Rogue Audio Sphinx v2

摘要

Compared to some other contemporary products, this latest £1495 Sphinx v2 seems positively anachronistic - all the more so when there's no built-in DAC, no apt X Bluetooth, and no, it can't stream anything to save its life. It is what it is: an unapologetically old-school integrated amp, albeit with an intriguing mix of ideas inside. Indeed, following the '80s vibe, an MM phono stage comes fitted as standard. The machined aluminium front panel is wide at 394mm and sports four nice metal control knobs including balance. The main power switch is at the back, but a fascia on/off toggles between on and standby. You get just three line-level RCA phono inputs plus the aforementioned MM, while the L/R speaker binding posts sit either side of the back panel. There's a headphone socket too - a good old Vim affair on the fascia backed up by a discrete amp section inside. The remote offers just volume up/ down and mute.