Low I didn't have time to compare in detail including noise levels but both sounded quite good. Pharoah is 3X the price and a good bit larger so to be expected. My dealer who traditionally sells a lot of reasonably pricey tube gear indicated the Pharoah was his absolute favorite sounding amp, which is saying a lot. Pharoah would be a reasonable choice to downsize my main setup where I have lesser need to downsize currently. Sphinx would be for my second system in teh family room were I to pull the trigger. It would fit into my cabinet there and allow me to forgo the TAD Hibachi monoblocks sitting separately on the floor crrently. The possible noise issues reported would be my only concern. I may just stay on the bench for now. These things will only get better over time.
How quiet is your Rogue Sphinx?
I have a new Rogue sphinx, I don't recall the unit I demoed to be especially noisy but I do find my unit to have some noise despite other owners describing the model as 'dead quiet'.
In both 'standby' and 'on' there is a quiet though audible hum coming from the right hand half of the unit (maybe I can hear it through the vent on the top). You need to put your ears pretty close to the unit though.
There is also a similar hum to be heard through the mid/bass unit, audible about 2 feet away. This is aside from the more common 'hiss' that is also present. Oddly if I turn my balance control left all the way, the hum becomes much louder through the right speaker only and can be heard about 10 feet away. If I turn the balance to the right the original hum in the left speaker actually decreases in volume!
I am used to speakers having a hiss but the question I ask is do any other sphinx owners notice this extra layer of hum/buzz that varies with the balance control in this way? Is your actual amplifier unit dead quiet or does it have a faint hum also?
Just trying to figure out if my unit operates typically or otherwise.
Thanks in advance.
In both 'standby' and 'on' there is a quiet though audible hum coming from the right hand half of the unit (maybe I can hear it through the vent on the top). You need to put your ears pretty close to the unit though.
There is also a similar hum to be heard through the mid/bass unit, audible about 2 feet away. This is aside from the more common 'hiss' that is also present. Oddly if I turn my balance control left all the way, the hum becomes much louder through the right speaker only and can be heard about 10 feet away. If I turn the balance to the right the original hum in the left speaker actually decreases in volume!
I am used to speakers having a hiss but the question I ask is do any other sphinx owners notice this extra layer of hum/buzz that varies with the balance control in this way? Is your actual amplifier unit dead quiet or does it have a faint hum also?
Just trying to figure out if my unit operates typically or otherwise.
Thanks in advance.
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- 60 posts total
- 60 posts total