The Cronus Magnum III is an integrated amplifier by Rogue Audio that delivers 100 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms in ultralinear. Triode operation delivers roughly half that. It was released in 2019. It is a 2-channel design using a Class A/B output stage. The Cronus Magnum III is an all-valve design, running 4x KT88 (earlier production shipped KT120) output, 3x 12AU7, 2x 12AX7 input. Note that the tubes carry their own warranty of 6 months, separate from the amplifier itself. Speakers connect via binding posts. Its output transformer offers 4 / 8 ohm taps, and matching the tap to your speaker's impedance matters more here than a minimum-load figure would on a solid-state amplifier. It also has a phono input, so a turntable can connect straight to it. The Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III has an MSRP of $3,495.
There are 2 Rogue Audio amplifiers in our database. Below you can see the main specs of these amps.
Rogue Audio Integrated Amplifier Series
Performance Specs
One of the most important factors when deciding on an integrated amplifier is its power ratings and compatibility with your speaker's impedance requirements. The Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III is rated at 100 watts RMS into 8-ohms.
Here are the main highlights of its performance specs:
- 100 watts into 8-ohms
- 4 / 8 ohm output transformer taps - match the tap to your speaker's impedance
How loud will 100 watts actually play in your room? →
Which speakers suit the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III?
100 W into 8 ohms.
We rank every passive speaker we cover against it on power, impedance safety and current
delivery.
Need more power?
Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III is rated at 100 watts into 8 ohms, which puts it in our 91 to 120 watts band. The next band up is 121 to 180 watts, which is worth about 1.5dB more output. That is a real difference in headroom on peaks, and a modest one in how loud the system plays - power and loudness are not the same thing.
Before buying watts, check what your speakers actually need: the amp and speaker matcher works it out from their sensitivity, impedance and your room. Plenty of systems are better served by the 61 to 90 watts band and better speakers.
When pairing the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III with a passive Bookshelf (Stand mount) or Passive Floor Standing (Tower) speaker, you have to check if their Max Power Range is below the max wattage of the amp for the given impedance levels.
Operating your amp outside of this max range may damage the speakers.
What size of room is the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III Amplifier good for?
An essential deciding factor is the size of the room in which you intend to employ the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III amplifier. Here, taking into account its maximum power parameters, we analyzed its applicability to various size environments:
| Listening Environment |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Poor |
| Small Room | Average |
| Mid-size Room | Good |
| Large Room | Average |
| Very Large Room | Poor |
Inputs and Outputs
Besides the performance specs of the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III, the next important feature set that you have to evaluate is the input and output selections that it offers.
Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III has total of 4 Analog inputs .
Inputs
- Total Number of Analog Inputs: 4
- Phono Input
Outputs
- Speaker Outputs
- Yes Headphone Output
Bluetooth Connectivity
Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III doesn't have bluetooth connectivity feature. In order to stream your music via bluetooth, the easiest way is to connect an external bluetooth receiver to your Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III. Two bluetooth receivers that we recommend are the
iFi Zen Blue V2 and the
Audioengine B1.
Among the amps in the same price range, these are the 5 amps that have Bluetooth Connectivity:
Phono Input
Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III features two Phono Inputs which are compatible with
MM (Moving Magnet) type of phono cartridges, you can connect your turntable with MM cartridges directly to this amp without the need for a phono preamp. If you are using an MC cartridge on your turntable, you need to use a phono preamp that has MC phono stage such as the
Cambridge Duo or the
iFi ZEN Phono.
Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III Pros and Cons
Drawn from the published figures on this page, not from listening.
- ✓100 watts per channel into 8 ohms.
- ✓A valve design running 4x KT88 (earlier production shipped KT120), which is the point of buying one.
- ✓4 analogue inputs, enough for a full rack of sources.
- ✓Phono stage built in (MM), so a turntable needs no separate preamplifier.
- ✓Headphone output.
- ✓Made in USA.
- ✗Valves are consumables: they need replacing periodically, and often biasing, which a solid-state amplifier never asks of you.
- ✗Analogue inputs only - a TV, computer or CD transport needs an external DAC.
- ✗The phono stage is moving-magnet only; a moving-coil cartridge would need a step-up or an external stage.
- ✗No Bluetooth and no network streaming - everything arrives over a cable.
Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III External Dimensions and Weight
Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III has external dimensions of (H x W x D) . The unit weighs
24.95 kg (55 lbs).
- Width: mm (")
- Height: mm (")
- Depth: mm (")
- Weight: 24.95 kg (55 lbs)
- Base Surface Area: ~cm2 / 0.0inch2
- Volume: ~0.0 liter / 0.0 gallon
Available colors
Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III is available in Black and Silver color options.
Warranty
3 Years of parts warranty and of labor warranty is generally provided for the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III by the manufacturer.
| General |
| Brand |
Rogue Audio |
| Full Model Name |
Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III |
| Release Date |
2019 |
| Amplifier Type |
Integrated Amplifier |
| Number of Channels |
2 |
| Amp Class |
Class A/B |
| Amplifier Technology |
Tube |
| Tubes |
| Output Tubes | 4x KT88 (earlier production shipped KT120) |
| Input and Driver Tubes | 3x 12AU7, 2x 12AX7 |
| Total Tube Count | 9 |
| Topology | Push-pull |
| Operating Mode | Switchable ultralinear or triode |
| Output Transformer Taps | 4 / 8 ohm |
| Tube Warranty | 6 months |
| Performance |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 8-ohms |
100 watts |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 6-ohms |
N/A |
| Watts RMS per Channel into 4-ohms |
N/A |
| Frequency Bandwidth |
|
| THD |
|
| Minimum Impedance |
|
| Signal to Noise Ratio |
N/A |
| Digital Music |
| Built-in DAC |
No |
| Bluetooth |
No |
| WiFi |
No |
| CONNECTIONS |
| Total Analog Inputs |
4 |
| Phono Input |
Yes |
| Headphone Output |
Yes |
| Removable Power Cord |
|
| Speaker Connectors |
Binding posts |
| PHYSICAL SPECS |
| Height |
mm (") |
| Width |
mm (") |
| Depth |
mm (") |
| Weight |
24.95 kg (55 lbs) |
| Available Colors |
Black,Silver |
| OTHER |
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
How much power does the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III have?
The Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III delivers 100 watts x 2 channels into 8 ohms in ultralinear. Triode operation delivers roughly half that.
Does the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III use vacuum tubes?
Yes. The Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III is an all-valve amplifier: vacuum tubes do the amplifying from input to output. It runs 4x KT88 (earlier production shipped KT120) output, 3x 12AU7, 2x 12AX7 input.
How long do the tubes in the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III last?
Output valves are a consumable. In normal domestic use a set lasts somewhere between about 2,000 and 5,000 hours - a few years for most people - and they degrade gradually rather than failing outright. Input and driver valves last far longer, often the life of the amplifier. Note that the tubes carry their own warranty of 6 months, separate from the amplifier itself - valves are almost never covered by the main parts warranty.
What speakers suit the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III?
A valve amplifier is judged on the speaker's sensitivity, not just on watts. At 100 watts, the safe rule of thumb is a speaker of about 88 dB or better - an insensitive speaker will run out of headroom long before the amplifier sounds bad. It also has 4 / 8 ohm output transformer taps. A valve amplifier has no minimum impedance the way a transistor amplifier does; you match the tap to the speaker, and a speaker whose impedance swings a long way will shift the tonal balance slightly because a valve amplifier follows that curve.
What amplifier class is the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III?
The Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III uses a Class A/B amplifier design. Class A/B is the traditional linear design: it runs warmer and is less efficient than Class D, but it is long valued for its natural, low-distortion sound.
Does the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III have a built-in DAC?
No. The Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III has no built-in DAC, so a digital source such as a streamer or CD transport needs its own converter, or you connect it over analogue.
Can I connect a turntable to the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III?
Yes. The Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III has a built-in phono stage for MM cartridges, so a turntable can be connected directly without a separate phono preamp. It is voiced for moving-magnet cartridges; a moving-coil cartridge would need an extra step-up stage.
Does the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III have Bluetooth?
No. The Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III does not have Bluetooth built in; you would need an external Bluetooth receiver connected to one of its inputs.
Does the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III have a headphone output?
Yes. The Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III has a Yes-inch headphone output on the front panel for private listening.
How much does the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III cost?
The Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III has a manufacturer's list price (MSRP) of $3,495.
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