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New Rowland Criterion 2-chassis battery pre

Jeff Rowland Design has just created a page for its upcoming statement-level, twin chassis, battery powered full function preamplifier. Detail is still scant, but a little bit of info is already available, in addition to front and rear view pics. Here’s the page:
http://jeffrowland.com/Criterion.htm
And here’s the front view:
http://jeffrowland.com/Criterion-front.htm
And here’s the rear view:
http://jeffrowland.com/Criterion-back.htm

You will find a few specs already on the site. JRDG should be publishing more info in the next few weeks. I will post here as I receive it. in addition to the published specs that you can read on the page above, here are a very few additional tidbits that I have learned this far:

. Uses Burr Brown TI OPA1632 high speed fully differentially balanced modules.
. Includes phono stage.
. Uses standard NiMH D-cell batteries available in most electronics stores, loaded in 2 rear-inserted tubes of power supply chassis.
. Capable of AC/DC operation . . . will recharge batteries on independent circuit during AC operation.
. Full remote control
. Target price $18K (not sure yet)
. Availability: probably early Fall 2008.
. Will be featured at RMAF in Soundings Hifi suite Marriott 503 or 505 from Oct 10th to 12th in Denver.

And sorry folks, I have not heard this device yet. Nor I have any good third party reports on its sound. Any speculations on Sonics from my part would be just. . . pure speculations. I’ll keep everyone posted as I learn more.

Guido
guidocorona

Showing 12 responses by cappuccino

cappuccino
124 posts
 
Guidocorona,
yes, keep us posted. Looking forward to hearing your impressions of the Criterion pre.
cappuccino
124 posts
 
Guido,
thanks for your update. This sounds very promising! And like you are having a good time over there:)
cappuccino
124 posts
 
Valhalla is the best cable I have had in my system with 301 monos. The trick was to have Valhalla all the way. When I had Valhalla only partly in the chain, the sound was too bright and edgy, but all Valhalla has made my 301 shine as absolutely fantastic amps. I have compared against Stealth Indra, Synergistic Research Apex/Precision Reference and Wireworld Gold. Valhalla is the clear winner.
In another system (Cary, Sonus Faber) I have done the same test, in that system Synergistic was the winner, Indra second and Valhalla third.
cappuccino
124 posts
 
Video with Jeff Rowland on CES:
http://uk.cinenow.com/videos/2003-jeff-rowland-2009

The system i DCS Puccini, Jeff Rowland Criterion preamplifier and 312 amplifier, Thiel 3.7 speakers and Nordost Odin cables.
cappuccino
124 posts
 
So are the batteries already implemented in the current 2-chassis Criterion?
cappuccino
124 posts
 
Kawika,
unfortunately I have no experience with the Criterion. I have Burmester frontend with the 069 cd and 077 pre, both in the reference line. I just love what these products did with my system so I must admit I am leaning more towards getting a full Burmester system than getting the Criterion. I had the 301 amps before I invested in the Burmester gear. If cost wasn´t an issue I would get the huge 909 monos from Burmester, but I would like to know the Rowland 925´s performance and if they maybe could be a better alternative.
cappuccino
124 posts
 
I also have a 501 that I use for my center channel. It improved a lot when I got the PC-1, but was still definately behind my 301´s.
But believe me, it improved even more when I later on connected the PC-1 to my Burmester 948 which is powered by a Nordost Odin power cord!! Now I think the 501 are almost in the same league as my 301´s - got to throw in another pair of Odins I think! BTW, I think someone mentioned audiophrenia in this thread...
cappuccino
124 posts
 
I have a pair of the latest 301´s and also very interested to know how these new 925 amps will sound in comparison.

What I have found out during the years I have owned my 301 is that they are are extremely neutral, but also very sensitive to other equipment and cabling. You can get very different sound from them dependant of the rest of your gear. I think many have underestimated class D products because of this. As I see it the amps in the Rowland 300 series have a tremendous potential but require a lot of the owner to reveal this potential, maybe more than with traditional amps. Maybe that also is one of the reasons of slow adoption of class d amps in the high end market.
cappuccino
124 posts
 
Guidocorona,
I believe it is the same difference as for the stereo amps, I mean the old 302 against the current 312. I have not heard the old 301 monos or the 302 stereo amp so I can not comment on the difference myself, but those who have say the new model is quite a bit better.
cappuccino
124 posts
 
Or Burmester 077 which I use with mye 301´s?
cappuccino
124 posts
 
Brazcole, you should be careful if you plan using different amps on your speakers top and bottom. I know it can be done successfully, but it certainly isn´t easy.
cappuccino
124 posts
 
Ok, let me explain more in detail. This is how my 501 amp for the center channel gets it power:
Wall outlet -> Nordost Odin power cord -> Burmester 948 AC conditioner -> Nordost Brahma power cord -> Rowland PC-1 -> T+A custom built power cord -> Rowland 501.

The main reason why I have the Odin cord from wall to the Burmester 948 AC condition is because I also have my two channel front end gear connected to it. So get me right, I did not buy the Odin with the purpose to use it with the 501! That us just a bonus the way I have set it up.

I have not connected my 301´s to the 948 of two reasons; the 948 has not enough capacity for that I think and also I have two dedicated AC lines for my 301´s. The power cords I have for the 301´s (Wireworld Gold Electra) unfortunately are not in the same league as Nordost Odin. That is the reason I said that the performance from my 501 are almost in the same league as my 301´s and why I also think I need two more Odins (for mye 301´s).
Hope this helped.
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