All, because of an emergency in Jeff's family, we may need to wait for Criterion a few more weeks. I'll keep you informed. Thanks, Guido |
I bought a Criterion, and I'm going to receive it at the end of February. But now I'm not shure, because, after I read the posts, I think that there is no one Criterion sent for any customer.
I have a Gamut set up, with 2 GamuTs D200 in bi-amp, and I'm shure that my new set up, with 1 Model 312, will be much, much better.
I decided to buy the JRDG devices after I read the messages in this Forum. |
Brazcole, do not give up about the Criterion yet. Units have started to trickle into the distribution channels, although the remote control will be delivered to such customers with a slight delay. As soon as Jeff Rowland returns to the office in early March I'll seek a status update. May I ask where you are located? |
So I'll receive my Criterion on time (I hope). Of course I can wait more time for the remote control.
Thank you very much, man.
I'm from Rio de Janeiro. And today start the Carnival in Brasil, with the most beautifull women in the world.
May I ask if you think that the Model 312 is really amazing? My loudspeakers are the 802D. |
My Criterion just arrived. I hope the Criterion works much better than my GamuT 3Di pre-amplifier, because people say that after JRDG was sold for chineses, they lost his beautiful sound. I will see. |
Huh, I'm not sure what you mean by "after JRDG was sold for chineses". Could you explain. I've visited his shop in Colorado Springs, CO as recently as last fall and Jeff was still there with his assembly crew. His software designer is in Boulder, CO and I met him at RMAF.
Asians have been major JRDG customers for many years, but the designs are developed by Jeff Rowland to please Jeff Rowland's ears.
Dave |
Brazcode, Did your Criterion come with the new remote? |
That is exciting news Brazcole, please let us know the sound as Criterion breaks in. . . we want to know both sound using battery, and using the power cord. . . and of course tell us what power cord you use on it. |
I heard those words in a couple of movies that were English spoken: Get lost, Guidocorona... |
Hmm, there seems to be a misunderstanding... |
Obrigadissimo Brazcole, I did not know that my name was in the movies. Now going back to Criterion. . . you are probably one of the very first lucky audiophiles to receive Criterionin the Americas. That is why we are kindly asking you to write your impressions on this discussion thread. . . . here are some specific questions:
1. Did you receive the remote control for the Criterion?
2. Criterion can operate both connected to the wall electricity (outlet (AC), as well as on its internal battery. Have you already listened to it both on AC and on battery? Was the sound any different? Can you describe the difference?
Finally, it is very likely that the Criterion will need to be used and make music for a few hundred hours before sounding its best. . . the process is often called 'break in'. Please let us know how the sound changes as you 'break in' the unit. Typical interest points are:
. Brand new.
. 25 hours.
. 50 hours.
. 100 hours.
. 200 hours.
. 300 hours.
500 hours.
. 700 hours.
. 1000 hours.
I have created a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to help tracking break in progress. I'll be glad to send it to you if you send me an email.
Grazie mille,
Guido
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Guido, Very nice response. |
Husk, if you think about it. . . English speaking audiophiles may be very well the only kind of humans in the world -- besides insurance scammers -- who actively plan for their precious property to be 'broken in'! (grins!). . . minor idiomatic misunderstandings are more than. . . understandable. G. |
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I would like to see a photograph of the Criterion surrounded by the "most beautiful women in the World", the ones straight from the streets of Rio. I am sure Jeff would like to have a shot like that as well. That would be some carnival! :-) |
A couple of days ago, I received my Model 312. I was a little afraid to buy it, but I read in another sector of Audiogon that "the sound of the 312 is so transparency that is hard to believe that there isn't tubes hidden inside". Then I buy one. That is true. The Model 312 is one of the best stuffs I've buy in my life.
I have the Odin power cord. |
I'll dring to that Brazcole! (means I agree very strongly). I have used the 312 for a year now and absolutely love it. You will see how it opens up when it approaches 1000 hours of playing time! In the meantime, how is your new Criterion doing?
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Just a quick update. . . JRDG is now doing the final assembly of a significant batch of remote controls and remote control receivers. Things are moving in the right direction. The several units already in the channel at this time are still remoteless. Saluti, Guido |
I have seen ;-) and heard the Criterion this morning
beautifully build, the front plate is slightly curved inside ...
one curious thing, the two leds produce a white / yellow light, letters & numbers on the screen are blue pale ... ?
I heard it on following system:
Avalon Sentinel
Pass monos XA-160
dCS Puccini with clock
NBS 1 & Transparent Reference MM2
difficult to say anything else than beautifull as I don't know the system well enough to say what differences exist with other preamps ... but I asked to hear with and without battery. Well it was quite clear in "mi chiamano Mimi" with Katia Riciarelli, orchestra and voice sound more calm, warm, the voice is less "rude" in the Forte parts. |
IMO with the factory power cord, the Criterion sounds better with battery, but the best sound is with a top line power cord.
I'd like to speah English well to decribe with more words the magnificent sound of the Criterion and the Model 312.
Take care, bros. |
Hi Brazcole, which high end power cord have you liked best with Criterion? What about with 312? Guido |
Brazcode, Are you saying that ir sounds better with a high end PC than on battery power alone? Can you explain in more detail? |
Yes, will be my pleasure... after my English lessons. |
Brazcole, what power cords have you used on Criterion and 312? Guido |
A friend of mine ask me to listen to his Ayre KX-R preamplifier. He said it's better than the Criterion. I'll go tonite to his home, but I doubt, because IMO the Capri is the same or even better than the Ayre. Let's see. |
Thank you Brazcole, let us all know the results of your comparison. Guido |
Brazcole,
to claim that the Capri is as good as the KX-R is laughable. I have owned both. Also comparing preamps in
systems that are other than your own is a crapshoot at best.
On another note, when you want to make a statement, your knowledge of English seems to be fine. However, when others ask you a question, you seem to forget the language. What gives ? |
Let's go.
Yesterday, I took my Criterion to my friend's house. And my Capri also, because I would like to sell my old Capri to him if he likes better than his Ayre.
IMO the Criterion is 200% better than the Ayre KX-R. The sound stage is much stronger and transparence. My old Capri, with 2.000 hours, I could say soud the same with the KX-R. So I didn't sell it. Better, I'll keep it with me by pleasure.
The cables was all Valhalla, except for the speakers cables that was a Reference Musical Cable (good stuff, anyway, from Dinamarq).
His amplifier is also the Model 312, and the source was the CD-3 from GamuT. |
That is great Brazcole! Did your friend also prefer Criterion better than KX-R? Obrigado, Guido |
He's a new friend that I knew only after I got my Model 312. I bought my Capri from a musician times ago, and the pre stay with me for about 600 hours. When I decided to have a pre with 2 pairs of XLR outputs, for bi-amp, I bought the pre D3i and 2 stereos D200 from GamuT.
I demo the Odin power cord for a couple of days, but I'll keep my Valhallas. The Valhallas IMO is more strong, as I prefer.
In a couple of week I will demo the Odin XLR.
Let's see.
And, Pinkus, sorry if I disturb you, kid. |
Brazcole, Jeff Rowland also uses Nordost Odin power cords, Interconnects, and speaker wires in his own entire demo system.
Will your new friend replace his AYRE KX-R with a Criterion?
Saluti, Guido |
Brazcole,
enjoy your new Criterion. I am convinced ... as we speak, I am using my KX-R to hammer in some nails into my wall (need to hag a picture). I will pick up a Capri as soon as I can. |
I wonder why JRDG seems to be using Cardas inside his products and Odin outside, these are two completely different cables from the caracteristics they have |
Naaahh, Pinkus, using the KX-R as a hammer to hit some nails into your wall is a crapshoot at best.
You can keep this preamp if you want. Very beautifull sound, no doubt about that.
On another note, I always think that flat cables for speakers was a bad technologie because only very few companies make those cables, but I think I'm very wrong, because if Jeff Rowland uses the Odin flat cables in his speakers, this cable must be extremely good. |
Clavil, JRDG has used internal Cardas wiring for many years in its products. Conversely, Jeff has adopted the Odin external wires in his own stereo system only very recently, in the last several months I believe. G. |
Guido, I find this a little bit strange because the Cardas (I am not talking about the Clear which seems to be quite different) are cables more on the dark and warm side and the Odin at the opposite on highest resolution and speed ...
but maybe it's like french cooking, you put sometime a little bit of sugar before salt & pepper ... ;-) |
Clavil, Internal wiring and external ones need not be the same. JRDG has used Cardas internal wires for many years. There is obviously no telling what internal wiring JRDG may adopt in future products. Personally I am extremely partial to Furutech Evolution (external) wiring for JRDG gear. I have not heard Jeff's setup with Nordost Odin, so it is difficult for me to comment on it. G. |
When I visited Jeff in his shop he talked about being amazed at how different an amp or pre-amp could sound by changing one or two internal wire. He held up three or four little micro-strands of wires, all of which he'd tried in some recent project. He does a lot of iterative testing in development and might use copper in one application and silver in another, all selected by ear.
Like Guido says, just because he uses a specific brand in a specific application today, doesn't mean that he'll use that in all future applications.
Dave |
Brazcole, Do you have the new remote yet? If so, how do you like it? |
When I visited Jeff in his shop he talked about being amazed at how different an amp or pre-amp could sound by changing one or two internal wire I am pers. amazed how ext. cables can change the sound, I have been using my wife and friends to corroborate that I don't suffer under acoustic hallucinations ;-) |
of course in blind hearing tests ... |
No, the remote control AND the Criterion's Manual will send to me later. It's OK, because the software for the Menu is very easy to work. Anyway, JRDG e-mail me that will be soon.
My next step is check if the Ayre 5x is better than my GamuT CD-3. After I've got my JRDG devices I'd like to get the best source I can buy in Brasil. |
Ah yes of course Clavil. . . I also do ONLY totally blind listening tests. . . won't do it any other way (grins!)
Brazcole, I have used TEAC Esoteric X-01 Limited with my JRDG Capri and 312 with fantastic results. G. |
I talk with the Esoteric dealer here. They have the X-01D2, and they said to me that Esoteric makes devices for DCS, Pagannini or Puccini, and the Esoteric CD player is much better than DCS.
So I think it's a perfect combination for JRDG. |
Brazcole, I just returned downstairs after 1 hour listening to Inna Poroscina playing Dvorak on piano (Dvorak complete piano works on Brilliant Classics). . . your post makes me smile with delight. . . My TEAC X-01 Ltd coupled with JRDG gear brings out the raw passion, Schmertz, pathos of the music. . . unadulterated by any polite editorializing. I like to feel 1 with the composer and with the performer. . . I want to be compelled to sing along works that never had lyrics, in languages that I do not even speak. The only player I like better than the X-01 Limited (or D2) is the Esoteric P03/D03/G0S stack. . . unfortunately my beloved wife, who knows I am more passionate than sensible, tells me I can't afford it! Ciao, Guido
PS. one word of warning. . . TEAC players take at least 1000 hours to break in. . . for the first few hundred hours they sound. . . terrible! |
à propos remote: today I let fall the remote of my Capri on the wooden floor (some 50 cm) ... pang! it broke in two separate parts ... only 50 cm !!
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Clavil, better the remote than the Capri. |
Guido, Any word yet on when Jeff might be able to release the Criterion remote? This must be very disappointing for him. I would not expect to see any more user reviews until he can release the remote. |
Hmmm, the thread just passed the 10,000 viewings mark sometimes during last night. I'll try to get some juicy tidbits on Criterion from JRDG to post here early in the week. Guido |
All, the Criterion will be featured and demonstrated at the upcoming High End 2009 show in Munich Germany. The show will be open from May 21th to May 24th. I have heard rumors that Jeff may be attending in person.
Jeff Rowland Design will be represented by
Taurus High End GMBH, in Halle 3, Stand D14-E09.
You will find more information about the Munich High End 2009 show at:
http://www.highendsociety.de/english/home/index.php
Guido |
