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Special Upgraded Dark Version of a Stereophile Class A "Recommended Component"
The special Dark Version of Rogue Audio's Stereo 100 will far exceed your expectations, even compared to the original model Stereo 100 power amp. It is packed with upgrades for the highest level of performance.
Whether your tastes run to the delicate strains of the violin or the wail of the electric guitar, this power amplifier will thrill you with its precision, musicality, and impact. And with 100 watts of pure tube power, you can be sure that your amplifier won’t run out of steam before the musicians do.
Why a "Dark Version?"
Why do Rogue's special 'amped up' versions of their components sport the label "Dark"? Here's the explanation, according to Ric Mancuso's October 2023 enjoythemusic.com review of this amp, which includes insights from Rogue Audio's designer Mark O'Brien, who happens to be high-performance car and motorbike enthusiast.
Mark explains, "The term Dark refers to the world of high-performance racing machines. When a car or motorbike is presented to a racing team before modifications, it is delivered in a prime black finish, along with requested tweaked competition parts. So, the 'Dark' connotation is of extremely high performance."
Power Supply Upgrades and Other Enhancements
Power supply upgrades are a big part of what the Dark Version brings to this special edition of the Stereo 100. This amp weighs 60 pounds right out of the box, and the power supply transformers constitute a significant percentage of the weight.
The upgraded power supply provides increased storage compared to the standard Stereo 100. Additionally, it boasts Hex Fred high-speed diodes and polypropylene bypass capacitors.
Other Dark Version enhancements include upgraded, vintage American-made small signal tubes, Cardas Rhodium binding posts and RCA jacks, along with upgraded Cardas signal wiring. Also onboard are premium Mundorf Silver Gold Oil coupling capacitors, and Nude Vishay and PRP resistors in critical locations.
More Than Just the Sum of Its Parts
But the upgrades here amount to more than just the sum of the premium parts that are used. Mark O'Brien took huge efforts tuning the Dark Version to take maximum advantage of these new components, voicing the finished amp for outstanding audio performance.
These efforts paid off in full. According to enjoythemusic.com, "It is an instrument that plays the highest to lowest notes without any timbral anomalies or faults. There's a purity and natural ease of hearing music, along with bringing out the very best qualities of all types of loudspeakers." Added to this, Ric Mancuso says, "The Dark is one of the best tube amps I've heard producing bass."
"Earns My Highest Recommendation in Regards to Sonics and Value"
"Remember those McIntosh MC30 tube amps…? The Stereo 100's tank-like build quality, vividly neutral dynamic sound, and timeless styling make it a worthy successor to McIntosh's most adored classic," reports Herb Reichert in his review for Stereophile, which honored the (standard version) Stereo 100 by awarding it Class A "Recommended Component" status. "In my view, the Stereo 100 is everything – sonically, mechanically, aesthetically – that we could hope for in a 21st-century tube amp. Everything about it screams 'End-game tube amp, long-term keeper!'"
"My time with the ST-100 was one of the most musically enjoyable in recent memory," notes Andre Marc in Issue 70 of positive-feedback.com. "It earns my highest recommendation in regards to sonics and value. It is virtually maintenance free, aside from periodical tube biasing. As with all the other Rogue products I have had in house, it was 100% reliable."
"The Rogue Audio Stereo 100 power amplifier is a GREAT product. I have heard no other amp under $15,000 that has comparable levels of control, clarity and consistency of tone," reports 10audio.com in a June 6, 2018 review. " Of course I purchased the review sample. It was one of the easiest buying decisions in my seemingly endless quest for great sound."
Massive Fully Regulated Power Supply
The heart of the Stereo 100 consists of four matched KT120 output tubes operating in push-pull configuration. A massive fully regulated power supply ensures that low frequency information will not go unheard, and that the power and attack of transient musical passages will be recreated in full.
"There are five separate power supplies in the Stereo 100—all of which utilize pi filtering to reduce ripple, thus providing a very low noise floor," notes Rogue's founder, president, and chief engineer, Mark O'Brien as quoted in the Stereophile review. "Both of the Stereo 100's high-voltage supplies use large electrolytic capacitors for storage, all of which are bypassed by high-quality film capacitors. We also use very–high-quality parts throughout the Stereo 100, including aluminum/oil Mundorf coupling caps, lots of Vishay and PRP resistors, as well as Cardas hardware."
Switch Between Pure Triode and Ultra-Linear Operation
With a simple flip of a switch on the rear panel, audiophiles can choose between "pure triode" and "ultra-linear" operation to suit their tastes and power requirements. Output power is 100Wpc in Ultralinear mode and about 60Wpc in Triode. The transparency and power of the Stereo 100 is testimony to a design that truly transcends that of the competition.
The tube complement consists of four KT120 and vintage American small signal tubes. A built-in bias meter simplifies checking and tweaking vacuum tube bias.
More Than Skin-Deep Beauty
While the build quality is readily evidenced in the exquisitely sculpted appearance of the Stereo 100 Dark Version, the beauty of this amplifier is more than just skin deep. From the Mundorf Silver Gold Oil coupling capacitors to the custom wound output transformers, the audio signal travels through only the finest components available. With this winning combination of leading-edge circuit topology, great components, and a stunning appearance, you can be certain that you are investing in an amplifier design that only Rogue Audio can deliver.
