anyone have experience w/magnum conversion 4 Rogue

Well, I’ve had the upgraded Cronus (Cronus Magnum) for two days now. My first impression out of the box was that they changed the ugly ducking into an exotic beauty. I had them install the black face plate while they had the unit and the KT99’s are a little larger than the EL34’s and their size seems to make more sense aesthetically on top of the unit. It’s got real binding posts now and ceramic tube sockets. I’m told there are other goodies inside, but the question is always, what does it sound like?
I’m thinking right now more break in. It still smells like it’s breaking in. The upgraded Cronus has lost some of the fat in its tone, moving a step toward solid state. It still runs hot. After about ten hours the soundstage opened up to one of the widest I’ve heard out of anything. I use Aerial 6’s for most of my listening and they do an excellent disappearing act. I’m used to the soundstage going three feet on either side. It’s now six feet on some recordings, and I’ve not heard that before. It has in the first two days become more musical than it did out of the box. I’m starting to hear the music again, and the micro dynamics. I’m thinking the amp is more dynamic than I remember it being before the upgrade. I like that part. It’s taking acoustic bass apart note by note. Transients are very quick. This amplifier is in full control of the speakers. I found myself moving the speakers a couple inches out from the walls. To be honest, they are front-ported and I had them backed up to get a little boundary effect, but the upgraded Cronus puts out enough bass that I found myself wanting to tone down the boundary effects from the wall. Verdict after two days: It needs a little more run-in time. I still have not put the EL34’s back in.

I've had the converted Cronus in system for a week now. It is simply a very good amplifier. Powerful, dynamic, and articulate. It is a keeper. If I change my mind in three months, I'll let you know.

I purchased a Cronus direct from Rogue a few weeks ago and decided to get the Magnum upgrade from the "get go". I find the amp to be very musical and envolving and am pleased thus far with the sound of the '90s , along with the NOS Sylvanias they installed as part of the upgrade.

OK, OK, you guys have convinced me. I emailed Mark today I'm ready to go ahead with the conversion. BTW, he kindly allowed me to knock $75 off the price as I prefer to keep my NOS Amerex Bugleboy's and Telefunkens in the small tubes slots. Now, I ship it, and the wait begins, pace, pace, pace

Well, I've had the modded Rogue in hand for a month now. At least 100+ hours of burn in have taken place. My conclusion, for those who don't need the details is that the conversion is not necessary to enjoy music through the Rogue, but it will enhance the enjoyment of music even more.

Timbres are much more lifelike. The vocalist is a separate source in the mix, never lost within it. Instruments sound like different persons playing bass and percussion and strings. Much more lifelike, not all in one thread. Orchestral colour details are delightfully clear and present. Even poorly mastered material sounds more like music - poorly mastered. Surprising sense of space and ambiance. Bells are very bell like. There's a better sense of a large orchestra as a LARGE orchestra in scale. I never understood before how more power means more music. One can follow each individual musical thread and subtheme exactly as one can in live music.

Does it make the amp comparable to amps costing twice its price? I don't know, haven't ever heard a better amp. I think I'm done with upgrading.