How quiet is your Rogue Sphinx?


I have a new Rogue sphinx, I don't recall the unit I demoed to be especially noisy but I do find my unit to have some noise despite other owners describing the model as 'dead quiet'.

In both 'standby' and 'on' there is a quiet though audible hum coming from the right hand half of the unit (maybe I can hear it through the vent on the top). You need to put your ears pretty close to the unit though.

There is also a similar hum to be heard through the mid/bass unit, audible about 2 feet away. This is aside from the more common 'hiss' that is also present. Oddly if I turn my balance control left all the way, the hum becomes much louder through the right speaker only and can be heard about 10 feet away. If I turn the balance to the right the original hum in the left speaker actually decreases in volume!

I am used to speakers having a hiss but the question I ask is do any other sphinx owners notice this extra layer of hum/buzz that varies with the balance control in this way? Is your actual amplifier unit dead quiet or does it have a faint hum also?

Just trying to figure out if my unit operates typically or otherwise.

Thanks in advance.
big_katydid
Thanks for following up on the thread. I was wondering how it turned out. I, too, gave up on the Sphinx in pretty short order for the same reason. Hope you find something that you enjoy.
What did you end up buying? I was looking at integrateds and researched for a year and have a lot of data if you need it. I travel and was able to look carefully at many different products.

I found that a pure tube amp would be the only way to go.
Hi Everyone -

I purchased a used Sphinx a couple of weeks ago. I'm enjoying the amp paired with my KEF LS50's. However, I stumbled upon this thread after researching Sphinx hum/hiss/static.

The actual unit is dead quite but there is an amount of static coming from the speakers that wasn't there with my previous NAD amp. It's only audible a foot or so from the speakers. It increases with volume change but not significantly. I have noticed when balancing all the way to the left, the right channel becomes more audible.

I guess the main question I have is if this is attributable to the normal "noise floor" of the amp? It is minor.. but it is there. More curious to know if the amp if preforming as it should.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated. I'm awaiting a response from Rogue Audio as well.

Thanks,
Joe
Had this amp, had this same problem, and returned it. The noise increases when you turn the volume up or down right?
I have yet to purchase a replacement amplifier, for the time being I am using some pro equipment to run my speakers.

Jspively, apparently the original version sphinx does have this noise issue, some may not object but in comparison to say a NAD 365BEE that I auditioned it is very noisy, the NAD is almost dead quiet even with an ear to the speaker (at least with my ears). The sphinx does run very cool though which is a plus.

When I audition an amplifier now I check it for practicality first: noise, good use of the volume rotation (I hate sensitive designs that jump to full power almost immediately with loud CD's), heat.
To go a bit further.

I did feel a bit burned with the noise issue on the amp, Rogue suggested it was a product of implementing valves and class D, unfortunately my dealer had a no return policy after home demonstrations, I did not notice it until the unit was purchased (I did not at that point check amps for noise on demo) I probably could have got a refund/exchange had I argued the noise issue but stayed with it as in practice during use it was not noticeable when sitting away from the speakers.

I accepted that amps will make some noise, until checking out the aforementioned NAD, it was easily the quietest amp i've (not) heard. My old naim nait 3 by comparison gives a slight audible hiss.

Hopefully sphinx V2 has fixed the hum/buzz and it is perhaps telling that V2 comes so very quickly after the release of the original model. I'm surprised such an obvious flew was not picked up prior to release of the original. It is disappointing as had the sphinx been quiet I would no doubt still own it.
Yes, Sphinx V2. It is not my main amplifier, but used on my computer workstation with Magnepan MMG that are 4 feet behind my desk. I can hear a hissing noise that is present all the time, and when increasing the volume knob the hissing noise takes on a higher frequency overtone. The tubes are new production, low noise and microphonics selected.

My previous class d on the workstation was a Peachtree Nova 220SE, which was quiet, but lacked emotional involvement, and with 33 months of usage the power input relay died so it cannot turn on.

My main system has Magnepan MG12 with two ampflification options. AES Sixpacs, or class d Channel Islands D200 with a Primaluna tube preamp. No hissing noise in either case there with class d and tubes, as they are separate chassis.

In every class d amplifier, I’ve always used adhesive ERS sheets on the interior of the chassis. As the adhesive version fullsheet is hard to find these days, I have not been able to apply it to the Sphinx V2 yet to see if it makes a difference.
i have a marantz intergrated amp. it is dead quiet. humming amps- not so good. at least not for me. i do not want a humming, nor buzzing amp. sometimes s problem with a tube, sometimes a ground problem, sometimes a resistor, and usually a problem with a transformer. i have very sensitive speakers and no noise at all from the marantz amp. at the same price range i believe marantz would be a better buy. or even yamaha. rogue has their problems, but they are riding high on that made in usa wave. I will also say that listening to the cronus, and to a Jolida Fusion 3502S amp at a dealer in Indy the 3502S had a nicer sound quality. Rogue is maybe over rated. There are many dealers and companies offering great service. Thanks for the posts. Not nearly so many consumer reviews of this amp as for the Jolida JD1501BRC amp. Now I will cross Rogue from my list. Focus on a Yamaha or Jolida amp. Thought about a Jolida JD1501P hybrid power amp with a Schiit preamp. Or a Yamaha A-S1000 amp. 
I have a Rogue Pharaoh hybrid integrated. Have had it for 3 years now and have had zero problems with this unit. It has a tube preamp section. Any tube amp will produce some residue hiss. This type of hiss is so faint in my amp that you have to put your ear up to the  speaker to hear it. If you listen to your speakers with your ear up against them, well, I guess you might have a problem.

boband212, I have listened to the amps you talked about and have had the opposite impression. The Rogue Pharaoh will blow that Chinese stuff out of the water....IMHO...lol
i see Steve guttenberg talks with the sphinx designer where he says some V1 units (1-2%) had an issue with noise related to DC offset? anyway not sure if that was something that could have been rectified back then but aggravatingly I did trade mine at a loss simply because of that very high noise floor. I enquired with rogue about this and my dealer back then, I should have been more aggressive on trying to get a refund. The only time I really felt like I'd been let down by a product in my audio.