't think that this could be possible as the M-150 is so good).

I should tell you about the sound with the supplied KT90s, JAN 12au7s, and Electro Harmonix gold pin 12ax7. The music was projected in front of the speaker plain and a hair too bright for my taste. I replaced the Electro Harmonix with my Tungsram and things went back to what I described above. After adjusting bias I cannot differentiate between the sound of the KT88 and KT90 tubes so I have decided to use the KT88s until they fail. Recently Mark O'Brien provided more of his expert advice and I now have replaced my Tungsram 12ax7 tubes with Telefunken ECC82 tubes and they are wonderful.

In years past I returned my Sonic Frontiers Line 3 preamp to the factory for "SE" and "+" upgrades as well as my BAT CDP for the latest DAC. The impact of those changes paled in comparison to the Rogue upgrade and I recommend to all other M-150 owners to get the upgrade and to people considering an original purchase, you owe it to your self to pay the additional $1K for the M-180 over the M-150. I can't imagine any disappointment.

Product Weakness:	Cost of tubes over the lifetime
Product Strengths:	Everything

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Rogue Audio M-180
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Sonic Frontiers Line 3 SE+
Sources (CDP/Turntable): PS Audio PerfectWave DAC and Transport
Speakers: Quad 988 with Electrostatic Solutions upgrade and Mye stands
Cables/Interconnects: Cardas Neutral and Golden Reference
Music Used (Genre/Selections): All
Room Comments/Treatments: Dspeaker Bass Equalizer
Time Period/Length of Audition: 1 month
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): PurePower 1050 Balanced regenerator
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	Rogue Audio M-180
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Sonic Frontiers Line 3 SE+
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	PS Audio PerfectWave DAC and Transport
Speakers:	Quad 988 with Electrostatic Solutions upgrade and Mye stands
Cables/Interconnects:	Cardas Neutral and Golden Reference
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	All
Room Comments/Treatments:	Dspeaker Bass Equalizer
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 month
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	PurePower 1050 Balanced regenerator
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner