Looking for advise regarding Rogue M180’s


  Last week a friend gifted me a pair of Rogue M180’s. They were sold as 180’s and I received them from the original owner. Im guessing them to be 10-12 years old. They were used when first purchased for about 5 years sparingly. Since then they have resided on a flat dolly in a spare bedroom. The amps still have the original Phillips ECG 5751 and 5814A’s installed. The original EH KT 90’s are loose in a box with an octet of low hour Gold Lion KT-77’s . Years back when in use the owner contacted Rogue and stated they were too powerful for his room size and speaker selection. Rogue responded by recommending the GL KT77’s and suggesting that he could also lower the bias from 40ma to 30ma. I was provided the supporting emails dated September 2019. Here is my situation followed by my questions. I currently have a low power single ended system with Zu speakers. Second,  the owner stated one might have a hum, but was not sure. He’s on his second complete system since and has a room full of gear he’s lost interest in and his memory is vague. Also back then he had power issues with his provider and stated they installed a new transformer on the street. So my questions are first, checking for any hum. My intent is to take a single amp and connect one JBL 4312 to it. Install the KT77’s, plug it in and listen for a hum and bias the tubes. Do I need the input open or shorted ? Or something else ? Second, the 12AX7’s being replaced by the 5751. I see there’s a mu of 70 Vs 100 with the 12AX7. Does that effect the overall output power of the amp or just change tone and distortion? FWIT I have 6-7 pairs of NOS Telefunken 12AU7’s but zero 12AX7’s. My intent is to check for hum without causing any damage. If a hum exists, I’ll ship to Rogue. In the short term if I’m successful, I’ll test drive with my existing Rogue RP-1, the JBL 4312A’s that are mint and the 26” Sound Anchor stands I have with them. And I’d like to get some Telefunkens to put in the 12AX7 positions. After that, there’s a pristine Rogue Hera that’s been inspected and re tubed  by Rogue that I’ll ask to purchase before I start looking for speakers worthy of the pairing. Also I emailed Rogue for support a week ago and have not received a response. Thanks in advance for any feedback and my apologies for grammatical spaghetti, but I’m limited to an IPhone. Cheers , Mike B. 

buellrider97

Showing 8 responses by hiend2

Hey just saw your thread,

Sorry to hear of your prob, I had something similar with a 120 few years ago

They fixed it promptly.

I have the Apollo Darks, As far as updating to the Darks I would Hold off

Thats $$ and not a day and night difference. Maybe sell yours and pick up a good deal on some darks, Actually the apollos have been coming up for great prices

All the best >im a rogue have had the 120's 150's Zeus and apollo's

Good luck to you

Been following your thread. Good luck to you and rogue service is great.

As you found out on the phone call they take ll this stuff very seriously.

I have an issue with the  old 120 put a output tube in incorrectly due to a broken off center pin. So I smoked the one amp

I called rogue they directed me what to look for and I actually fixed the amp with a couple of resistors, I sent the amp to them for a checkout of course

Ivve been thru the line 120, 150, Zeus, now appllos,

I upgraded the Caps to the Dark level here and Am very Happy with them,

Rogue will gey you there whatever you choose, Great crew there Really.

Interesting of what they find and you decisions are, cant wait to hear.

Hey, cool your doing the dark upgrades! I listen to the  Apollos regularly have them in a Bi-amp setup them on top and am amazed on the added resolution I get over the krell monos That I can swap in.

So Factory no longer send NOS input tubes thats okay, think they had Clear top rca and teles. I have over here Nice sweet 5751's sound quite good in there have them all as well  kt88 Gold Lion  kt90 Electro and kt120 Electro all have a certain signature the Gold lion are smoothest.

Please keep us informed on your factory upgrades!

Rca cleartops might tame the harshness a bit

Too bad your not closer I have a Bunch of sets for those for you to swap in

Found on my rogue monos a Set of Jps Labs Supercoductor interconnects (original Version) was like night and ay

Enjoy your amps

Quite good.

A real sweetheart to put in there is a General Electric 5751 Black plate triple getter