I bought the unit in Montreal (Can.) some two years ago. I wanted a tube amp that wouldn't cost too much si when I saw this at the Montreal adio show I decided that I needed to go ear it at the retailer's. The amp's sound is simply gorgeous. I listen mainly to classical, from string quartetts to full symphonic and the Cronus just get things right in terms of sound. Deep, solid and fast bass, which came as a surprise with EL34s, sweet and airy mids, deep soundstage, well I guess you get the picture, it sounds prety good. The phono stage is ok but somehow very noisy. Maybe it wasn't the best idea to put it straight besides the output transfos. The phone jack works but doesn't turn the speaker output completely off so what you ear from your cans get polluted by what comes out of the speakers. My dealer told me it was made to work like this. Not a real problem for me since I'm ot big on cans.

As far as reliability is concerned, I've had my fair share of problems. First, the on/off switch stopped working. I couldn't turn the unit off. First visit to the dealer just a few months after purchasing. A few more months later, one of the stock output tubes goes out in flames (litteraly) and damages parts on the circuit boards. I then learn that the warranty is not valid in Canada. I had the amp repaired (almost 300$) and it worked very well for a while until the right channel died. Output tubes are OK, fuses are OK, input tubes are OK... guess it's gonna be back to the shop. I'm very dispointed with the quality of my unit. Did I buy a lemon? Reading the other reviews, it seems to be the case. Nevertheless, Canadian buyers should be aware that if they buy a deffective unit, they should be prepared to pay. By the way, sending it back to the company for service is a very expensive option and it may involve some hazardous shipping.

My rating is low because of the reliability problems I experienced with my unit. If it hadn't been the case, I would have given it a much higher rating.

I bought the Cronus almost two years ago from Larry at Hollywood Sound in Florida. The amp has been very reliable and its sound is getting better with age. It works well with various speakers such as Spendor SP100, ProAc Response 2.5, Silverline Audio Preludes and for the past year with the B&W CM1 monitors. It also sounds very good using my AKG 701 headphones and the phono stage is quite good especially with the VPI Aries Scout Turntable.
I've done some tube rolling as well but I've always ended up using the original tubes the amp came with from Rogue Audio. The amp has a very wide soundstage with realistic height and depth of stage when the recordings have such. Resolution and transparency are good which allows one to hear the differences between various cables and sources. To date I've found that the Discovery Signature interconnect from the source to the Cronus with the Audience Conductor speaker cable to the B&Ws gave the best performance with the music that I listen too which is mainly Jazz with some Classical, R&B, Rock and Reggae thrown in for good measure. It just sounds natural and well balanced.
The Cronus has to be the best value integrated amp on the market when you consider the build quality, features, flexibility and most important, the excellent sound that comes from it. If you are entering into the world of HiFi, the Rogue Audio Cronus is a great place to start building a simple, musical system.
Very highly recommended!

I had a great Denon Hifi String disc and this amp really makes a huge different the first time I replace my previous solid state Cambridge Audio azur 840A. I've listened to that disc a million times and I know all the bits from my original setting. All of a sudden, everything was so transparent and the soundstage was so much wider and deeper. All the strings movement and vibrations come out vividly and not only the mid but also the highs also stands out. I didn't expect a tube amp with such a clarity in the first few minutes! If you want to enter the world of HiFi, this is really a giant step without breaking the bank.

Super highly recommended. You won't be disappointed.

-solid build with quality resistors and caps
-gutzy sounding (surprising for a tube amp)
-has all the best features( volume remote, headphone section, a fine phono preamp with gain in addition to the gain in the preamp)
-uses a variety of output tubes that customize the sound to your liking,
ie. EL34 more midrangy, KT88 more bass extension, etc.
-its price blows its competitors with similar amps out of the water

-gals need a strong boyfriend to lift this 55lb. amp
-none so far after almost a year

After first reviewing all the integrated tube amplifiers from various audio companies like Manley, Cary, Audio Research, etc, I chose the Rogue Cronus amplifier. Beyond the fact that its present price just blows all those other amps out of the water, it has the most powerful yet clean signal of them all. The closest one in comparison is the Audio Research gear but it is at least $2000 more. The Stingray only was 40 wpc (50 is a stretch when you have the EL84 output tubes) and no remote. The Cary Sli-80 which I bought twice already over the years is sweeter with jazz and vocals but too colored in the midrange and the bass just noticeabley rolls off and that has killed it for me with Rock music. Conversely, the Rogue has the most authoritative bass extension of all these amps I heard.
Also, it has a very decent built-in phono preamp with additional gain to the gain from the preamp itself.
The remote is solid. After some use ot it, I got the hang of how to control the gain on it by a slight press and slide finger motion to it.
It can use a variety of output tubes: EL34, KT77, KT88s, etc.
Also, Mark O'brien who is the CEO of Rogue is a very friendly and courteous gent who answered all my questions before and after the purchase of the great sounding amp!
I was unable to hear the VTL-I85 but that amp only uses the EL34s and and my friends tell me that its sound it tipped more toward the highs. Since, my music is weighted evenly between Rock and then Jazz, I found the Cronus to the best amp to play my music.
I need to mention that the headphone section sounds just wonderful!
Mark O'brien told me it was designed to pass through the signal stage of the preamp and that is obviously why is sounds so nice.
For me to do better than the Cronus, I would just have to get the separates (Metis and Atlas)!
I asked Brian Kurtz of Sound Mind Audio what tube amps he had for sale and he asked me then what my speakers were and when I told him I had the Vandersteen 2Ce Sigs, then without hesitation he recommended the Rogue Cronus. It is really true that the Rogue and Vandies together are a great match!
Special thanks to everyone at Rogue who helped design this great amp and priced it at such an affordable level!

Customer Service

Rogue's customer service is stellar. They always answer their phone and really work with you and your needs.

Sound Mind Audio is a great audio asset to 2 channel audio community in Austin, TX. Brian Kurtz, the owner, cares to see people happy playing their music and has lots of experience with all the components and really works well with his customers to match their gear up properly.

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Jolida 302B, Cary SLI-80, Zen 34-I SET amp.

Superb sound. Much more than I expected at this price point in tube equipment. Having the phono stage, headphone jack, and a volume remote is really nice, and the build quality is superb. This is one solid unit.

Experiencing RF interference from the phono stage. Haven't found a way to effectively block it. Results in sound intrusion when listening to headphones, but not noticable when driving the speakers. Having said this you'd think there would be better shielding.

This is my first piece of tube gear and I have to say I'm impressed with both the "tube sound" and the Rogue Audio Cronos. For what I'm told is an entry level price point I'm very happy with the transition from solid state to tube, and very happy with the Cronos build and sound. It is a very transparent integrated amplifier that works magic with the music. The sound actually floats in the air, and there is an amazing absence of listening fatigue, even with headphones over extended listening periods. Customer service is also exceptional. Very personal and appreciative.

Customer Service

Excellent. Had one bad tube upon delivery which was promptly replaced, no questions asked.

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Nothing tube, all solid state: NAD 2140 power amplifier, Rotel RTC-940AX integrated amplifier

Luscious mids, fast and tight bass

I pay a lot of attention to first impressions – this unit definitely makes a heck of a good one, all 55lbs of it. In terms of looks and design it is close to the B&O of the tube amplifiers, considering this is still below the $2K, which is “low” compared to “audiophile” comparable units from Audio Research and Cary. The metal cast remote control is very convenient, and is actually a conversation piece itself. However, more than how it looks is how it sounds! Bass is fast and tight, you can actually sense the height and position of the double bass played by Carlos Henriquez in Wynton Marsalis’ The magic Hour”. Difficult low octave voices like Cassandra Wilson’s and Patricia Barber’s are handled with depth and plenty of extension, certainly lots of air around. Impressively, higher low octave voices like Claudia Acuña are handled with ease as well, something that I was not able to similarly enjoy in solid state amps like NAD and Naim. But where this unit shines is in the mid frequencies – luscious and liquid details of mid-range sounds come alive. Recording from Peter Gabriel 3 take another dimension, and I have heard this album about a thousand times before. Anni Difranco “Knuckled Down” sounds more like a live recording, the guitars are almost 3D. And in already superb recordings like “Buena Vista Club” you can even tell the slight natural echoes and reverbs of the recording studio, enjoying the warmth and easiness of the music. Aside for the sonic characteristics of the unit, I also need to mention the excelled customer service from both the manufacturer Rogue Audio (Mark O’Brien and Mark Walker) and the retailer Audio Connection (John Ruttan) - - very attentive, cordial and patient.

Sweet, quick and open. Transparency was good and the soundstage was pretty wide. Dynamics and tone sound right; even holographic when using the right EL34s.

You have to pay extra for a remote and cover, $100 each (*ouch*). Come on Mark, throw the remote in at least :)

I purchased the Rogue Cronus Integrated from Audio Connect in Verona, NJ after being blown away by an instore demo from John Ruttan (store owner). He replaced the stock EL34 from Rogue Audio with JJ/Tesla EL34s. What a difference! It sounded like a heavy veil was lifted. Everything sounded more dynamic and transparent. The shimmer on the cymbals, and the sizzle in the horn playing Jazz was so much better using the JJ EL34s. I loved everything I heard, from Jazz, to Allison Krauss, to Stevie Ray Vaughn, and even Johnny Cash. Classical was also top notch; Mendelssohn concerto was magical. Of course the CDs being played were out of this world recordings (the owner, John, hand picks them to sound amazing). But the Cronus performed admirably nonetheless. Especially when compared to higher priced gear I'd heard previously, notably Audio Research/Bryston/Musical Fidelity. My only knock would have to be in resolution. I felt it could sound a bit better and that's why I'm now tube rolling (trying out several brands of tubes) in order to find the right match with my Spendor S5e loudspeakers. Currently using Groove Tubes E34LS Quad matched set and after 30 hours they are sounding even more magical than the JJ EL34s (a lot more transparent and involving). In short, if you are new to tube amplification, and don't feel like spending and arm and a leg in order to compete with the big boys (ie. Joule, Lamm, Quicksilver) the Cronus Integrated from Rogue should be your first audition. And make sure to ask about upgraiding the stock EL34s from Rogue Audio. Mark O'Brien, if you're reading this, you should start shipping your Titan Series lineup with the upgraded EL34s from JJ/Tesla. You'd be doing your customers a great favor :)

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