I have owned Rogue Audio tube amp products for almost 5 years and find they deliver a sound that I prefer.
I started with a Cronus Magnum II - KT120 power tubes delivering 100 WPC. It gave me a sound that I really enjoyed over just about every other amplifier I have heard. Powerful enough to be dynamic and more than room filling with 84db and up speakers. Power Tubes last ~ 2-1/2 years or so. Bias adjustment is easy- remove a plate with two captured thumb screws and flip the 4 switches to display the current reading on the built in meter. adjust the screw with the supplied screwdriver until the meter reads the correct value.
Takes 5 minutes every 6 months or so. Usually they do not need any adjustment, just check the value on the meter.
The sound is highly refined and detailed, more neutral than syrupy, smooth with a very large 3D sound stage and excellent bass, midrange and treble.
The possible downsides are that it is somewhat large and heavy (still fits on the top of a rack or shelf), does give off some heat and can have some local hum near the amp that becomes silent a few feet away (never through the speakers). Downsides are never an issue for me and the sound quality IMHO beats every solid state amp below and significantly above its price.
The new Cronus Magnum III is supposed to be even better.
I started with a Cronus Magnum II - KT120 power tubes delivering 100 WPC. It gave me a sound that I really enjoyed over just about every other amplifier I have heard. Powerful enough to be dynamic and more than room filling with 84db and up speakers. Power Tubes last ~ 2-1/2 years or so. Bias adjustment is easy- remove a plate with two captured thumb screws and flip the 4 switches to display the current reading on the built in meter. adjust the screw with the supplied screwdriver until the meter reads the correct value.
Takes 5 minutes every 6 months or so. Usually they do not need any adjustment, just check the value on the meter.
The sound is highly refined and detailed, more neutral than syrupy, smooth with a very large 3D sound stage and excellent bass, midrange and treble.
The possible downsides are that it is somewhat large and heavy (still fits on the top of a rack or shelf), does give off some heat and can have some local hum near the amp that becomes silent a few feet away (never through the speakers). Downsides are never an issue for me and the sound quality IMHO beats every solid state amp below and significantly above its price.
The new Cronus Magnum III is supposed to be even better.