Oh man, I'm lusting for the Continuum 500...
Dave |
Yeah, I just talked to Rod about my anticipated Continuum 500, expected by month-end. Rod's saying that 1,000 hours is what to really expect for complete burn-in. It'll sound good right off the bat, but improve substantially as it burns in more and more. I'll just leave it on continually and drive the speakers at low levels when no one's around.
Hopefully in May I'll be able to travel down to JRDG in Colorado Springs to see how they put it together.
Dave |
Wow, given the Capri's performance and the 501's performance and the PC1+ potential, it seems like a hell of a bargain to have all that rolled together, for not that many dollars more than the old Concerto. I'm thanking my lucky stars that I waited.
You know, I've thought for a long time that it didn't make sense that high-end amp makers didn't include sophisticated power management as part of the package. Why should we have to consider buying an external unit when it's such a big issue in getting ultimate performance.
Dave |
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BTW Guido, I'll pick up my Continuum on the 25th or 26th.
Dave |
04-16-08: Guidocorona said: "Excellent Dave, keep us posted. It's almost time to start a dedicated thread on the Continuum 250/500 integrated amps. I am just waiting for JRDG to post some official info on the jeffrowland.com site."
Yes, I'll start a thread after a week or two of burn-in. My only reference is my Conrad Johnson CA200. It's not chopped liver, but I think (hope) I'll be moving into much taller cotton.
Maybe you need to do a review. I'd be surprised if JRDG wouldn't give you a loaner, assuming that the powers that be would allow it. With the Capri, your 312 and the ARC you've got really great references.
Good luck on Jeff updating the site. If it weren't for you, a blurb in a Stereophile blog and Rod I'd never have known about it. However, Rod said that last time he was there Jeff had 30 lined up ready to ship to Japan. He's apparently churning them out with some abandon with plenty of demand from his dealers, even without a bit of advertising from JRDG.
Dave |
I'm scheduled to go down to the factory on 5/29 with some others to meet Jeff, tour the factory and go over to the shop where the build the chassis. By then I should have me Continuum 500 decently burned in.
I'll write a review when I get the 500 burned in and maybe a little piece about the tour.
Dave |
I'll be starting the Continuum thread any minute. I just got back from a 3-hour preview of my new baby. I'll take delivery on Friday afternoon.
The first impression, with only 100-hours on the new amp, is simply WOW. If it gets better after a few hundred hours, then it's going to be amazing.
More to come.
Dave |
My experience with changing PCs and ICs on my Continuum 500 is similar to Guido's. You can't really do efficient A-B comparison because the amp really needs a couple of hours to "recharge" any time it's turned off. Of course, I can mute it to change ICs, but I tried swapping ICs while I had the PC out to make a swap (don't get excited Guido, I was just swapping the stock cable for the CST-PC).
Most people wouldn't consider the just-turned-on sound horrible, but you don't want to be reviewing components in that condition. It's just not at its best. So now, if I change anything, I don't even try listening for two hours.
OTOH, since it's left on all the time, I really like getting up on Saturday mornings and having it really sing from the very first cut.
Dave |
Really, I have no idea what causes it Guido. Maybe when I'm down at JRDG in the 29th I can ask Jeff. I suspect there's a good reason he puts the power switch on the back and recommends against using it.
Dave |
Guido, I've been thinking about that, but I'm afraid it'll be hard to fit in any serious listening. I'll speak to our tour guide to see if such a thing will be possible in Jeff's listening room.
Dave |
Hmm, I just thought, maybe Jeff will let me come down on Saturday OR maybe he'll loan Soundins a Criterion for a couple of days and I could listen there, in familiar surroundings.
Dave |
Guido, have you ended up keeping a PC1 in front of your Capri, or are you still undecided.
A friend has two 501s with a PC1 for each and, after our visit to JRDG last week, he's getting in a Capri. We're thinking that he might be better to drive both 501s with one PC1 and drive the Capri with the other. Of course, the proof will be in the listening, but what would you suspect given your experience so far?
Dave |