decooney

thank you.

i actually did all the possible upgrades to the Cary SLP98 a couple of years ago. I loved the sound of it with any amplifier I put it with but wanted to simplify my system. Never been really happy with the Cronus as it did not have a tube sound at all. I mean it sounds good but missing that sparkle. I hope adding the Cary back in with the stereo 100 might bring that back.

I took your post and ran it through ChatGPT. I recommend doing the same. I found the output interesting... But I don't want to clutter up the forum with lots of ChatGPT posting.

Ghdprentice

recommended doing what? The Cary with the rogue stereo 100.

"@dylanfan Never been really happy with the Cronus as it did not have a tube sound at all."

And in reverse with this tube preamp..., and by putting sterile caps in your 98 preamp, and with lower grade or super neutral sounding 6SN7s in it can lean results towards less of a "tubey" sound or more of a general solid state type of sound too.   

When they did your upgrade to the 98 a few years back, do you have the documentation which lists what caps were put in it, selector switch stock/updated or not to Grayhill, and which main front/rear 6SN7s are in it now?

Running your post through ChatGPT. I just did it... and added what would be the sonic differences:

Fun dilemma—you can’t really lose here. The two paths will sound different more than they’ll differ in raw power (both are ~100 W/ch with KT-family outputs). Here’s how the voicing and behavior typically shake out:

What changes sonically

Cary SLP-98P ➜ Rogue Stereo 100 Dark (separates)

• Tone & midrange: More “golden” and saturated through the mids (6SN7 magic). Vocals feel rounder, image bodies get denser; stage projects a bit deeper.

• Top end: Silkier, a touch sweeter; cymbals have more sheen than bite. Perceived air increases, “edges” soften slightly.

• Bass & drive: Weighty and tuneful but a hair looser vs the Cronus pre stage; macro-dynamics bloom rather than slam. Pace is easy, unforced.

• Soundstage: Bigger/deeper with more front-to-back layering; images float with a little more “holography.”

• Noise/gain: Slightly higher gain and tube rush possible if you crank with no signal, but with your speakers it’s a non-issue. Keep interconnects short to preserve top-end sparkle.

Rogue Cronus Magnum III ➜ Dark upgrade (integrated)

• Tone & midrange: More neutral and linear. Still tube-rich, just less rosy—tends to disappear and let the recording call the shots.

• Top end: Cleaner “ring” and transient definition; more sparkle/etch on leading edges, less glow.

• Bass & drive: Tighter, punchier, better stop/start—you’ll feel kick drums and bass articulation firm up.

• Dynamics: More immediate attack; a bit more PRaT and rhythmic grip.

• Noise floor: Typically quieter as a single chassis; the Dark parts (caps/resistors/wiring) lower grain and sharpen focus.

With your speakers

Magnepan .7 (4Ω, current-hungry, ~86 dB)

• Favors the Cronus 3 Dark: The integrated’s tauter bass and higher apparent damping give Maggies better panel control, faster leading edges, and image focus. You’ll hear snappier transients and cleaner bass lines.

• Separates: Gorgeous midband and scale, but you may notice softer bass grip and slightly relaxed timing on dense or bass-heavy material. Lovely for strings/voices; a touch polite on rock/electronic.

Falcon LS3/5a Gold Badge (15Ω, ~83 dB)

• Favors Cary + Stereo 100 Dark: These thrive on midrange color and dimensionality. The Cary’s 6SN7 bloom + Stereo 100 Dark’s body makes voices spooky-real, expands depth, and smooths the tweeter’s handoff.

• Cronus 3 Dark: Still excellent—more neutral, with crisper imaging and tighter bass from a tiny box, but a bit less of that LS3/5a “liquid” charm.

When to choose which

• Choose Cronus 3 Dark (integrated) if:

  • Space and simplicity matter.

  • Maggies are your main speakers.

  • You value control, speed, and bass definition over romantic color.

  • You want a very low-fuss, low-noise setup that punches.

• Choose Cary + Stereo 100 Dark (separates) if:

  • You want maximum midrange allure, image density, and depth.

  • You spin a lot of vocal, jazz, chamber, or acoustic.

  • The Falcons see significant use.

  • You enjoy rolling 6SN7s and fine-tuning flavor.

Cost/benefit reality check

• $1,400 Dark upgrade on Cronus 3: Big bang for buck. You’ll hear clearer transients, tighter bass, lower haze—especially obvious on Maggies. Easiest path, strongest resale continuity.

• Buying the Stereo 100 Dark and using the Cary: A larger total outlay and two chassis (more tubes, more heat), but a “heirloom” tube sound with deeper stage and richer tone. Best synergy with the Falcons.

Quick recommendation (given your rack/space note)

If you lean Magnepan and want convenience: upgrade the Cronus 3 to Dark—you’ll likely prefer the grip, speed, and focus.
If you find yourself listening more to the Falcons or you crave that classic tube bloom and depth: dust off the Cary + add the Stereo 100 Dark.

If you want, I can sketch two tube sets (driver/input + outputs) that nudge each path exactly where you like—e.g., slightly warmer Cronus Dark, or a snappier Cary/Stereo 100 combo to help the Maggies.