Rogue Audio Sphinx V3


I'm interested in purchasing the Rogue Audio Sphinx V3 based on all of the positive reviews for not only Sphiunx V1-V3, but several of the other Rogue products.  Fundamentally I believe in the "bang for buck" type of products, and that there are always a handful out there.  For example, I've been extremely please with my DALI Ikon 2s which I'd put in the same bucket.

Separately I very much like the concept of each piece of equipment doing one job.  I understand that this is an Integrated, and maybe one day I'll get my dream of all separate components.  I mention this because the Sphinx is pure analog.  I like that all of the funding that went in to this component hasn't been "wasted" on features.  To complete the picture, I'm using a Pro-Ject Carbon SB and a Pro-Ject Tube Box S.  I'm extremely curious about comparing the phono pre-amps.  At some point I will add a digital source, but while I'd really like that to sound exceptionally nice, my focus is on the analog.

As I've yet to read a negative review on any of the Sphinx versions, I was hoping I could get some opinions specific to the V3, and hopefully some insight to the pairing with the DALI Ikon 2s.

Thanks in advance for the feedback!
msafrick

Lived for 2+ years with a V1 Sphinx that I bought used ...and loved it. In December 2021 sent it back to Rogue in PA and they did the V3 upgrade. It was a definite improvement and I'm glad I did it, but not light years. The phono stage actually, is light years better. Overall, the tone got even clearer and more detailed without losing it's subtle sweetness, and never getting dry, etched, or anything in that direction. It also doesn't sound particularly "tubey" in the old sense at all. I rolled in some 1964 NOS Mullards to enhance the tube-iness a bit and love the results. Of current production tubes I like the Genalex Gold Lion reboots slightly more than the stock JJ Tubes but the difference is minimal. The tubes and Class D section work some definite magic together.

I've driven all kinds of speakers with it effortlessly from across the sensitivity/efficiency spectrum. Magnepan, hard to drive, need current, 87 db - 4 ohm. Klipsch Chorus 2, hyper efficient 99db, 8 ohm. And, in between, Energy RC-70s towers, 90db, 6 ohm.    Sphinx is good to go, with anything.

Mine also has the home theater bypass option in place of fixed-level outputs. With the flip of a switch it can be a power amp. It's a huge value.

Sounds great. I'll definitely be looking at Rogue products in the future. 

 

Anyone experience a noise issue when using the MM section of the phono Amp In the Sphinx v3? I ask this because John Atkinson of Stereophile mention this issue during his testing/measurements...however Herb made no mention of any issues in his review. How is the headphone Amp? It was supposed to be an improvement over the previous versions....

I just purchased a v3 last week and it exceeds my expectations considerably.

it’s replacing a Croft phono integrated and they says a lot

Running it with Harbeth P3xd 

I bought the V3 in June 2020. I am consistently amazed every day how great this thing sounds for $1700. Easily worth twice that imo. The phono preamp is also unbelievable, currently running a Quintet Red mc but looking to upgrade to a Hana SL. Only issue is that the Hana likes to be around 500 on the load, but the choices on the Sphinx in that neighborhood is 300 and then 1k and 47k. Herb Reichert reviewed the Sphinx and chose 300 on the load for the Hana EL. 

Back to the Sphinx....this anp will be legendary some day at price/performance ratio. 

 

 

 

V3ers - What are some good speakers that will play nice with the V3? Focal 826 or MA Silver 500? Any other good choices?

Probably something on the mellower side, but I haven’t tube rolled my V3, still have the 12au7s in there. I’m wondering why I would tube roll when Mark specified those in this? He must have tried others no? Cheers