Rogue Audio Triton II Solid State Phono Preamplifier

A Solid-State Alternative to Rogue's Tube Phono Stages

The Rogue Audio Triton II is an MM/MC phono preamplifier built around a solid-state circuit with three stages of amplification. It is a hand-built, US-made design aimed at very low noise.

Rogue's Ares II and Ares II Magnum use vacuum tubes instead. The Triton II swaps that for solid-state gain stages. If you prefer that sound, this is the way into the same lineup. It also skips the tube maintenance and periodic replacement that a tube design brings with it.

A large, fully regulated multistage power supply sits behind the circuit, fed by a toroidal transformer. Two copper boards carry the parts. The wiring is silver-plated and sleeved in Teflon.

Rogue builds the Triton II in the USA, from the machined aluminum faceplate down to the wiring. That hands-on approach runs right through the phono and preamp range. Nothing is farmed out to a contract line.

Extensive Loading for Nearly Any Cartridge

Gain switches across four levels: 43, 55, 60, and 70dB. That range covers moving magnet through very low-output moving coil cartridges. Loading offers eight selectable values: 20, 30, 100, 300, 1,000, 47,000, 75,000, and 100,000 ohms.

Capacitance switches across five settings: 0, 47, 150, 470, and 1,000pF. Between loading and capacitance, that covers far more cartridges than a stage with a handful of fixed positions.

Most phono stages at this price offer four or five loading steps at most. The eight steps here give you room to fine-tune, rather than settling for whichever fixed value happens to sit nearest.

RIAA accuracy is rated within ±0.1dB from 20Hz to 20kHz. A user-selectable rumble filter helps with warped records or a turntable prone to footfall. A front-panel mono switch sums the channels for mono pressings, so an old single-groove record plays as it was cut.

Ultra heavy-duty gold-plated RCA inputs and outputs are provided. It measures 17 by 9 by 3.5 inches and ships at 18 pounds, reflecting its outboard-grade power supply and heavy chassis construction.

All of these settings sit on internal switches rather than a front-panel display. That keeps the signal path simple once your cartridge is dialed in, and there is nothing on the front to knock out of position.

Who Is This Preamp Best For?

• Listeners who prefer solid-state over tube sound. Three stages of solid-state amplification replace the vacuum tubes used in Rogue's Ares II line.
• Owners of hard-to-match cartridges. Eight loading values and five capacitance settings dial in a far finer match than most fixed-step preamps.
• Collectors with mono pressings. A front-panel mono switch sums the channels for accurate mono playback.
• Owners of both MM and MC cartridges. Four gain settings span moving magnet through very low-output moving coil types.
• Your system runs on balanced XLR — the Triton II fits gold-plated RCA in and out only, so a balanced front end wants one of the balanced phono preamplifiers instead.

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Run your turntable's phono cable into the Triton II's RCA input, then connect its RCA output to a line-level input on your amplifier or preamp. Set the internal gain, loading, and capacitance switches to match your cartridge before you start listening.

Flip the mono switch when playing mono records, and use the rumble filter if your turntable or records need help with low-frequency noise.

Pairs Well With

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

• Turntables without a built-in phono stage
• Phono cartridges, MM or MC, matched to its extensive loading options
• Interconnect cables to connect its output to your amp
• Turntables whose tonearm feeds it, moving magnet or moving coil

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from the Ares II?

The Ares II uses vacuum tubes in its gain stage. The Triton II is fully solid-state, with more gain settings and a wider range of loading and capacitance options.

Can I play mono records with this preamp?

Yes. A front-panel mono switch sums the two channels together for accurate mono playback.

Does this have balanced XLR connections?

Gold-plated single-ended RCA carries both the input and the output here. See the fifth bullet above if your system is balanced end to end.

How do I set the gain and loading?

Internal switches set gain, loading, and capacitance for each channel. Check your cartridge's specifications before setting them, and consult the manual for switch locations.

What's the warranty?

Rogue Audio covers the Triton II with a three-year limited warranty.

See It in Action

Audible Elegance walks through the Triton II's performance across cartridge types:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about matching a phono preamp to your cartridge, tube versus solid-state sound, or getting the most from your vinyl collection? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.