Rogue Audio. Reliability issues? Anyone?


I recently have been loving an Atlas Magnum power amplifier. I had a tube go bad, a fuse blow, and now red-plating. All of this could be related. But I am trying to decide if I want to pay shipping both ways ($90 each way), pay Rogue’s $175 bench fee (minimum) and then spend ungodly amounts on tubes that are hard to find.

I have friends, two to be exact, inform me that Rogue is notorious for this crap and their amplifiers are money pits. Is this normal tube stuff? Should I go for it or cut my losses and buy something else. I really love the way it sounds amd I really want to love Rogue. 

128x128nickrobotron

@Robotron I think it’s just bad luck, I doubt you’ll have issues going forward, if there was a design issue w the amp it would be common knowledge by now. I hope things go smoothly after you get the amp back, the sound is worth it.

Regarding power tubes, as others have said, no need to match if you have some form of bias adjustment. I actually just went back to the stock KT88s that came w my Willsenton R8 to preserve the life of my Golden Lions now that they are so much more expensive, and I can’t really say I notice a difference. And one of my original tubes is different because it was a replacement they sent me after one of them arrived with noise issues, so I know for sure I don’t have a matched set. In fact the internals look slightly different then the other KT88s. Lol it’s stamped KT88 but for all I know it could be a 6550. Sounds great though and it’s been about two weeks since the swap.

Well here is an option,

Pull the cover and look for any obvious burned resistors.

Find one replace it. Chances are thats all it is.

I had a M120 pair like an idiot-- I put in a tube without a Centering pin

Roasted 3 resistors,

I called rogue service told them Didn't feel like shipping it across the country, Serviced said look for any obvious burnt parts, I found 2 resistors replaced them and works fine. Took 10 minutes. Maybe not an option.

Alos might be time to look at a Class D replacement.

Good luck. Rogue has Great service. Have had 6 amps of theirs.

Running Apollos now.

Regarding power tubes, as others have said, no need to match if you have some form of bias adjustment.

Measured power and distortion?

Checked for HF oscillation?

I've owned my 99 Super Magnum pre for

25 years. It's not had so much as a hiccup.

 

My Atlas Magnum blew a rectifier once,

but that was my fault: I fumble-fingered

The power button.