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Rogue Audio Ares II and Ares II Magnum
Ares II and Ares II Magnum
An ultra-high performance low noise tube phono preamplifier for low, medium, and high output mc and mm cartridges. Truly fantastic sounding!
Magnum version now available - Vinyl lovers are passionate and driven to get the absolute best sound from their system. As good as the Ares is, we regularly received requests for modifications to make it even better. We listened and packaged these modifications together to make the Ares Magnum. The Magnum version adds additional gain for very low output cartridges, improves inner detail, and improves accuracy. The upgrade includes:
- Cinemag "blue label" step up transformers
- PRP resistors in critical spots of the signal path
- Mundorf Supreme inter-stage coupling caps
- Cardas internal wiring
- Upgraded Cardas RCA jacks
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Professional Reviews 93/100
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
95/100
Cartridge Compatibility
95/100
Build Quality
83/100
Value for Money
94/100
With a quiet background, fast transients, and rich tonal density, Rogue Audio’s Ares II and Ares II Magnum earn the kind of praise Scot Hull reserves for true standouts. He highlights seamless coherence, deep soundstage layering, and cartridge flexibility, calling it a phono stage that can anchor a serious vinyl system with confidence and musicality.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Exceptionally quiet and low in noise, preserving silence and fine detail even with tube changes.
Delivers fast, coherent sound with strong tone, timbre, and frequency extension.
Highly flexible setup with adjustable gain, capacitance, and loading for cartridge matching.
Offers standout performance for the price, with reviewer praise for its value and class-leading sound at its level.
&
Cons
Its utilitarian industrial look may disappoint buyers expecting a more luxurious finish.
Single-ended, single-input design limits connection flexibility.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 95/100
Reviewers describe the Ares as a stunner with seamless top-to-bottom coherence, remarkable speed, texture, and strong frequency extension. The background is repeatedly praised as startlingly quiet, with the reviewer specifically noting the silences and saying stock tubes and swaps did not change that seductive quiet.
Transparency Noise Floor
96/100
The review calls it 'startlingly quiet' and praises the 'seductive silences' it extracts, with no loss of quietness even after tube swaps. That points to an exceptionally black background and very low audible noise.
Tonal Balance Musicality
95/100
Scot Hull describes the Ares as moving from competent to extraordinary, with 'great frequency extension' plus 'very good tone and timbre.' He also says albums sounded unusually full, which suggests a satisfying, rich presentation rather than a dry or etched one.
Dynamics
94/100
The review highlights 'remarkable speed' and an immediate sense of liveliness, with the sound becoming more expansive as the unit settled in. That combination suggests strong transient snap and convincing musical drive.
Soundstage Imaging
94/100
The reviewer notes that time 'expands the soundstage considerably' and praises 'seamless top to bottom coherence,' both of which point to strong spatial organization and convincing layering rather than a flat presentation.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Cartridge Compatibility
95/100
The Ares is described as very flexible, with gain, capacitance, and load all adjustable via switches. That kind of real-world setup breadth makes it easy to match a wide range of cartridges without fuss.
Build Quality
83/100
The casework is described as utilitarian rather than beautiful, but the reviewer also notes a tidy control layout and an external solid-state power supply. Reviews say little about long-term durability, but the functional execution appears thoughtful.
Value for Money
94/100
The review is openly enthusiastic about the asking price, calling it not inexpensive but still saying he can’t think of a better phono stage at the price. That is strong value praise, especially given the level of performance described.
Reviews
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Authorized dealers for Rogue Audio Ares II and Ares II Magnum
- 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)
- Arizona Hi-Fi — in-store — Phoenix, Arizona, United States (website)
- 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