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How quiet is your Rogue Sphinx?

I have a new Rogue sphinx, I don't recall the unit I demoed to be especially noisy but I do find my unit to have some noise despite other owners describing the model as 'dead quiet'.

In both 'standby' and 'on' there is a quiet though audible hum coming from the right hand half of the unit (maybe I can hear it through the vent on the top). You need to put your ears pretty close to the unit though.

There is also a similar hum to be heard through the mid/bass unit, audible about 2 feet away. This is aside from the more common 'hiss' that is also present. Oddly if I turn my balance control left all the way, the hum becomes much louder through the right speaker only and can be heard about 10 feet away. If I turn the balance to the right the original hum in the left speaker actually decreases in volume!

I am used to speakers having a hiss but the question I ask is do any other sphinx owners notice this extra layer of hum/buzz that varies with the balance control in this way? Is your actual amplifier unit dead quiet or does it have a faint hum also?

Just trying to figure out if my unit operates typically or otherwise.

Thanks in advance.
big_katydid
smrex13
645 posts
 
Thanks for following up on the thread. I was wondering how it turned out. I, too, gave up on the Sphinx in pretty short order for the same reason. Hope you find something that you enjoy.
therealist
22 posts
 
What did you end up buying? I was looking at integrateds and researched for a year and have a lot of data if you need it. I travel and was able to look carefully at many different products.

I found that a pure tube amp would be the only way to go.
jspivey
2 posts
 
Hi Everyone -

I purchased a used Sphinx a couple of weeks ago. I'm enjoying the amp paired with my KEF LS50's. However, I stumbled upon this thread after researching Sphinx hum/hiss/static.

The actual unit is dead quite but there is an amount of static coming from the speakers that wasn't there with my previous NAD amp. It's only audible a foot or so from the speakers. It increases with volume change but not significantly. I have noticed when balancing all the way to the left, the right channel becomes more audible.

I guess the main question I have is if this is attributable to the normal "noise floor" of the amp? It is minor.. but it is there. More curious to know if the amp if preforming as it should.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated. I'm awaiting a response from Rogue Audio as well.

Thanks,
Joe
djverne
77 posts
 
Had this amp, had this same problem, and returned it. The noise increases when you turn the volume up or down right?
big_katydid OP
50 posts
 
I have yet to purchase a replacement amplifier, for the time being I am using some pro equipment to run my speakers.

Jspively, apparently the original version sphinx does have this noise issue, some may not object but in comparison to say a NAD 365BEE that I auditioned it is very noisy, the NAD is almost dead quiet even with an ear to the speaker (at least with my ears). The sphinx does run very cool though which is a plus.

When I audition an amplifier now I check it for practicality first: noise, good use of the volume rotation (I hate sensitive designs that jump to full power almost immediately with loud CD's), heat.
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