2. amps-preamps
  3. 1216693488

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
clio09
3,355 posts
 
For a second there I thought I was having a flashback and imagining Bill Feil was engaging Dave and Guido in a pleasant exchange about JRDG products. Then I realized Audiofil does not equal Audiofeil.

In any case I can't imagine larger display numbers than those that are on the Capri. I do wish the balance position could be noted on the display and I really wish someone would explain to my why I can't flip the polarity via remote (manual via faceplate only).

Otherwise this is quite a nice little preamp.
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
Hi Clio, here are some possible answers:

The remote control circuit of Capri was designed in the early 90s and has been used on a variety of devices ever since, hence its limitations.
Yes, the Criterion display will show balance state.
The audiophile population is not getting any younger. . . and a number of audiophiles are affected by all too common macular degeneration, cataracts, and various age related moderate sight deteriorations. . . hence the growing need of larger fonts on component displays. I only wish that the info on displays were also exportable via USB for those of us for whom megafonts are not an option. . . but this functionality is not yet implemented in today's generation of devices. G.
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
Hah, that's funny about Audiofil vs. Audiofeil. Very different personalities indeed, thank goodness.

I'll vote for a balance display on all JRDG products where applicable. Right out of the box I started pushing the remote buttons for my Continuum 500, accidentally hitting balance instead of volume. Since I didn't know where it was relative to neutral, I needed to power off to reset the center point. With the lesson learned I've not made the same mistake and I have little reason to mess with the balance, but, if I did, it'd be nice to know how to get back to Center.

Dave
audiofil
17 posts
 
There is balance reset method in your manual. The other, lets call it interesting, thing about the remote itself is that it stops working sometimes and there is a simple fix. Strangely, I have a Grace Design 902 from Mike Grace, an ex employee at JRDG, who has been for sometime running his own shop with magnificent products and still gets the remotes (which are identical) from....Jeff. Something I missed in the GD manual and I brought the remote back from Europe for replacement, when all one needs to do is simply remove the batteries for about an hour for the unit to self reset. Not being able to see the balance is in my view a significant miss.
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
Audiofil, if your Capri remote displays occasional emotional issues, you should contact JRDG directly at 719-473-1181.

You are correct about L/R balance reset. Capri manual states that:

"NOTE: To return the balance to the center or 0 dB position, press and hold the MUTE button on the front panel of the preamplifier for 3 seconds. This will reset all microprocessor controlled functions and return the balance position to L/R +/-0 dB."

To the best of my knowledge, future JRDG designs are likely to include balance status indication on the display.

G.
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