Guido,
Thanks for the quick response.
Mark |
Guidocorona, That is interesting that you do not use such a world class pre-amp versus digital direct to amp, I have been doing direct to amplification since 1996, I have never looked back ever since, your impression's by doing this is spot on with what I hear on my system. |
Hi Mark, you are correct... Criterion was by far my reference preamplifier, and would still be my reference if I had a mixture of digital and analog sources.
But, as I use only digital sources.... and only one of them at that, Criterion was wasted... I now go directly from the wonderful Rowland Aeris DAC into the Rowland M925 monoblocks. The sound is fabulously resolving, fluid and immersive, and intensely lyrical... And the system is absolutely without any background noise what so ever.
Guido
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Hello Guido,
Curious as to what preamp you are using now? Thought you had the Criterion.
Mark |
All, it looks like Criterion is no longer shipping. The current Rowland flagship general purpose preamp is Corus. For single source digital-only applications, Rowland suggests that the Rowland Aeris DAC feeding an amplifier directly, may yield even higher resolution. I have not tried the Rowland DAC in my system yet, so I cannot supply any personal impressions on this device. |
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Ian, try to determine if perhaps one of the seats for the balls is slightly deformed.... slightly too deep or slightly shallow... or is slightly misaligned... At which point the best thing to do will be to contact the JRDG factory. G. |
Hi Guido,
Yes I have used the Delrin balls supplied and have moved them around just in case one was faulty but it always rocks on the back left. I will check out the Knowledge base. Thank you.
Regards
Ian |
Rowland ships Criterion with 4 Delrin balls that connect the audio chassis to the control unit. Have you put all 4 balls in place?? There is no apparent rocking motion possible with my own Criterion pre.
For more detail, se the article on stacking the Criterion Chassis on the JRDG Knowledge base at:
http://jeffrowlandgroup.com/kb/questions.php?questionid=397
G. |
Hi to the forum,
Has any Jeff Rowland Criterion owners noticed that the control unit rocks slightly on the preamp, back left side? or is it just mine.
Thanks for any response. |
Hi Claude, your info and my own coincide .... I also heard about 725 towards year end, and 925 at an undefined time after that.
Guido |
Could anyone compare the Corus and (actual) Criterion side by side? |
Guido
I have heard also that the next amp to come out also by end of the year will be the 725 ... the 925 is still not "ready" |
Claude, I have heard such an unconfirmed rumor as well .... But I have no idea of what changes there might be in the aledged new Criterion version. Does anyone have any info? G. |
it seems that the Criterion will be replaced (upgraded?) by end of the year by the the Criterion SC |
Here is very enthusiastic review of the Corus:
http://hifi-unlimited.blogspot.com/2011/06/sensational-corus-jeff-rowland-corus.html |
The Corus and Criterion are essentially the same preamplifier design (compare internal pictures - their circuit boards are almost exactly the same) - so the gain range will be the same. My maximum volume range on the Corus is 60 to 65 - which is not excessively loud that it will drown out conversation. The Corus is very detailed and quiet which facilitates enjoyable moderate volume listening. |
Husk, I have no direct experience with Corus. However, Corus and Criterion have very similar gain characteristics. G. |
Guido, Would that also be true for the Corus? |
Jackson, turning up volume to about 80 or more is normal on Criterion. At 80 you have not even reached unity gain.
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Guys,,, on my Criterion I often have to turn it up to 80+ to get a good volume, is that normal for you guys or do you guys don't have to turn it up that loud ? |
There is now a JRDG FAQ in beta state. The Criterion section has just over 130 entries. See: http://jeffrowland.com/knowledgemanager/categories.php?categoryid=25 |
Hi Braz, my Criterion is doing very well and it's making wonderful music... And sends you his best regards. |
and what about the Chorus ? |
Guido, what's up?
I think everybody is waiting for more words about the Criterion?
You are the soul of this forum. |
Thank you, Cappuccino
I was thinking it was something like plug and play, because in the past I used 2 GamuTs in biamp. But with 2 differents amps you might have tech situation.
Anyway, day after day I like my 312 more and more. Well, its bass sound is better than GamuT's bass sound. |
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. |
Hi Braz, Final Model 625 power ratings and related tech specs have not been published yet. We are all still waiting. Guido |
I try my Gamut 200w power amplifier in biamp driving the high frequency of both loudspeakers and the Model 312 driving the low frequency of both loudspeakers.
Before, when I put only low frequency sound (zero high frequency), the 312 had a much better definition.
I think if you have a combination with the future JRDG 625 stereo power amplifier with its 300w drinvig the high and the 312 driving the low it will be the PERFECT MATCH. Something like a audiopholic haven.
Anyone knowns what will be the 625's Maximum Power Consumption?
The 312 has 2000 watts.
Thanks. |
All, here is a correction to information I have posted earlier, repeatedly. . . and ever incorrectly. . . apologies, my bad:
The upcoming Model 625 will be a stereo amp, NOT a monoblock implementation. It will apparently be the companion piece for the equally upcoming Corus pre.
As for various specs and availability, I have no further information. G. |
Macro, did you mean. . .
My kingdom for a 'source'..... (grins)
But yes, JRDG parts and subassemblies are manufactured mostly by military contractors. Only final assembly is performed in house. |
Yes, Guido, SOURCING. None of the parts in a Rowland product are manufactured in house, although many are dedicated designs made to Rowland spec. They can't complete a product until all of the sources fill their orders.
My kingdom for a horse.....
In any case, the Corus chorus should resume before summer. New list is $12,200. |
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I just got off the phone with Kelly @ JRDG. Corus is without a certain launch date as yet. Parts supply is one holdup. Anticipate no more than 90 days till launch but sourcing is the variable. |
Kclone, I have just checked with the factory, and Corus has not been released yet. I'll keep monitoring periodically. G. |
Hi Kclone, I will buzz the factory on Monday and will post what I hear from them. Guido |
any new updates on the corus? |
I personally have never heard FM acoustics preamp ...
I know the Criterion and the Viola Cadenza (the cheapest preamp from Viola) but heard in diferent rooms on other systems ...
I was very impressed by the 3 D precision of the Viola ... but how would have it performed in the same system in direct comparison with the Criterion ???
This is exactly what I would love to know ;-) |
oh yes! ...
but strangely these kind of tests seem to be very difficult to realize in our hobby
imagine calling three diferent dealers and telling them about the exercice ... |
I have not had the opportunity of performing a side-by-side comparison with Burmester, Viola, or FM Acoustic. Any of these would make for a very interesting analitical review project. G. |
Or Burmester 077 which I use with mye 301´s? |
have you compared it to FM Acoustics or Viola ? |
Yes How true Guido. I died a Thousand times waiting for the Criterion. (2 years!)It is better than I though it would EVER be. I would actually go as far as saying it is irreproachable ! Yes Virginia, it is THAT good. The only other pre amp I've ever heard that comes close (but with lots less air aruond instruments, and less definition in the nether regions) is the Gryphon Sonata Allegro. |
Love the one you're with. Corus anticipation could be a lengthy process. And it will only lead to the next anticipation. This thing is like climbing an endless stairway. It's just a series of plateaus that you die anticipating....... |
No, I have no delivery date on Corus yet. I will check again this week. Guido |
Guido, Did you get a delivery date on the Corus yet? |
David, I do admit freely that there are a lot of amps with greater authority than 312. My old Rowland 7M monoblocks for example, had comfortably greater authority than 312. . . after all, 312 peaks at 40 amps for a fraction of a second, while the old 7Ms peak at 50 Amps continuous. Having said that, I really would love for you to visit my system and bring your Wadia player along for the ride. . . I am not at all experiencing shiness in the bass region, on the contrary. My room is relatively dampened. It may be a matter of different speakers, CDp, and cabling. . . or simply different personal preferences. And while I do listen to music at relatively high volume, I probably never get 312 to near clipping situations.
I found your observations about Criterion sound extremely a propos. . . 'majestic' is definitely one of its sonic attributes. . . . and it is rather unflappable even when it yields very high dynamic swings.
I found that 312 is very sensitive to power cords. . . including what it does in the bass region. This far, some of the very deepest and cleanest bass has been with Shunyata King Cobra power cords, and Furutech High Performance ICs and speaker wires. I have further found that good power distribution also contributes to a tuneful, deep, and linear bass performance. |
In my loudspeakers the low frequency of my 312 is hair-raising.
I still have one stereo GamuT D200 MKIII. As we known Gamut is a wonderfull device. At least more or less, I guess.
Side by side, in my set up, I gave C to GamuT and A+ to the 312 in the low frequency region.
So I think it's very good. |
Nice pictures of CES Guido. Thanks for the link! I took my Criterion up to a friends over the weekend for a listen in his system. (Wadia 922/931 fed by 781i, Rowland 312 into Aerial 20t MKII via Silent source cables everywhere. The room was fully treated, but on wood upper floor.) The first listen was obviosly direct digital to amp for about 5-7 cuts. Then swapped after pre had been on for about 6 hrs for a listen. Upper mid to beyond took on a more solid feel not a thickening at all. The background stayed pitch black. Bass got just a tiny bit more authority, but the biggest effect was two fold. First the overal sound took on a sort of Majestic feeling. Yes, hard to explain but I think the bit of extra dynamics and sensity of the upper end gave it this feeling. Second was when huge and/or very loud uber dynamic swings were fed thru the stream, the pre kept it all together without even the time to sigh about the load! Now, I must tell you, if you haven't already figured it out, that the floors and walls were VERY active by now and feeding back from this energy. Yes the 312 can provide, but it needs unrestricted wall juice and needs to stay away from it's upper output limit due to the hardness and tendancy to start falling apart just before the thermal overload protection kicks in. We were listening that loud!I've said it before that the 312 is not the last word in low freq extention and dynamic cpability. Having heard it pushed hard in this system I still feel the same. It has tremendous transparency, and the imaging is spectacular. Look, it's not a pair of 200 lb mono's! It's a 65 lb stereo amp, that poud for pound kicks ass. It's not cheap, but it does more than most any amp I know in its price range. Sorry, got sidetracked and off subject. Just wanted to address some of the 312 amp comments on this and other threads I'm on. Anyway, going back to the Citerion...Taking it out of the chain was imeaditealy noticed. It was like "Hey, where did the majesty go?" There's probably a better pre out there, but at what price and will it be unaltering of the signal? |
Found more pics of the new JRDG gear at:
http://positive-feedback.com/Issue47/ces104.htm
G. |
