ARC Ref 3, Rowland Concerto, or Capri line stage?

Guido

you and I know all too well that their are many terrific preamps out there BUT IMO "all" pale in comparison to the Ref3

Hi Doc, as you know, when I auditioned pres to replace my LS2B, the only linestage that satisfied me was the ARC Ref 3. . . and I soon became a very happy Ref 3 owner. Since that time, I have auditioned a few more line stages, and in most cases I still prefer the Ref 3. However, I have been very favorably impressed by at least 2 devices, one of which the now discontinued Rowland Concerto, which I heard at RMAF on a jaw-dropping system. . . hence this thread. I have not heard the newer little Capri -- less expensive than the Concerto -- but it is said by mpore than one to outperform the older Concerto. . . In the meantime, no one has really heard the new JRDG Criterion flagship under field conditions. . . it will start deliveries later in the Spring. . . but Criterion is said to be an all out assault to the state of the art. . . and I sure would love to conduct a comparative analysis with it and the Ref 3.

Hi Guido, indeed the new capri outperforms the older Concerto at least in the hearings I have done.
The capri in all hearings sounded more clear a little more dynamic and same musical as the Concerto.
The Capri is power factor corrected as Jeff told me and all the new products are (312,102 etc).
If you put the factor price when the Capri seems a bargain in this money.
I believe that you must hear it in order to have an personnal opinion for the new age sound of Rowland gear.

Very interesting Periklis, I did not realize that PFC was already implemented on Capri and 102. I agree completely that 1st hand audition of current JRDG gear on own system is in order.

Based on a conversation I had with Jeff, I don't believe the Capri is already power factor corrected.