Thanks for sharing your experiences with the Rogue monoblocks. Wonder if I’ll run into a similar situation regarding the static in addition to the left channel. Pre-purchase, I’d been emailing with Bill at Rogue about an ST-100 and using my Marantz Model 30 as a preamp. He suggested I take a look at the Pharaoh II.
Rogue is slightly over an hour from me, so hoping I can just drop it off. Interesting thought on the dark upgrade. I was not aware that it was available for the Pharaoh II . I’ve read positive reviews about to dark upgrade for the Cronus. As you mentioned maybe if the repair could be covered with the purchase of the dark upgrade that might be that way to go.
With respect to the PST-8, I had the Rogue plugged into one of the unfiltered sockets and the Marantz SACD30N into the filtered socket. I never A/B tested the sockets, I figured the digital source might benefit more. However, it might be redundant as I have a Shunyata V12 NR power cord on the Marantz SACD 30N. All The Marantz Model 30 and SACD 30N combo were very silent and laid back musically, but I felt that my speakers needed a bit more punch which I feel the Rogue added.