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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
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
Husk01, a limited number of units have been shipped, minus the remote control whose microprogramming is still being finalized. General availability of Criterion will start as soon as all kinks have been removed from the remote control firmware. Guido
cappuccino
122 posts
 
Video with Jeff Rowland on CES:
http://uk.cinenow.com/videos/2003-jeff-rowland-2009

The system i DCS Puccini, Jeff Rowland Criterion preamplifier and 312 amplifier, Thiel 3.7 speakers and Nordost Odin cables.
husk01
171 posts
 
Guido, Any more updates on when the complete units will ship?
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
I need to call jeff in the next couple of workdays on some I will call Jeff in the next couple of days and will ask for an update. G.
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
I heard it yesterday, through a crappy Primare CDP and with music that I didn't know, and the first impression was incredibly positive. The silence from which the music emerged was presented was absolute and the air and details of the recording venue where incredibly life like.

I guess someday soon I'll need to lug my Playback Designs MPS-5 over to Soundings to listen with a good front end, more appropriate for the Criterion/312/The Musik setup that followed the lowly Primare.

Dave
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