Someone mentioned it would have a phono.....Was that meaning a input, or a on board amplification section.... |
Just spoke to JRDG. Criterion is a linestage. a Phono section will be introduced next year in a separate chassis.
On the subject of size and color of characters on the display. . . the display is a fluorescent panel with 32x320 pixels. All chars are generate via software. numerics will be larger than on Capri. As fluorescent display generates a relatively broad spectrum, JRDG has selected a set of filtering jells that tune the output to a broad-spectrum very-light-quasi-white-blue, which should be usable even with most color distrophies. Brightness will be adjustable; display can be set to turn itself off after 5 secs, or even stay off indefinitely.
G. |
Guido, did Jeff say how it's progressing towards a production date? I've waited nearly a year so far, so if it actually gets out his shop door by the end of this year Ill be satisfied. |
Kawika, during todays' phone chat Jeff appeared to be confident that he will ship Criterion before year end. Guido |
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. |
Hi Clio, here are some possible answers:
The remote control circuit of Capri was designed in the early 90s and has been used on a variety of devices ever since, hence its limitations.
Yes, the Criterion display will show balance state.
The audiophile population is not getting any younger. . . and a number of audiophiles are affected by all too common macular degeneration, cataracts, and various age related moderate sight deteriorations. . . hence the growing need of larger fonts on component displays. I only wish that the info on displays were also exportable via USB for those of us for whom megafonts are not an option. . . but this functionality is not yet implemented in today's generation of devices. G. |
Hah, that's funny about Audiofil vs. Audiofeil. Very different personalities indeed, thank goodness.
I'll vote for a balance display on all JRDG products where applicable. Right out of the box I started pushing the remote buttons for my Continuum 500, accidentally hitting balance instead of volume. Since I didn't know where it was relative to neutral, I needed to power off to reset the center point. With the lesson learned I've not made the same mistake and I have little reason to mess with the balance, but, if I did, it'd be nice to know how to get back to Center.
Dave |
There is balance reset method in your manual. The other, lets call it interesting, thing about the remote itself is that it stops working sometimes and there is a simple fix. Strangely, I have a Grace Design 902 from Mike Grace, an ex employee at JRDG, who has been for sometime running his own shop with magnificent products and still gets the remotes (which are identical) from....Jeff. Something I missed in the GD manual and I brought the remote back from Europe for replacement, when all one needs to do is simply remove the batteries for about an hour for the unit to self reset. Not being able to see the balance is in my view a significant miss. |
Audiofil, if your Capri remote displays occasional emotional issues, you should contact JRDG directly at 719-473-1181.
You are correct about L/R balance reset. Capri manual states that:
"NOTE: To return the balance to the center or 0 dB position, press and hold the MUTE button on the front panel of the preamplifier for 3 seconds. This will reset all microprocessor controlled functions and return the balance position to L/R +/-0 dB."
To the best of my knowledge, future JRDG designs are likely to include balance status indication on the display.
G. |
And of course. . . Criterion does show R/L balance info on the display. |
Guido, it was the Grace remote and I just happened to call JR on another issue.. |
Just managed to obtain one small technical tidbit from Jeff Rowland. . . Criterion utilizes the same oversized input and output Lundahl transformer that JRDG already has used on the 312 stereo amp and the Continuum 500 integrated. In the meantime, Jeff is confident that he will start shipping Criterion before year end. An engineering level unit with AC operation only and engineering level circuit boards is making the rounds of several dealers in Japan. . . in spite of device not being final production version, according to JRDG, reports are that dealers/users much prefer its sound even over the Coherence flagship. G. |
Guido, I was sceptical of your thoughts on the Capri being that good until I had my Wadia CD player upgraded (781) and then moded by Great Northern Sound to Statement level. The Capri has now shown me that my weakness in my system was my source! I won't get into a review here, but WOW is that thing great! If the Capri can show me what I'm now hearing (Avalon speakers) from my system it must be one killer pre. The most incredible thing about the Capri is its price. I know of no other preamp that can touch it for under $10K That Criterion is going to be something very, very special. I can't wait to get mine!!!! |
Yup, little Capri is one amazing device, and still remains my reference linestage. I hope that some day I'll be fortunate enough to compare a Capri and a Criterion side by side in my system. |
Well Gang, we are down to the last 30 days in this year and I sure hope Jeff can get this thing out the door in time for Santa to put it in his bag of Christmas toys to be left under my tree Christmas morning! |
Kawika, I am planning to buzz JRDG this week, and will ask an update on Criterion First Customer Ship (FCS) date. In the meantime, if you are interested, my capsule review of the JRDG 312 stereo amp has finally been published on issue 188 of the Absolute Sound. It's part of the Vienna Mahler Review article,which starts on page 76 or 78. G. |
According to Rod at Soundings in Denver, Kelly, JRDG's office manager, declared that Santa does exist! The factory has just had Criterion First Customer Ship (FSC) a few days ago. Looks like a few lucky audiophile in yet undisclosed locations may get a Criterion under the tree. If I learn more, I'll post here. |
For those lucky stiffs who are attending THE Show in Vegas from Jan 8th through 11th, Jeff Rowland is featuring the Criterion at the Venitian, 30th floor, room 231. All I know about the rest of the system is that it features the JRDG 312 amp and Thiel 3.7 speakers. I suspect that the front end may be the newest EMM single box player, and that wiring may be Nordost (perhaps Valhalla). Sadly, I am not attending, but if you are, please post here any further details and listening impression. Furthermore, if you spot any showblog reports that mention Criterion. . . pls post the URL here as well. G. |
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. |
Thank you Clio, please keep us posted. Do you know if the Criterion was running on battery power or AC? If it is, see tomorrow if you can switch it back and forth and report on any perceivable difference. Guido |
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. |
On Stereophile's blog they say that the Criterion was on static display. I suspect that you're right and they're wrong (I saw it active at RMAF, but on AC only) but I'm wondering what was going on.
I suspect that Jeff ran it on AC and didn't want Stereophile to hear it until they could hear DC. Once Jeff gets the programming finished for this thing I suspect he'll never hire a programmer again. (Necessary evil).
Dave |
If Jeff were indeed using Nordost wiring, it may not be a marriage made in heaven in an already reverberant/bright environment. Guido |
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, it is good to know that complete Valhallas are synergistic on a JRDG-based system. . . Jeff Rowland currently favors Nordost Valhallas. . . I believe he may have them on his entire reference system in Colorado Springs. I have no details on the CES setup as yet. |
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. |
So we just go on waiting for another year? |
I'll call Jeff next week and will find out what the situation may be. Guido |
Spoke to Jeff Rowland today, the Stereophile report of Criterion being on static display at CES '09 appears to be one of those urban legends with an unknown cause. . . Criterion was playing music throughout the show, including during the Stereophile visit. Apparently Criterion was frequently being switched between AC and battery operations. Some units have already been shipped in limited quantities in December and January. General availability will commence as soon as a few residual kinks are extirpated from the remote control microcode. |
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. |
Guido, The Crtterion does have imputs for HT bypass? Is that correct? |
Husk01, I have just called JRDG. The answer is yes, not only Criterion supports theater bypass, but the bypass functionality can be mapped by the user to any single ended or balanced input via the Criterion menuing system. G. |
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Husk01, a limited number of units have been shipped, minus the remote control whose microprogramming is still being finalized. General availability of Criterion will start as soon as all kinks have been removed from the remote control firmware. Guido |
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. |
Guido, Any more updates on when the complete units will ship? |
I need to call jeff in the next couple of workdays on some I will call Jeff in the next couple of days and will ask for an update. G. |
I heard it yesterday, through a crappy Primare CDP and with music that I didn't know, and the first impression was incredibly positive. The silence from which the music emerged was presented was absolute and the air and details of the recording venue where incredibly life like.
I guess someday soon I'll need to lug my Playback Designs MPS-5 over to Soundings to listen with a good front end, more appropriate for the Criterion/312/The Musik setup that followed the lowly Primare.
Dave |
Dcstep, Did the Criterion have the remote working? And where is soundings? Web address? |
Husk, Soundings HiFi is in Denver (Colorado). Best way to get in touch with them is by phone at 303-759-5505. The owner is my friend Rod Tomson. |
Husk, no the remote was NOT fully operational yet. This is a machine with "production" boards, etc., but not released int the US yet, due to ongoing work on the remote. JRDG is right down the road from us here in Denver and Soundings is a long-time dealer; hence, the unit sitting at Soundings, awaiting a firmware update for sales release.
Dave |
Dcstep, Love to here your comments after hearing it with your MPS-5. |
We're probably a few weeks away from me lugging the MPS-5 over there, but I'll keep you guys in mind and try to do it.
Dave |
Dave, you haven't told us yet if you heard the Criterion on batteries or AC. |
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Dave, The whole audiophile community is waiting to here what you think of the Criterion with your MPS-5. BTW you have to sympathize with Jeff because the remote delay seems to be a never ending saga.. |
I use a Capri preamp which I consider to be a very high performance bargain. No matter how good the Criterion turns out to be, the existence of the Capri for a small fraction of the money forces the Criretion and most other statement products deep into the land of diminishing returns. For this reason,and the sheer dollar amount involved, the chances of my ever buying a Criterion are remote. Nonetheless, if the money was in my hand, I would have a hard time turning my back on the gizmo factor. That thing looks pretty trick. |
Husk1, no pressure. ;-)
Macrojack, the gizmo factor is low for me, but the thought of retiring my Continuum 500 and going the Criterin/312 route has crossed my mind. I think that the sound is going to be THAT good. Diminishing returns, for sure. The Capri and Continuum are incredible bargains.
Oh yeah, don't forget, we'll need the separate box Critereon phono-pre (another wait) to fully replace the Capri and Continuum with a Criterion based system.
Dave |
So are the batteries already implemented in the current 2-chassis Criterion? |
Apparently. I understand that the issues are now restricted totally to the remote's functions.
Dave |
