Integrated Amp Reviews

Rogers High Fidelity 65V-1 integrated amplifier Specifications

Sidebar 1: Specifications

Description: Single-ended, tubed, stereo integrated amplifier with switchable triode/Ultralinear output-stage operation. Tube complement: two EF86, two EL34 or KT88. Line-level inputs: 4 unbalanced (RCA). Outputs: gold-plated, solid copper binding posts. Power output (defined in terms of THD): 1W into 8 ohms at <0.5% THD, 10W at <3% THD, 25W peak. Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz, ±0.1dB.
Dimensions: 17" (430mm) W by 7.5" (190mm) H by 12" (305mm) D. Weight: 24 lbs (10.9kg).
Finish: Black powdercoat.
Serial number of unit reviewed: 65015.090517.
Price: $4000. Approximate number of dealers: 30. Warranty: Life, transferable.
Manufacturer: Rogers High Fidelity, 28 Church Street, Warwick, NY 10990. Tel: (845) 987-7744. Web: www.rogershighfidelity.com.

COMPANY INFO
Rogers High Fidelity
28 Church Street
Warwick, NY 10990
(845) 987-7744
www.rogershighfidelity.com
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
tonykaz's picture
Submitted by tonykaz on May 31, 2018 - 5:26pm

... for a Story!

HR does the bestist "Click-Bait" in the Audiophile Business.

I'll tell ya who that might be: Steve G visiting the Bunker delivering an On-Site Vlog Report. That geeky guy with all those Pass Apleflyers stacked up on his Altar to Gear Collecting. The very same guy that pointed me to Shit Asgard Amplification ( back in 2011, along with his side-man Tyll ) , this Guy has more Integrity than nearly anyone in NY,NY for gods sake. On top of it all he's got a way-cool shirt collection. Hmm.

This tiny Amp Review is one of the best Reads of the Year, so far.

Steve G & HR seemed to have survived the big Buy-out, phew, I was getting worried.

I'm still keeping my fingers crossed.

Please suggest that Steve spend some of his Mountainous Patereon Money on a Canon 6D & Vlog Lense system. The lads at B&H are waiting for him to walk thru their doors. Steve G can become the Casey Neistat of the Audio World!

Tony in Michigan

ps. I once owned a Nisson Pulsar 5 door Hatchback with 60 horsepower. It was that fastest little get around car I ever owned, it had to be driven intelligently but it delivered exceptional performance. QRP is a thinking man's effective tool.

ps. My Vote for Quote of the Year: "never heard an EL84 amp I didn't like"

ps. Mr. JohnnyThunder corrected me and my quoting of the quote. it's EL34 not EL84! Thanks Mr.Thunder

johnnythunder's picture
Submitted by johnnythunder on May 31, 2018 - 3:21pm

which is fab especially as I agree. It's the EL 34 tube that he is talking about the EL 84. EL 84s are good but EL 34s are magical.

tonykaz's picture
Submitted by tonykaz on May 31, 2018 - 5:29pm

Right you are !!

I was in too much of a rush, trying to push out that Comment in between two scheduled things.

Plus, I wanted to be the FIRST one to respond, resulting in another proof for the Life Rule : "More haste, less speed" .

Thanks for writing and making the correction,

You da Man!!

Tony in Michigan

ps. EL34s even have a nicer smell. ( if anyone's in to that sort of thing, like I am )

Jason P Jackson's picture
Submitted by Jason P Jackson on June 1, 2018 - 7:28am

I agree. It was this review that convinced me enough to get a yearly subs'. Mags like this one have their fair share of waffle. Nevertheless, good with the bad. And I've been known for my own occasional waffle.

mrkaic's picture
Submitted by mrkaic on May 31, 2018 - 3:48pm

"Now I'm reporting on another class-A, single-ended amplifier, this one really low-powered. The 65V-1 integrated amplifier ($4000) uses EL34 or KT88 pentode tubes—at the time of purchase, the user specifies his or her preference—and is made by mainstream manufacturer Rogers High Fidelity, in Warwick, New York."

KT88 are TETRODES. KT stands for "kinkless tetrode". What an elementary mistake!!

Herb Reichert's picture
Submitted by Herb Reichert on May 31, 2018 - 5:57pm

are Genalex and manufactured by New Sensor:

https://www.newsensor.com/pdf/genalex/kt88-genalex.pdf

they have five elements

mrkaic's picture
Submitted by mrkaic on May 31, 2018 - 6:54pm

...the Genalex KT88 is just like any other KT88. It has the plate, the control grid, the screen grid, the cathode, and a pair of beam forming plates that are both connected to the cathode. That seems like five elements (counting the beam plate pair as one element) but only four different active electrodes exist in this type of tube, because the beam forming plates are connected to the cathode inside the tube. You can see that in the link you provided.

Now, a pentode has the plate and the cathode. It also has three grids: control, screen and suppression. Each of these elements has an active electrode, hence pentode — five active electrodes.

See this, for example https://drtube.com/datasheets/el34-sed2002.pdf

So, Genalex can call their KT88 whatever they want, but according to their own scheme, their KT88 has four active electrodes. The nomenclature depends on the number of active electrodes— Hence KT88 is a tetrode.

jmsent's picture
Submitted by jmsent on June 1, 2018 - 7:17am

the original MO Valve Genalex datasheet calls the KT88 a beam tetrode. The New Sensor Genalex datasheet calls the same tube a beam pentode. The RCA datasheet calls it a "beam power tube". Seems like a grey area.

Herb Reichert's picture
Submitted by Herb Reichert on June 1, 2018 - 8:02am

If memory serves me, MO Valve invented the KT88 and it is as they say: a beam tetrode. But at that time, Phillips owned the patent for the power pentode and therefore all companies not associated with Phillips or unwilling to pay the license fee were forced to make “beam tetrodes” wherein instead of grid 3, the suppressor grid, a beam tetrode uses the concentration of the ion stream to do the same job. I call them all “beam tubes” as that is their common distinction.

I did however, as a proper fact-checking journalist, have to call the Rogers’ KT88s what their manufacturer calls them – pentodes. (Why does New Sensor call them beam pentodes? Don’t know. Maybe the Phillips patent is still in effect?)

But these are just words. To me, beam tubes have a unique sound character of their own, which, depending on the materials used in their construction, can range from turbocharged noisy harsh to beautifully lucid and hyper-detailed – like the original MO Valve KT88 beam tetrode.

Sorry for the confusion

herb

mrkaic's picture
Submitted by mrkaic on June 1, 2018 - 11:36am

You put a lot of effort into fact checking, that is quite amazing. Many thanks.

hifiluver's picture
Submitted by hifiluver on June 1, 2018 - 12:14am

Regarding Fig 2. Does this mean this amp will sound like it has a dip around the human voice with a shrill sound as the frequency goes up? My 15 year old Yamaha surround amp is a Ferrari compared to this Ford Model T.

johnnythunder's picture
Submitted by johnnythunder on June 1, 2018 - 7:56am

would be able to discern the difference in sound quality between the Rogers amp and your "15 year old Yamaha surround amp." Obviously, I wouldn't use the Rogers amp for a home theatre system playing a Michael Bay film but that's another story entirely.

dce22's picture
Submitted by dce22 on June 1, 2018 - 1:15pm

It's 4000 bucks garbage for that kind of money you can buy one of the best if not the best tube amp in the world

Music Reference RM-200

https://www.stereophile.com/content/music-reference-rm-200-mkii-power-amplifier

ironically designed by the other Roger, Rogers needs to step up it's game if it wants to compete with Music Reference.

mrkaic's picture
Submitted by mrkaic on June 1, 2018 - 4:55pm

Or one could buy a Quad VA One, also a superb amplifier.

ok's picture
Submitted by ok on June 1, 2018 - 6:11pm

..a tube guy after all.

mrkaic's picture
Submitted by mrkaic on June 1, 2018 - 6:32pm

I enjoy my little VA One tremendously.

ok's picture
Submitted by ok on June 1, 2018 - 6:47pm

..as I always suspected!

johnnythunder's picture
Submitted by johnnythunder on June 1, 2018 - 7:25pm

for a $4k expenditure. Or that it even looks good (it doesn't in my opinion.) I have no doubt that the Music Reference is a fine sounding amp (it looks great too.) My comment was for the equally glib comparison of the Rogers vs. a 15 yr. old Yamaha surround sound amp.

mrkaic's picture
Submitted by mrkaic on June 1, 2018 - 8:30pm

...probably look better than anything out there. If you can't measure gear, you might be very happy with them -- as was I, for a time. My LM-216 sounded good and looked marvelous. But after I had measured it, I had to return it. I suspect that the thing must have had bad output transformers, since the response to square wave input showed intolerable ringing. So, there you go. Still miss the looks of that amp, but one has to be ruthless with gear that measures poorly. Looks are not everything, ears can be deceived easily, but oscilloscopes don't lie (if you know what you are doing). Incidentally, Quad VA One has great looks and measures well.

johnnythunder's picture
Submitted by johnnythunder on June 2, 2018 - 7:01am

by a group that has obviously done their vintage audio equipment homework. I actually am not looking for a new amp. I have a Lector ZXT-60 hybrid integrated. The design is simple and elegant and has a high wife acceptance factor. She did not want exposed valves. An upgrade for me would probably be for something in the French Audiomat line. Class A. EL 34s. Synergistic match with my French JMR speakers.

woodford's picture
Submitted by woodford on June 1, 2018 - 5:19am

thanks for the great review- it's wonderful reading.

i wonder how the amp might sound w/ KT77s? in my, admittedly limited, experience KT77s provide the saturation of EL34s you speak of, with the punch and dynamics of KT88s. i use them in my Icon Audio ST40 in Triode mode, and they sound fabulous.

btw, the Icon is an amp stereophile should review.

John Atkinson's picture
Submitted by John Atkinson on June 1, 2018 - 11:01am
woodford wrote:
i wonder how the amp might sound w/ KT77s? in my, admittedly limited, experience KT77s provide the saturation of EL34s you speak of, with the punch and dynamics of KT88s.

Years ago I replaced the EL34S in my Michaelson & Austin TVA-10 with KT77s that I had purchased from the M-O Valve Company. My experience was similar to yours.

woodford wrote:
i use them in my Icon Audio ST40 in Triode mode, and they sound fabulous. btw, the Icon is an amp stereophile should review.

As Icon currently has just 2 retailers in the US, the brand doesn't qualify for a full review. (We require a brand be available from 5 or more US dealers.)

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

woodford's picture
Submitted by woodford on June 1, 2018 - 11:37am

I wonder whether the 5 dealer policy should be revisited for an age in which many consumers do their shopping online. assuming of course the online dealer (in this case, Music Direct) is reputable, and services all or most of the country.

in any event, it's a great amp in my opinion, easily competitive with similar amps from Line Magnetic, Prima Luna, et al.

dalethorn's picture
Submitted by dalethorn on June 1, 2018 - 1:02pm

To me, online buying raises the issue of returned merchandise. I wouldn't expect most returned items to be repackaged and sold as new, but premium amps aren't like clothing and other easily exchanged or refunded goods sold online, and I wouldn't expect such dealers to take a beating having to sell the returned items as used.

Anton's picture
Submitted by Anton on June 1, 2018 - 5:01pm

Seems like an online product, to me, as well.

Good return policy, factory warranted online dealer...I'd give it thumbs up!

woodford's picture
Submitted by woodford on June 4, 2018 - 4:17am

John- i wonder whether there's really a material difference between domestic manufacturers like Zu and Schiit that sell direct, and imports like Icon which sell primarily through a single online outlet. Stereophile has reviewed products from both of the former.

tonykaz's picture
Submitted by tonykaz on June 1, 2018 - 10:17pm

I'd have no trouble accepting any of their stuff which sells used on Ebay for around 80% + for a "Previously Owned" current Model.

Besides...

... used eBay prices are a dam good way to evaluate Gear's ability to please "Real" owners.

Tony in Michigan

ps. most Loudspeakers don't do well in the Used Market but those cute little LS3/5s still get mucho dinero ( x5 original Retail Prices )

rt66indierock's picture
Submitted by rt66indierock on June 4, 2018 - 6:53pm

I read your Rogers view just before I left for T.H.E. Show. When I walked into Room 312 and saw the AGD Vivance Monoblock I thought of your first paragraph. Give them Class D in a Vacuum tube and audiophiles will lap it up.

johnnythunder's picture
Submitted by johnnythunder on June 4, 2018 - 7:03pm

I'd prefer Rogers hold down the Class A tube fort the good of all audiophiles (that like low power and the inherent restrictions/sonic benefits of Class A amp that is.) If I could own one Rogers product and had the space for a larger tube phono stage it would be the Rogers PA-1A.

rt66indierock's picture
Submitted by rt66indierock on June 4, 2018 - 10:36pm

This is class D in the tube. Looks like a tube mono amp. Rogue is a hybrid. This isn't.

I listened for a long time to the amp at T.H.E. Show because of the Allen Sides speakers. Because who am I kidding there are things I like and his Eureka speakers have them. Very surprising for a speaker with a port. The Monterey's in a bad room sounded pretty good.

hifiluver's picture
Submitted by hifiluver on June 6, 2018 - 7:00pm

i have a looping video of an open fire place on my flat panel display but it doesn’t keep me warm in winter.

Tubes are funny honeys. They have a freq. response which can be replicated on a solid state amp coupled to a $50 dollar second hand graphic equaliser. The harmonic distortion can be introduced with shareware software. Pity I can’t replicate the lack of clean transparent power with little control over those big woofers.

13DoW's picture
Submitted by 13DoW on June 7, 2018 - 7:50pm

There is very little say that is positive about the measured performance "But props to Roger Gibboni for the useful iPad app" :)

billyb's picture
Submitted by billyb on June 14, 2018 - 9:19am

Mr. Atkinson,
Would it be fair to say this review includes one of the worst test bench results for an amplifier in Stereophile history?
Obviously, with a square wave and distortion like that, there is much to criticize.

We all know test results only tell part of the story from a subjective listening perspective, but when you receive such an outlier on the bench wouldn’t you be doing a service to the readers to expound in a leeetle more detail than the mic drop above implies?

lousyreeds1's picture
Submitted by lousyreeds1 on June 16, 2018 - 8:30am

Herb, I would love to know how Decware's low-watt and VERY affordable SET amps perform in your system up against the likes of Pass, Line Magnetic, Rogers, etc. Seems like with your small space and high-sensitivity speaker collection, Decware could be a good fit.

Thanks for the great review.

dalethorn's picture
Submitted by dalethorn on June 16, 2018 - 12:41pm

I'd add a vote for Decware as well. They put a lot of emphasis on keeping the signal path as clean and uncluttered as possible, even if there's a risk of blowing a component because they don't include as much protection as their competitors.

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