Rogue Audio Ares II Magnum Tube Phono Preamplifier - Black

The Upgraded Take on Rogue's Tube Phono Stage

The Rogue Ares II Magnum is a tube phono stage for moving magnet and moving coil cartridges. Four tubes do the work: two 12AX7s and two 12AU7s. It uses the same core circuit as the standard Ares II. What it adds is a set of better parts inside.

Cinemag "blue label" step-up transformers replace the stock ones. PRP resistors sit at key points in the signal path. Mundorf Supreme caps handle the coupling between stages. Cardas wire and Cardas RCA jacks carry the signal in and out.

Rogue says the changes add gain for very low output cartridges. They also sharpen inner detail. Heavy two-ounce copper boards run through the unit. The outboard supply is fully regulated and built on a toroidal transformer. A timed delay at start-up protects the tubes.

The faceplate is machined aluminum. Inside, silver-plated wire with Teflon insulation links the stages, and a detachable IEC cord powers it. Rogue hand-builds each one in Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania, where it makes its amplifiers too.

Three Gain Settings, Finely Matched Components

Gain has three settings: 40dB, 55dB and 64dB. That is the same range as the standard Ares II. It covers moving magnet cartridges through low-output moving coil. Five loading values are on offer. Capacitance can be set to 0 or 150pF.

Those switches sit under the top cover, not on the front. Five slide switches set the gain. Four DIP switches set the loading, from 75 ohms up to 100k. Rogue is firm on one point: turn the unit off before you move any of them.

A subsonic filter tames rumble from a warped record or a springy floor. A switch on the back drops the preamp into mono, which suits older single-groove pressings. Rogue calls the RIAA curve precise but gives no tolerance figure.

The case measures 17 by 9 by 5.5 inches. Rogue lists a shipping weight of 22 pounds. Most of that sits in the outboard supply and its transformer. Gold-plated RCA jacks take the leads from your tonearm.

Who Is This Preamp Best For?

• Listeners who want the lowest noise floor Rogue's tube phono stage offers. Upgraded transformers, resistors, and coupling capacitors are chosen specifically to lower noise and improve accuracy.
• Owners of very low output moving coil cartridges. Rogue positions the Magnum's upgraded parts as adding useful gain headroom for these cartridges.
• Listeners who want genuine tube sound. All four tubes sit in the actual signal path, not as a marketing accent on a solid-state circuit.
• Collectors who value premium internal parts. Cardas wiring and RCA jacks, Cinemag transformers, and Mundorf capacitors go well beyond typical component choices at this level.
• You swap cartridges often — gain and loading are set on a switch panel under the top cover, not from the front, and Rogue says to power the unit down first. Settle on one cartridge and it is a one-time job. Rotate through several and you will be lifting the lid each time. Our moving coil cartridges list the output and loading figures you need.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Run your turntable's phono cable into the Ares II Magnum's RCA input. Connect its RCA output to a line-level input on your amplifier or preamp.

Set the internal gain and loading to match your cartridge before you start listening. Give the tubes a few minutes to warm up for their best sound.

Pairs Well With

Building your system? Here are some great companions for the Rogue Audio Ares II Magnum:

• Turntables without a built-in phono stage
• Moving coil phono cartridges, especially low-output types, matched to its switchable gain
• Interconnect cables to connect its output to your amp
• Record cleaning machines, because a high-gain phono stage makes surface noise easy to hear

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from the standard Ares II?

The core circuit and gain range are the same. The Magnum upgrades key internal parts, including its step-up transformers, resistors, coupling capacitors, wiring, and RCA jacks, aimed at lower noise and better accuracy.

What tubes does it use?

Two 12AX7 tubes and two 12AU7 tubes, the same complement as the standard Ares II. They're user-replaceable, so you can swap in new tubes as they age.

Do I need a separate step-up transformer for a moving coil cartridge?

Upgraded Cinemag step-up transformers are built in, handling MC gain without any extra outboard box.

Is the Magnum worth the extra cost over the standard Ares II?

That depends on your cartridge and your ears. Owners of very low output moving coil cartridges, or anyone chasing the lowest possible noise floor, are the ones most likely to hear the difference the upgraded parts make.

What's the warranty?

Rogue Audio covers the Ares II Magnum with a three-year limited warranty, with tubes covered separately for six months.

See It in Action

Audiolab Stereo & Video unboxes the Magnum and walks around the chassis:

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Learn More

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