Rogue Audio Cronus 12AU7-12AX7 tubes choices

Why don't you take some time to get familiar with the sound of your new Cronus before you start swapping tubes. That way, you can better ascertain what changes you want to make. Just a thought. Enjoy.

I have the Cronus Magnum version which allows for KT 90s - the amp came Sylvanis in both the 12ax and au positions, switched the 12ax to Tungsol 5751s and the 12 aus to RFTs which to me sound similar to some RCAs I have. These added a little more warmth that I was after.

I agree with Tpreaves.....Enjoy your new Cronus "as is" before you start rolling tubes. It sounds really, really good with the stock tubes. Then, once you have the desire to try new tubes, there are a lot of ways to go.

For me, my Cronus, being fed by my Rega P3-24/Exact 2/TTPSU and Rotel RCD-1072, through my Vandersteens, sounds better after I did the following : an RCA NOS 5814 to replace the center EH 12AU7 gain stage tube, a pair of GE NOS Five Star 5751 "goldpins" to replace the Sovtek 12AX7 input tubes, and a pair of GE NOS 12AU7A's to replace the EH 12AU7 driver tubes. I then replaced the original Svetlana EL-34's with a beautiful matched quad of Genelex Gold Lion KT-77's.

All this "tube rolling" was done after some pretty nice conversations with Mark and Nick at Rogue Audio, and I'm glad I followed their advice. They are a pleasure to work with.

Good Luck, and Happy Listening !

I agree with the above comments about enjoying the amp "as is" for a while. I'm doing this since I have it and I already have many hours of intense listening on it.

At that time, I'm looking for tube suggestions from you "Goners" as I want to have an idea about where to go and look and to be ready if a deal pass by. But I'm not on a hurry.

About the center 12AU7, mine is totaly blank. I don't have any idea of what brand and year it is. Should I ask Mr. O'Brien what it is? Do you have the same kind of tube on your Cronus?

Sebastien1,

I know this is off topic, but I've seen your postings on Audiogon and HUG in relation to the Harbeth SHL5. I don't know if you are still using that speaker, but it's one I've been most interested in. Are you using the Cronus with the SHL5? I saw that you had some experience with the Luxman integrateds. I believe you had the 505u, and one of the Class A amps, and was wondering why you chose to go the Cronus route after hearing the Luxmans. I've been interested in the Cronus, and have heard the Magnum version at a local dealer , but was hoping to hear your experiences with various Luxmans and Rogues with the Harbeth. I haven't had a chance to start auditioning amps yet, but would appreciate anything you could share about your experiences. I was also wondering if you had any thoughts on the strengths of the Cronus relative to the Magnum version and Luxman integrateds. Any of your thoughts on these questions would be appreciated. I’d be willing to spend the extra money on the one of the Luxmans or the Magnum version of the Rogue if it were worthwhile, but would prefer to save the extra money for music, so it’d be great to hear someone who has heard the Rogue/Harbeth combination after having heard the other combinations. So far, I have the usual suspects of LFD and Luxman on my audition list, based on reviews and forums, but there hasn’t been much about the Cronus/Harbeth combination, aside from a brief mention in Stereophile re: Son Ideal at the Montréal show last year.

Thanks in advance for your time!