STATUS - SOLD
Click here for more pictures
Description :
The Atlas, part of Rogue's Titan line, is a two-channel, vacuum-tube, push-pull amplifier. One immediately sees that the layout is thoughtful, and elegant in the old-fashion sense of the word. The Rogue Audio Atlas has a robust but sleek profile. On the thick, silver front panel there is a single button -- for power on/off -- and a blue power-indicator LED. A black faceplate is an option, as is a protective tube cage. On the back, there is an IEC inlet, allowing the use of the power cord of one's choice. Completing the rear-panel tour, there are two sets of high-quality speaker binding posts, one set of RCA input jacks, and a fuse holder. A 12AX7 tube, configured as a paraphase inverter for the input stage, splits the signal and inverts half of it, thus creating a balanced signal pair. Those two signals are then fed into a 12AU7 triode driver stage, which boosts the signal voltage to a high enough level to drive the output stage, which uses a pair of KT77 or EL34 tubes.
The Rogue Audio Atlas audio circuitry uses 1% metal-film resistors, ceramic tube sockets, and polypropylene coupling caps. The output stage is coupled to the loudspeaker through an ultra-bandwidth output transformer, which provides both 4 and 8 ohm taps. The transformers' laminations are made of silicon steel, which has a high degree of magnetic permeability, resulting in greater bandwidth. The wires are twisted as they are wound around the transformer's core, a process that further broadens the bandwidth. Dead center on the board is an American-made '50s-style bias meter. A small plate can be unscrewed to allow access to the biasing toggles, and the requisite biasing tool is attached behind the power transformer for safekeeping. The tubes are each individually biased, which means that when one wears out there is no need to replace the entire quartet.
The deepest bass notes of the Rogue Audio Atlas are a bit indistinct, but only in the accents of instruments. As for dynamics, the Atlas is not ideally suited for big, loud music. But it is extremely agile at handling dynamic contrasts; the subtle shifts of emphasis. Just as the Atlas is best at getting the dynamic details at mid-level decibels, it is best at getting the textural details at midrange frequencies. It is a tube amp free of bloat and possessed of nimbleness and agility, and it retains its tube soul. There is a slight dark tilt to its sound, but nothing grossly colored. The highs are present, not etched or rolled off. The midrange and bass are taut, not stuffed with anything extra. The Rogue Audio Atlas delivers plenty of air, shimmer and vibrancy -- in short, musical life. Whatever the recording quality, it is revealed, amidst its touch of duskiness. This turned out to be an imposing combination.
The Rogue Audio Atlas throws a tall and wide soundstage with adequate depth. But it does not map out the layers and layers of instrumentalists as more accomplished amplifiers do. The retrieval of musical detail provided by the Rogue Audio Atlas is natural sounding, never over-done, mechanical or analytical. It shows convincing demeanor from top to bottom. It has a very weighty and compelling presentation that creates a palpable sense of the original performance occurring in real time and space, creating one of the most convincing illusions of thereness heard from amplifiers at multiples of its price. Rogue Audio started with a plan to produce an affordable push-pull tube amp of medium power with a reach into true high-end sound. The result is the Atlas, an amplifier that makes tubes fun to listen to without completely abandoning the drive and honesty of solid-state designs.
Specifications :
Type................................................Two-channel, tubed power amplifier
Tube Complements...........................4 x KT77 (or EL34)
...........................2 x 12AU7
...........................2 x 12AX7
Maximum output power.....................55Wpc into 8 ohms (17.4dBW)
Total Harmonic Distortion..................<0.1% typical, <1% at rated power
Input Sensitivity................................1.0V RMS
Dimensions(w x d x h)......................46 x 45 x 15 cm
Weight............................................22kg
Miscellaneous :
Matching.........................................Rogue Audio Metis Preamplifier
Made In...........................................USA
Condition.........................................9/10
Product Information :
http://rogueaudio.com/Products_Titan.htm
Reviews :
http://www.stereophile.com/tubepoweramps/307rogue/
http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/rogueaudio_atlas.htm
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue39/rogue_audio.htm |