A question about my Rogue Sphinx II amp


Hey all,

Just starting out building a new hi-fi system. I picked up a Rogue Sphinx II second hand after demoing it at a hi-fi store. The amp sounded amazing compared to others so i found a second-hand deal as many of these forms suggested buying second hand as a first system.

Anyway, so I don't have my speakers yet.. so I've been listening to records through the headphone jack on the amp. 

One thing i noticed was after listing for about 10-15 minutes, i feel like i keep needing to bump up the volume on the amp. I know the whole ear fatigue thing, but I'm not really playing the music that loud. I'd start out at about 30% volume, then 10 mins later need to go up to 50%, then eventually im almost at max volume. 

Is this normal? Do i need to change the tubes?


128x128moogroom
((((Hey all,

Just starting out building a new hi-fi system. I picked up a Rogue Sphinx II second hand after demoing it at a hi-fi store. The amp sounded amazing compared to others so I found a second-hand deal as many of these forms suggested buying second hand as a first system.))))So you had the poor Jack ass dealer schlepping amps around for you and then bought it used after he helped you. that is theft of service. I would go back to that dealer and A thank him and maybe a small show token of appreciation so that you could be fair with him and yourself. Perhaps this would help you with also growing a set.
 was probably me anyways.
 Best JohnnyR
Lol theft of service ? You’re not owed anything as a sales rep. It’s sales. Get use to it Johnny. Given your attitude on a simple online form, I could imagine customers dodging your service as a dealer. Perhaps your just projecting your feelings on the subject. 

And that “Poor jack ass dealer” your mentioning, I sent him 3 clients, personal friends of mine, that each spent over 20k on a system. Clearly it wasn’t you. 
If you have something of value to add to this convo please do so. 
I wouldn't go so far as to call it "theft", but using a dealer's time like that and not purchasing from them is definitely not cool.

In regards to your actual question, many integrateds don't have very powerful headphone amps.  I didn't see any specs about the Sphinx's headphone amp.  If your headphones are hard to drive, the internal headphone amp might not be up to the task.  

The tubes are probably fine.  If one or more of them is glowing, or if you hear ringing, or noise, you might have a bad one. 

Wait until you get your speakers and see how it sounds.  
Lame.  You can read reviews on line, buy used at a good price and then resell with little to no loss.

You are wasting someones time when you go pick their brain for info, demo their equipment, decide to buy it but only at the lowest price from someone who didn’t help you out at all??

Why is it so hard for people to understand why this isn’t cool?  This type of buyer will eventually put all of the knowledgeable, helpful sales people out of business.  
My advice to these people is to “grow a pair” and just be totally upfront with these sales people when you are wasting their time.  Upon initial meeting of said sales person just tell them the truth.  Tell them you are strongly considering buying a certain component but need their expert advice, knowledge, time, and that you’ll need a demo but that you will not buy from them because you place no monetary value on the services they provided to you.

Again, lame.  Hopefully your Rogue is broken and you are sol.