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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 8 responses by clio09

clio09
3,372 posts
 
I'm going to be running a Rowland Capri with Tubes (VAC). Should be an interesting experiment.
clio09
3,372 posts
 
I was unimpressed with the 2 JRDG rooms (Soundings, Jeff was not there). This coming from the owner of a Capri which is a preamp I like a lot.

Of course IMO there were a lot of duds this year at RMAF. However, the minority of rooms that did shine (ironically 3 of them using Atma-sphere equipment) more than made up for it.
clio09
3,372 posts
 
Dave,

Duke's room on Friday was not as impressive (although quite good) as on Saturday. On Friday he had both pairs of his new speaker designs in play and in close proximity to each other (basically side by side) which caused minor imaging issues. On Saturday, he removed the smaller set and the sound was better IMO.

BTW- I'm upgrading my Stormbringers to the Jazz Modules soon.

My favorites, not in any particular order:

Merlin/Joule (Bobby always seems to have a nice set-up)
Galibier/Atma-sphere (vinyl heaven)
Moscode (the new 402 sounded very nice)
VAC/Von Schweikert (both rooms)
Serious Stereo (these guys are for real IMO)
clio09
3,372 posts
 
For a second there I thought I was having a flashback and imagining Bill Feil was engaging Dave and Guido in a pleasant exchange about JRDG products. Then I realized Audiofil does not equal Audiofeil.

In any case I can't imagine larger display numbers than those that are on the Capri. I do wish the balance position could be noted on the display and I really wish someone would explain to my why I can't flip the polarity via remote (manual via faceplate only).

Otherwise this is quite a nice little preamp.
clio09
3,372 posts
 
Heard it today and spoke with Jeff. The wiring is Nordost but quite frankly don't remember the front end as I was there early morning and heard a lot of stuff today. I'll be going back tomorrow.

The sound was very good. Much more impressive than the Soundings room at RMAF.
clio09
3,372 posts
 
Front end is DCS. I will get back to you on whether it was running on battery power or not. I asked Jeff yesterday and didn't get a straight answer, so I'll assume it was not. I was in the room today but focused more on listening.

The set up is very good. I think it tended towards the bright side, but overall a rather detailed and transparent sound. The Criterion is a couple steps above my Capri, but overall it has made me have a greater appreciation for what a great value the Capri is.

FWIW - many rooms at the show appeared to sound bright to me. The set up is difficult due to most rooms having a double tier with railings. The Rowland room was one of these so I have to give Jeff credit for getting as much out of the room as he did.
clio09
3,372 posts
 
The Criterion was definitely plugged in, no battery power.

The room sounded very good today. I ran through a couple of my test CDs and found the system to be less bright and more neutral. Bass was very good too. A very even presentation with a large sound stage. Many rooms had issues with depth and/or off centered image due to the room layout. Not the Rowland room.
clio09
3,372 posts
 
Near the entrance of the Rowland room on a table there were static displays of the Criterion and also the Capri stacked with the Model 102 stereo amp. Not sure how Stereophile could have missed the Criterion that was hooked up to the system. I'm just sorry they never had the battery power supply engaged the few times I swung by.
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