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Rogue Audio The Cronus Magnum III
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The award winning integrated amplifier has garnered an enviable reputation in the high end audio world. Even at its attainable price, it outperforms other integrated amps costing many times more. The pure tube design provides a smooth, almost liquid sound that has made this amp a reviewer favorite. With circuitry borrowed from our most advanced amplifier designs, the 100WPC effortlessly reproduces even the most demanding musical passages.
The Magnum III features a number of exciting new upgrades. For vinyl enthusiasts the phono section has been completely redesigned to accommodate both MM and MC cartridges. Two gain settings provide for 45dB and 60dB of gain so you can now use either high or low output cartridges. The phono also has five individual load settings so you can fine tune the phono for optimal results.
A Triode/Ultralinear switch allows for on the fly switching between Ultralinear operation and pure triode. Ultralinear offers the most power and a commanding grip on the bass while triode provides a slightly softer and more romantic sound.
A completely new headphone circuit is based around MOSFET buffers capable of massive current sourcing. The design is basically a simplified single ended version of our RH-5 headphone amplifier and puts out enough power to drive the most difficult headphones for clean crisp personal audio.
The line stage has been improved and has an amazingly low noise floor for a completely black background for your listening.
From a technical standpoint the amplifier uses a triode preamplifier coupled to our excellent Atlas Magnum power amplfier. A large oversized linear power supply stores tremendous energy for low frequency response and dynamic headroom. The tube circuitry is cutting edge with short signal paths exacted in a low noise design. Finally, precision components are used to provide the transparency and air that are so critical to accurate musical reproduction.
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Professional Reviews 92/100
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
92/100
Build Quality
90/100
Features Connectivity
92/100
Value for Money
91/100
With its lush midrange, expansive soundstage, and 100-watt muscle, The Cronus Magnum III brings tube richness with real grip. Hi-Fi Choice praised its drive and authority, while Enjoy The Music highlighted its dimensional imaging and natural harmonic decay. Add a capable phono stage and flexible triode/ultralinear voicing, and it feels built for serious listening.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Powerful, authoritative presentation that still keeps classic tube warmth and drive.
Excellent three-dimensional imaging and a large, spacious soundstage.
Rich, vivid midrange with natural harmonic body and long, satisfying decay.
Well-equipped for vinyl and system integration, with a capable phono stage and buffered outputs for subwoofers or biamping.
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Cons
Some setup adjustments are more involved than many plug-and-play amps, especially phono loading and internal biasing.
The remote is functional but limited to volume and mute only.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 92/100
Reviewers consistently praise this amp for its big, lush, highly musical presentation with strong harmonic richness and a very engaging flow. It is repeatedly described as vivid, natural, and satisfying, while still keeping the valve character that gives it warmth and body without sounding sluggish.
Transparency Resolution
90/100
Reviewers describe clear small details, a pleasant absence of noise at idle, and a presentation where voices leap out vividly and the soundscape stays coherent. It is not framed as ultra-analytical, but there is real praise for the way it reveals texture and low-level information without haze.
Tonal Balance Musicality
94/100
This is a major strength in the reviews: the sound is called lush, verdant, full of natural resonant harmonic overtones, and very easy to listen to. Reviewers repeatedly emphasize tonal body, continuousness, and a natural, satisfying balance that makes music feel alive rather than sterile.
Dynamics
93/100
The amp is praised for strong power reserve, drive, authority, punch, and timing, with comments that it behaves with some of the muscularity people often associate with solid-state gear. Reviewers highlight effortless headroom and energetic delivery, even with less sensitive speakers and in triode mode.
Soundstage Imaging
92/100
Multiple reviews call out an effortless three-dimensional presentation, dimensional expansion of the soundscape, and a large, clearly layered stage. Images are described as self-explanatory and tangible, with satisfying space around performers and a convincing sense of depth.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
90/100
Reviewers describe the Cronus Magnum III as seriously and convincingly constructed, with no signs of cost-cutting and an impressive overall physical presence. The heavy chassis and the sense of careful assembly are specifically noted, though the reviews do not go into deep technical detail about internal parts beyond that.
Features Connectivity
92/100
This is unusually well equipped for a tube integrated, with four RCA inputs including phono, buffered variable outputs for subwoofers or biamping, a headphone output, and a remote. Reviewers also note the useful triode/ultralinear switching and a very capable moving-magnet phono stage, though the remote is limited and the input set is still single-ended only.
Value for Money
91/100
Reviewers present it as a very compelling buy for the money, with one calling it one of the most compelling sonic performers tested at this price point and another saying it is easy to build a rewarding system around. Given the asking price and the level of performance and features, the reviews read as strongly favorable on value.
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Authorized dealers for Rogue Audio The Cronus Magnum III
- 2C Stereo — in-store — Washington, District of Columbia, United States (website)
- Absolute Audio - Canada — in-store — Calgary, Alberta, Canada (website)
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Aris Audio — in-store — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States (website)
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- Audible Elegance — in-store — Cincinnati, Ohio, United States (website)
- Audible Images — in-store — Melbourne, Florida, United States (website)
- Audio Advisor — in-store — Michigan, United States (website)
- Audio Alternative — online and in-store — Fort Collins, Colorado, United States (website)
- Audio Breakthroughs — in-store — Manhasset, New York, United States (website)
and 70 more verified dealers