{"product_id":"rogue-audio-cronus-dark-integrated-amplifier","title":"Rogue Audio Cronus \"Dark\" Integrated Amplifier","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"max-width:720px;margin:0 auto;padding:32px 24px 48px 24px;background:#ffffff;\"\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.25em;margin:0 0 0.35em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eWhat Rogue Changed to Make the Cronus Dark\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eThe Cronus has been Rogue Audio's flagship integrated for two decades. It has been through three major revisions. In October 2023 Rogue went back into it again. The Cronus Dark is the same pure-tube platform, hand-built in Pennsylvania, still 100 watts per channel. What changed sits behind the front panel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eThe name comes from motorsport. Rogue's designer Mark O'Brien puts it this way: \"The term Dark refers to the world of high-performance racing machines. When a car or motorbike is presented to a racing team before modifications, it is delivered in a prime black finish, along with requested tweaked competition parts.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size:1.05em;margin:0.9em 0 0.25em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eOne Box for Records, Headphones and Speakers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eThe phono stage takes moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges. Two gain settings give you 45dB or 60dB. High and low output cartridges both work. Five load settings let you tune the match. A headphone circuit and a full preamp stage are built in alongside.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eA Triode\/Ultralinear switch changes the amplifier's character on the fly. Ultralinear brings the most power and a firmer grip on bass. Triode is softer and more romantic. Rogue covers parts for three years, and the tubes for six months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.25em;margin:1.4em 0 0.35em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eWhere the Dark Upgrades Actually Land\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eThe changes are in the parts, not the concept. The power supply carries 25% more capacitance. The signal tubes are upgraded. So are the op-amps in the phono stage and the speaker binding posts. Capacitors and resistors are upgraded in numerous key locations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eRogue does not publish the full component list for its Dark versions. That is worth knowing before you buy. You are trusting the result rather than reading a bill of materials. What Rogue does state is where the upgrades went.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size:1.05em;margin:0.9em 0 0.25em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eBorrowed From Rogue's Bigger Amplifiers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eThe architecture is a triode preamplifier feeding Rogue's Atlas Magnum power amplifier. A large oversized linear supply stores energy for bass control and headroom. Signal paths are kept short. The circuit is built as a low-noise design throughout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eThe headphone stage is the interesting one. It uses MOSFET buffers built for high current. It is essentially a simplified single-ended version of Rogue's standalone RH-5 headphone amplifier. Difficult headphones are not a problem for it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.25em;margin:1.4em 0 0.35em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eWho Is This Integrated Amplifier Best For?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cul style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;padding-left:1.4em;line-height:1.6;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYou already wanted a Cronus\u003c\/strong\u003e — the Dark is the same platform, with the power supply, tubes and passives upgraded.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYou play records seriously\u003c\/strong\u003e — both cartridge types work, with two gain settings and five load settings to match.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYou drive demanding headphones\u003c\/strong\u003e — the circuit derives from Rogue's standalone RH-5, not an afterthought on the output bus.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eYou want to hear triode against ultralinear\u003c\/strong\u003e — the switch works on the fly, so you compare on the same track.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIf you want the DAC and streaming built in,\u003c\/strong\u003e the Dark is analog only — every input on the back is an RCA jack. Add one of our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/collections\/digital-to-analog-converters\" style=\"color:#8a5a2b;\"\u003eDACs\u003c\/a\u003e and it plays anything.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.25em;margin:1.4em 0 0.35em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eHow Does It Connect to Your System?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eA turntable goes straight to the phono input. Set gain and loading to suit the cartridge. Line-level sources connect on RCA, and your speakers land on the upgraded binding posts. Headphones plug in at the front, into a circuit good enough to sell the amp on its own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eSet the tube bias at setup, choose triode or ultralinear, and play records. Rogue's own video below walks through the biasing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.25em;margin:1.4em 0 0.35em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003ePairs Well With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eBuilding a system around the Cronus Dark? Start here:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;padding-left:1.4em;line-height:1.6;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTurntable:\u003c\/strong\u003e The phono stage handles either cartridge type — browse \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/collections\/turntables\" style=\"color:#8a5a2b;\"\u003eTurntables\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpeakers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Efficient designs let triode mode stretch out — see our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/collections\/floorstanding-speakers\" style=\"color:#8a5a2b;\"\u003eFloorstanding Speakers\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeadphones:\u003c\/strong\u003e An RH-5-derived circuit deserves real headphones — browse \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/collections\/headphones\" style=\"color:#8a5a2b;\"\u003eHeadphones\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpeaker Cable:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rogue upgraded the binding posts, so terminate properly — see our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/collections\/speaker-cables\" style=\"color:#8a5a2b;\"\u003eSpeaker Cables\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.25em;margin:1.4em 0 0.35em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size:1.05em;margin:0.9em 0 0.25em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eWhat is upgraded compared with the standard Cronus Magnum III?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eRogue specifies 25% more power-supply capacitance and upgraded signal tubes. The phono-stage op-amps, the binding posts, and capacitors and resistors in numerous key locations are also upgraded.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size:1.05em;margin:0.9em 0 0.25em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eDoes it have a phono stage for my turntable?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eYes, for both moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges. You get 45dB or 60dB of gain, plus five load settings. High and low output cartridges are both covered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size:1.05em;margin:0.9em 0 0.25em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eCan I switch between triode and ultralinear while music is playing?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eYes. The Triode\/Ultralinear switch is designed for on-the-fly changes, so you can compare the two modes on the same passage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size:1.05em;margin:0.9em 0 0.25em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eWill it drive hard-to-drive headphones?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eThat is what the circuit is for. It uses MOSFET buffers capable of high current sourcing. The design is a simplified single-ended version of Rogue's standalone RH-5 amplifier.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 style=\"font-size:1.05em;margin:0.9em 0 0.25em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eWhat does the warranty cover?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eRogue Audio covers parts for three years from the date of retail purchase, and the vacuum tubes for six months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.25em;margin:1.4em 0 0.35em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eSee It in Action\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.5em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eAaron Jenkins reviews the Cronus Dark for \u003cem\u003eThe Absolute Sound\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ciframe width=\"100%\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/l_gs1oZ-92w\" title='Rogue Audio Cronus \"Dark\" Integrated Amplifier Review | AJ Reports...' style=\"border:0;margin:0 0 0.9em 0;display:block;\" allowfullscreen\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.5em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eRogue Audio's own channel demonstrates biasing, using a standard Cronus — the procedure is the same on the Dark:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ciframe width=\"100%\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8WuIQ5dAPCg\" title=\"Biasing a Cronus\" style=\"border:0;margin:0 0 0.9em 0;display:block;\" allowfullscreen\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.25em;margin:1.4em 0 0.35em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eWhy Audio Advisor?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cul style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;padding-left:1.4em;line-height:1.6;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e40+ Years of Expertise — Since 1981, we've helped over a million music lovers find the right gear.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e60-Day Money-Back Guarantee — Take your time. Listen, enjoy, and make sure it's right for you.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReal Experts, Real Help — Our team is here to answer your questions at 800-942-0220, weekdays 9am–6pm EST.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFree Shipping — On orders over $49, delivered to your door.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFlexible Payment Options — Financing available so you can start listening now.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 style=\"font-size:1.25em;margin:1.4em 0 0.35em 0;font-weight:600;\"\u003eLearn More\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp style=\"margin:0 0 0.9em 0;line-height:1.55;\"\u003eWant to learn more about tube amplifiers, phono stages, or matching headphones to an amp? Visit our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/learningcenter.audioadvisor.com\/\" style=\"color:#8a5a2b;\"\u003eLearning Center\u003c\/a\u003e for guides, tips, and expert advice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Audio Advisor","offers":[{"title":"Black \/ New","offer_id":45981634560173,"sku":"NEW-RACRODK-BLK","price":4495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Silver \/ New","offer_id":45981493133485,"sku":"NEW-RACRODK-SIL","price":4495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/3708\/1773\/files\/RACRODK_SIL_01_2023__90439.1724901438.1280.1280_e3ce1d4a-14db-400b-a38f-9f367d465052.jpg?v=1778147606","url":"https:\/\/www.audioadvisor.com\/products\/rogue-audio-cronus-dark-integrated-amplifier","provider":"Audio Advisor","version":"1.0","type":"link"}