Don't hear much of Rowland or Ayre as well. I've owned both and think there should be more "buz" about them. Quality products backed by quality companies.
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Thanks for the feedback. The Jeff Rowland 625 S2 amplifier vs the Luxman M900u would be very interesting comparison to me since the m900u is the amp I have been targeting to get for my big rig system for some time. After reading Guido's feedback on a few sites regarding the Rowland's, I have started to think I should also have a listen to them before making a purchase decision. Another reason pulling me toward the Rowlands is that I am starting to become a believer in extremely quiet electronics, such as my Benchmark AHB2 amp. The Rowlands appear to follow this philosophy. Another brand that intrigued me for the same reason was Mola Mola with their pre, amp, and stand alone DAC.. |
No-one talks about Rowlands anymore I Think many have woken up with todays, million dollar chassis with 3rd party cheap (in comparison) Class-d modules inside. The $10K usd Continuum s2 http://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/pics/jeff_rowland_continuum_2_large_inside.jpg A third party Chinese sub plate amp, look closely at the amp module in both pics. http://www.marani-proaudio.com/resizer/resiz/public/LDA800-B.png/800x600.jpg http://www.marani-proaudio.com/resizer/resiz/public/LDA800-C.png/800x600.jpg And the Data sheet for that amp. http://www.marani-proaudio.com/public/LDA800%20CN.pdf Cheers George |
Continuum s2 use 3rd party Class-d modules from Pascal. http://www.pascal-audio.com/about-us.html http://www.pascal-audio.com/downloads/M-PRO2_Data_Sheet-2_4.pdf |
And from what I understand, Pascal get them form China, and mod them, and then Rowland buy them. http://imgp1.en.makepolo.net/o/956/645/3ec6c7e3908d642a79ee2cf1608c5072.jpg And when they were advertised on Alibaba, these modules sold for $100 each for lots of 10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZCxCg-QWDQ Cheers George |
Hello Jimmy, those M7 golden beauties might outlast usthe both of ... Not bad at all for amps that were manufactured somewhere in the late 1980s.... by a company that "no one talks about any more". The only issue they ever had during the wonderful long years that they were in my possession since 1997 until you picked them up well over 10 years later were some output transistors that required a touch of resoldering... The 5-minutes Fix was applied by a good friend of mine at my place, under phone guidance by Jeff Rowland himself. Now about the Rowland M535 bridgeable.... I have a pair in my system right now breaking in... Preparing a writeup for Audiogon.... These critters are magical... They remind me so much of my M925 monos... May be some 80% of the M925's authority, with a transparency and resulution that is utterly enchanting, particularly when one considers that a bridged pair lists a smidjin below $12K. I'll test M535 in stereo mode once I have completed evaluation in bridged mode. Saluti, G.
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I know this is an older thread, but reading some of the submissions has stuck in my craw. I have one of the original 301's and I love its sound quality. The soundstage is huge and mates well with the Revel Salon2's. The sound is definitely more euphonic/liquid than analytic. There is no reason at this level of implementation to badmouth Class D, for one it is very ecological and efficient and Jeff has done a great job with the execution of this design. One caveat that deserves mention I have had to include a transformer in the line source to knock down the NZ 240 V to mate with this 230 V design. This has resulted in an audible reduction in the noise floor. I have owned JRDG amps since the mid 80's starting with the Model 7 and 9T and while I use Meridian Reference gear for the front end, I find the combination harmonically rich and musically involving. Are their better amps out there in 2020? Absolutely, but are they more musically satisfying? The answer would be based on a subjective assessment. |
Two thoughts on JDRG: I can't speak to Rowland's current products, but heard a Coherence 1 Mk2 with the 1,3,5, and 7 in the same system. Obviously a LONG time ago, but it was just astonishingly good - beautiful to listen to. I lusted after a Coherence 1 Mk2 with either Model 3s or a Model 5. No idea if I'd be as impressed today, but it was an awesome experience. Second: I used to live within a quarter mile of their building (off of Fillmore in the Springs) in the early 1990s. Having a day off, I wandered over to the building just to say hello, and Jeff himself took me on a grand tour that lasted a couple of hours. It was an incredibly wonderful experience - and I'm still amazed that he would take that much time with a young Army lieutenant who was years away from being able to afford anything from his company. Hence, I hope he and the company are doing well, an always have my eye open for a C1Mk2/3 or 5 combo that I could afford . . . A true class act, at least in my experience. |
In case no one has seen this here’s a JR 125 opened up and shown what parts are used. Would love to hear Jeff talk about he designed and implemented it all together. https://youtu.be/25V7T5AxwE8 |
I have tried Bryston, Adcom, BHK, Classe, and Anthem - when I purchased a used pair of Model 7's - everything above was put to shame. My son got a used model 112 - what it did for a pair of ML Motion 40's was simply unbelievable. I have met Jeff, and I have met some other "gurus", Jeff is a fine human being - his service is EXEMPLARY. The only thing that can replace a Rowland is another Rowland. Looking for a 625 S2 if anyone wants to dump one. |
Actually, Rowland produces a mix of class A/B and class D power amplifiers. Its monoblock M735 flagship, as well as the M625 S2 stereo amp, both run in class A/B. See for example the M735 page at: https://www.jeffrowlandgroup.com/model-735/ The only Rowland power amplifier product in production that operates in class D is the entry level M125 bridgeable. Conversely, both of its integrated amp offerings, Continuum S2 and Daemon, feature class D power amplification subsystems. Regards, Guido |
As a long time satisfied user of different JRDG preamps, from the Consonance with phono stage, the 3-box Consummate with phono, a Synergy II to the great Coherence II series 2 with Cadence phono stage, they showed all fantastic results with different matching components, amps as well as active speakers. Parallel I used a lot of ss and tube gears, but came back regularly to the products of Jeff Rowland. This year’s astonishing return to the world of JRDG products is the Daemon. A statement product witch so many possibilities to use it in a system, not just as a lonely central gear to drive all kind of speakers, but I have used it just as phono preamp, just as DAC+pre, just as an amp to drive it with a Wadia 27 DAC directly. The phono MC stage is fantastic, but the integrated DAC is phenomenal. Please note, the the Pascal D-class modules are really special ones, and the integration of them in the complete amplification circuit was done magically. The cooperation with Danish digital guru Thomas Holm, already involved in the Aeris DAC, made a really great job. I think that the products of Jeff will go with and enrich my further Hi-Fi life. |
I had a fellow a'phile over for a listening session yesterday. I was using just my Rowland 8T modded by Jeff. My tube amps were not active. I think the sound was still as great as ever and the amp was just easy on the ears. I really like the model 8T because not only is it incredibly solid and reliable, but it is still, at least IME, amongst the SOTA in ss designs. Jeff Rowland's gear really are heirloom pieces, IMHO. |
I had nearly all Jeff Rowland preamps and phono stages over the years, and some years ago bought as an icing on the cake after my long Jeff Rowland history the phenomenal Daemon integrated, complete with phono and DAC, and with the later generation Pascal Class D amps. This is a fantastic unit, the sound is not much different to the big and outstanding class A and A/B products, and a completely different level than earlier ICE Class D concepts. The phonostage is astonishing good, but the DAC is the most interesting part. Some say, this is on the level of the separate Aeris DAC. |