Rogue Sphinx V3 Integrated Amp

Rogue Sphinx V3 Integrated Amp: $1600, 100×2

Rogue has just updated its mighty Sphinx integrated amp. It is now V3. Rogue has improved on all facets of this classic product. Here’s a bit more info intended to make you salivate.

Sphinx V3 still uses a pair of 12AU7 tubes in the preamp section. They are employed to do more work now than in the past, so the sound warms up a bit. A great piece just stepped up a notch. The price includes Rogue’s Skeleton remote, of course.

Linear Power Supply

Sphinx uses a linear, not switching power supply. Audiophiles stay up to the wee hours debating such things. I’m a fan of this decision!

Mark O’Brien, Rogue’s owner/designer, uses the linear supply to achieve a warmer sound with Sphinx than “the other guys” do with SMPS (switch mode power supply) designs.

I am won over by Mark’s choice. I’ve heard the same advantage with NAD, where they run a linear supply in their integrateds. Rogue achieves a pure analog, nicely burnished flavor with Sphinx.

Amps with SMPS invariably have a harder, edgier sound. You might ask, then why use them?
The answer is, you can deliver more power CHEAPER with the switching supply. If your need is for bigger punch than warmer sound, SMPS might be for you. It isn’t for me.

Suppose you made a 300×2 power amp with a hearty linear power supply. It would likely weigh 60 plus pounds. A comparably powered amp with an SMPS would likely run half that!

Clearly SMPS allows the manufacturer to brag about more watts per dollar. Further, the amp is lighter and can ship cheaper. Butttt… is that what you really want? Would you prefer a louder grungier sound to save a few bucks?

Hence my warning to you is, if wattage seems particularly high for the money from company XYZ, check to see if the power supply is LINEAR or SMPS. It does matter.

Line Stage

The line stage has been improved for clarity and to prevent overloading. A pair of 12AU7 tubes are used both in the line preamp and variable output stage.