The Master Set optimizes the interaction between your speakers and your room. . . I thought my Mahlers sounded already good as I had 'set them up' by my own self. I was kindly disabused of that notion. While there is nothing magical or Newagish about the entire process, in effect the final result is quasi. . . Magical.
Yes, it would appear the Capri is extremely extended at both ends. Not sure if you could classify it as 'tuby' in the midrange though. I cannot detect an emphasis of midrange fundamentals per se or of subjective 'warmth' that I would not be personally wild about. Rather, I am hearing more harmonic texture than I am used to, which subjectively to me sounds 'musical'. The Capri I have in the system right now is apparently straight out of the factory. . . . how it will sound after 500 hrs of stout breakin can be only left as an exercise to my feverish imagination. |
Guidocorona,is the Capri tubelike in the mid's with extended frequency extremes? I've been considering a tube pre but the WAF would really like something to match the Rowlands. By the way, how did the Master set change or improve things. Have been considering doing that also. |
ConiferDave, by coincidence, Sounding's Rod's Capri was in my system just a couple of weeks ago. He did the Master Set on my Mahlers and 'forced' me to listen to the Capri. . . what a harsh man! (Chuckles!) |
I just acquired a pair of Rowland model 12's and was wondering how the capri preamp sounded. From the above posts it sounds exactly what I'm looking for. I'm currently using an Air Tight ATL-10A passive pre. A trip to Soundings and a talk with Rod seems to be in order. |
Agree with Pause 100%.
I would like to add that I used a 102 amp with a lesser pre (an Arcam Solo with internal amp, bypassed to the 102; dumb setup). The sound was nice, but perhaps a little too velvety. Highs were rolled off considerably and bass was tight but lacked punch.
When I replaced the Arcam with the Capri, it opened up a whole new sound. The velvety qualities remained to some extent, but the highs became much sweeter and crispier, and the bass gained considerable authority.
Having listened to little else, I am no expert, but I can say that the synergy between the Capri and the 102 is superb.
I had an email discussion with another member about the Rowland 102 vs. the Bel Canto S300. The fellow had moved from the 102 to the BC, claiming the Rowland was too laid back. I suspect his preamp was the culprit. With the Capri, I'd call the sound anything but laid back. |
"sweetness and musicality of tubes with the drive and authority of solid state."
Pause, my sentiments exactly. May I quote you if I ever write a review of the Capri for TAS? I should add that the Capri's frequency extension is outstanding, and so is its harmonic richness. I am powering it through a Purist Anniversary PC. I am currently trying to gage the impact of the new JRDG PC1 external Power Correction Factor on Capri. My standard Linestage is the ARC Ref 3. My very initial and tentative impressions is that Capri by itself may compare favorably to Ref 3. Capri being this good, I can only wonder how the upcoming statement level JRDG Criterion is going to sound like. |
The Jeff Rowland Capri is incredibly musical. I'm running it with Dynaudio speakers and the result is hours of fatigue free listening. Very involving musically. The soundstage and depth is expansive, the top end is sweetly rendered with very very little grain. The amp itself is very very quiet with little grain or hum. Tonality is top notch, instruments sound like themselves and have seperation. Bass is solid. The sweetness and musicality of tubes with the drive and authority of solid state. No other way to describe than to hear it for yourself.
Mr. Rowland is an artist. |
Has anyone compared the Rowland Capri and/or Concerto linestages with the Audio Research Ref 3? |
>>> from Nolitan (01-24-07)
>>> the display can be set to display for 3 sec and then blink out or just left display mode on all the time
Hi Nolitan,
Can you advice how to set the display in Capri with the blink function as you have mentioned ??
Thanks a lot. |
the capri list for $2800 or $2700, cant quite remember.
the display can be set to display for 3 sec and then blink out or just left display mode on all the time.
the 102 has been with me for over month, left on all the time, yes, it does improve with time.
still its best left on all the time. |
Thanks, Drubin. As I suspected. I also found directions for setting the Contentra display (which I suspect is similar to the process for the Concerto) to shut off on the website here. Officially looked like more trouble than it was worth. |
Here's what Rowland says about balance: The balance control function operates in .5 dB increments with a maximum available differential between left and right of 6 dB. This is achieved by pushing either left or right balance buttons on the remote. With every push you get a .5 dB increase in that respective channel, for a net differential incremental increase of 1 dB between channels with every button push (because the opposite channel goes down .5dB also). The balance will max out at 6 dB differential between left and right. Balance is reset to center by powering down the Concerto or resetting the Concerto via holding down the mute button (for about 5 seconds) until the display turns off. There is no visual display confirmation of balance status. Regarding the display, they say, "The display can be set to time out, but it is a factory or dealer only modification as it is a bit tricky to do this operation." However, they will walk you through it if you call them. |
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Hi Nolitan - What is the list price of the Capri? Thanks |
Just a tip for the Rowland 201,501, and probably the 102's. Make sure to put about 400hrs on them before you become critical and don't turn them off at the back. They really open up starting at the 400hr mark and get better all the way to the 800hr mark. |
i had the pleasure of borrowing a Capri pre-amp for about two months now with the contention of probably buying it.
Like most posters rowland is smooth and tube like--yup, thats the sound. No grain.
the build quality is like a tank. the remote control is great.
Soundwise, i couldnt complain. Its tubelike though its still not tubes. Its on the warm side of things similar to tubes.
I love its gain since it has 100 steps.
Matching with power amps is no problem. I'm currently auditioning it with the Jeff Rowland Model 102 power amp. |
What's the deal with only 5 inputs though? You would think with all of the components people can have today a preamp should have at least 6 if not more. |
Just came into a Concerto (and a pair of 201s) myself. The build quality is inspiring, carved as they are out of solid, billet aluminum. As has been said before, executed to "NASA-grade tolerances." Heirloom-grade, indeed -- makes most of my other gear, past and present, look and feel like cheap toys. Oh, and they sound pretty swell, too. Prehaps not the last word in fidelity (what is?), but a significant improvement over the prior Plinius / Bryston combo I was using. The combo is at times surprisingly more resolving, while at the same time being absolutely dead silent (totally inert both physically and noise-floor-wise).
I wouldn't necessarily call it a tube-like sound, though, having come from two different tubed pre-amps previously. I would, by perhaps uneducated comparison, say that they present a remarkeably neutral and uncolored presentation. Previously, I had gravitated to generally warmer-voiced stuff, which tended to put a varnish of warmth and forgiveness on everything, making poorer recording more user-friendly and the remarkeable stuff, well, less remarkeable. With the Rowland(s), there's comparatively no varnish -- and the unvarnished truth sometimes aint pretty. (That said, also put all new, balanced, silver wires in with the new gear -- approaching a sufficiently large number of hours in, but I sill expect I haven't hit a final sound). I find myself re-listening to most everything and discovering layers of sound, micro-dynamics and soundstaging info I never suspected were there. And that's pretty cool. So far, really love the stuff. Objectively (ie, opinions other than my own), I've read a quasi-consensus that the Concerto is really special and the 201's are perhaps less so by comparison. Having done it all together, though, I really couldn't say.
That said, Drubin, you up for sharing how to re-center the balance on the thing? Gotta admit, not immediately apparent, not by a long shot. Also, for turning off the display, is the answer that you have to uncork the thing and reset some switches in its guts (read someplace that's what was called for regarding the Concerto integrated)? Aside from these two nits -- which, I certainly agree, could have been better thought out, or at least documented -- I'm a big fan.... |
Drubin: Interesting, their website use to provide manuals in PDF format, but the new website has no downloads of manuals. It's great to hear that you can actually shut the display off on the newer Preamps.
Not Every manufacture can provide Wilson like manuals (truelly amazing, room placement, Acoustic treatment, Test CD's to setup the subwoofers, diagrams, etc..) |
I'm going to disagree a little. I own a Concerto preamp and have owned both the Model 1 and 201 amps. In the case of the new products, which have been on the market for a while now, I think it is beyond shameful that users manuals do not ship with and are not available for them. Balance is controlled in a sort of odd way (actually, in a very poor way from a human factors standpoint) on the Concerto, but I had to write to JRDG to find out how. Ditto for setting the display to shut off.
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Rowland stuff,sometimes,is criticised(wrongly,IMO).These products are built to heirloom standards,and hold up very well as to sound.Also,Jeff is a class act! |
The new double chassis rowland preamp is reported to cost $15k unfortunately.. |
Cytocycle - Do you know what the cost of the new high-end preamp is? Thanks |
The Rowland will be the smoothest Solid State amp you can buy without the hassel of tubes, and will provide the best dynamics and amazing soundstaging. Plus it is a truely balanced component which is noise free!! |
Thanks for the response. The preamp will be paired with a pair of Channel Island Audio D-100 monoblocks, fed by a Cyrus CD8x cd player. The Cyrus is a very good cd player but can be a little bright if paired with the wrong equipment. Your description of the Rowland preamp as smooth and tube-like sounds like it fits the bill. |
I miss my Syngery IIi (one of those components you shouldn't have sold...).... Looks pretty amazing, plus Rowland released a another high end preamp at CES.
The Display and volumn adjustments are amazing on Rowland Equipment!(The Placette Active has the same positive stepped style but the Rowland has the nice display...) The other amazing thing about Rowland preamps is they have no hum or other power problems... I have had 4 other brands (other than my Theta and placette) which have hummed because of power problems even with a balanced conditioner and dual ground rods...
Rowland equipment has that smooth tube presentation without but with the bloom and amazing lower bass attenuation. Build quality is amazing... |
