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New Rowland Criterion 2-chassis battery pre

Jeff Rowland Design has just created a page for its upcoming statement-level, twin chassis, battery powered full function preamplifier. Detail is still scant, but a little bit of info is already available, in addition to front and rear view pics. Here’s the page:
http://jeffrowland.com/Criterion.htm
And here’s the front view:
http://jeffrowland.com/Criterion-front.htm
And here’s the rear view:
http://jeffrowland.com/Criterion-back.htm

You will find a few specs already on the site. JRDG should be publishing more info in the next few weeks. I will post here as I receive it. in addition to the published specs that you can read on the page above, here are a very few additional tidbits that I have learned this far:

. Uses Burr Brown TI OPA1632 high speed fully differentially balanced modules.
. Includes phono stage.
. Uses standard NiMH D-cell batteries available in most electronics stores, loaded in 2 rear-inserted tubes of power supply chassis.
. Capable of AC/DC operation . . . will recharge batteries on independent circuit during AC operation.
. Full remote control
. Target price $18K (not sure yet)
. Availability: probably early Fall 2008.
. Will be featured at RMAF in Soundings Hifi suite Marriott 503 or 505 from Oct 10th to 12th in Denver.

And sorry folks, I have not heard this device yet. Nor I have any good third party reports on its sound. Any speculations on Sonics from my part would be just. . . pure speculations. I’ll keep everyone posted as I learn more.

Guido
guidocorona
brazcole
63 posts
 
I could say I'm a intermediate level audhiophilo, but I'd like to share my discovery.
Before I bought the 802D I had a 803N that I keep with me. Today I was still in shock because of the 270º sound of the MBL 101E that I listen 2 days ago.
I use both channels A and B with 2 pairs of speaker cables in my Model 312 in bi-wiring. I decided to make something to improve my sound. I took my old 803N and bring to my set up. I put it beside the 802D with 50º degree.
First I disconect 1 pair of cable in the 802D and use a link cable. So I conected the disconect cable in the 803N and also use a link cable because now my both speakers are single wiring.
I turn on my set up.
Unbeliable sound. Amazing sound. The sound was in the entire room, like the MBL. Everything improve. The transparency became much better. I don't known English well to have words to explain the HUGE change.
Now I known much better what the Criterion and the 312 can do.
Sorry if what I said isn't new for the audio experts, but I'm still learning (this path is very nice, pal). I read many sections of Audiogon, and I learn with many people, as Guidocorona, Dcstep, Racquel, among others. Now I only want to change my speaker cables and XLR cables. I think Kimber Select could be a good choice.
Anyway, I recomemd you all to have a experience with 2 speakers in 45º or 50º degrees. Amazing!! I'm knocking the heaven doors.
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
Thank you Brazcole, Kimber could be interesting.. . but every time I heard that brand I found it to be a little hard sounding. I am having a great deal of success with Furutech wires. I use Furutech Evolution II ICs, speaker wires and power cords to connect all my equipment: TEAC Esoteric X-01, Capri, Criterion 312, and Vienna Mahler V1.5 speakers. G.
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
Brazcole, thanks for your report.

As you've discovered, the speakers' interaction with the room has a huge influence on the sound that you hear at your listening chair. Guido and I have benefited greatly from something called the Sumiko Master Set, which very precisely sets the speakers within the room relative to each other and all the room bounderies. We've both talked about the "Master Set" in these forums and you might want to read more about it.

Unfortunately, I don't know who to refer you to in your part of the world. There's a possibility that an instructional DVD may be developed within the next few months, but I've been hoping that for the last couple of years. I'll let you know here if that happens.

Ciao,

Dave
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
Getting back to topic. . . it's time for a brief update at approx the 55 hours mark.

Most of the day I have been playing from a CD of Dvorak violin/cello/piano trios from a set of complete Dvorak chamber works on the Brillian Classics label. This morning at about 42 hrs there was a definite steely whine on the violin, a general hardness superimposed on rather good harmonic development and quick transients. There was some sense of the acoustics of the venue, but it was partially hidden by some generalized glare. By tonight a much more natural and comfortable violin was starting to emerge, and I seemed to be hearing more and more into the venue. The sign that things are going in the right direction is that while this morning I had to keep the gain rather low, by tonight I was raising it considerably and enjoying the result. . . . and sinking into the listening couch.

Long way to go I suspect, but what's interesting is that I am not hearing a lot of abrupt fluctuations in sonic quality, but rather a slow relaxing and opening up of the sound.

We'll see what happens overnight. I'll leave Criterion playing from my old NAD tuner at low volume.

G.
jimjoyce25
215 posts
 
I'm curious: What is the interconnect between the battery/power supply chassis and the preamp itself? What kind of wire? What kind of terminations does it have?
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