Rogue Audio Cronus 12AU7-12AX7 tubes choices

Thanks for your suggestions. For sure, I'm also planning to upgrade the power tubes with SED Winged "C". I already had Winged "C" KT88 with another amplifier and the improvement over Valve-Art stock tube was incredible.

I'm very happy with the Cronus. I purchased it new to my local dealer here in Montreal, Canada. For me, it's important to have the warranty with a tube amp because they are not the most reliable machine on earth but the sound they produce worth it.

Already, the "out of the box sound" of the Cronus is great but I know that it can be improved with better tubes.

To Michael, which are the other candidates? On my side, I was interested also by Leben, VTL and Luxman's EL34 based designs.

Finally, anyone tried 12AU7 NOS RCA clear top with the Cronus?

I agree with the above comments about enjoying the amp "as is" for a while. I'm doing this since I have it and I already have many hours of intense listening on it.

At that time, I'm looking for tube suggestions from you "Goners" as I want to have an idea about where to go and look and to be ready if a deal pass by. But I'm not on a hurry.

About the center 12AU7, mine is totaly blank. I don't have any idea of what brand and year it is. Should I ask Mr. O'Brien what it is? Do you have the same kind of tube on your Cronus?

Anonymoustao,

Well, let's continue off topic because I don't have other way to communicate with you. First, I still use Harbeth SHL5 and I really appreciate them. In the last year, I had the chance to try many amplifiers with them. I had a great time with two Luxman and I like both the L-505u and L-590AII. The 505u have a dryer bass with the SHL5 but on every aspects, the L-590AII is more interesting with these speakers: voices so natural, fabulous sound of strings instruments, easy on the ear, refine, musical and organic.

The main reason I went back to a "cheaper" amplfier ($2000 vs. $9500) is that I judge that in my system and budget limitation it wasn't worth it. So, I switch back to the Rogue Audio Cronus, which we talk in this thread.

Surprisingly, with the Harbeth, the Cronus does things that even the L-590AII didn't. Good for me! The soundstage is wider and deeper and the timber of intruments are more accurate.

The influence I had to go with the Rogue is that my Harbeth dealer often demo them with Harbeth speakers and that combination plays MUSIC! So, I demo the Cronus at home and enjoy it. It was my first time with EL34 tubes amp and I like it so much. I don't have any regret about the switch I made and I've got back few thousands in my pocket.

Finally, if you'd like to have other information on this subject, we could create a new thread. I'll be happy to contribute.

Let me know.

Is there any of you that use 6211 tubes instead of the 12AU7? I know that they are not compatible with every amplifier but when they can, they are a good improvement.