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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 bought a Criterion, and I'm going to receive it at the end of February. But now I'm not shure, because, after I read the posts, I think that there is no one Criterion sent for any customer.
I have a Gamut set up, with 2 GamuTs D200 in bi-amp, and I'm shure that my new set up, with 1 Model 312, will be much, much better.
I decided to buy the JRDG devices after I read the messages in this Forum.
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
Brazcole, do not give up about the Criterion yet. Units have started to trickle into the distribution channels, although the remote control will be delivered to such customers with a slight delay. As soon as Jeff Rowland returns to the office in early March I'll seek a status update. May I ask where you are located?
brazcole
63 posts
 
So I'll receive my Criterion on time (I hope). Of course I can wait more time for the remote control.
Thank you very much, man.
I'm from Rio de Janeiro. And today start the Carnival in Brasil, with the most beautifull women in the world.
May I ask if you think that the Model 312 is really amazing? My loudspeakers are the 802D.
brazcole
63 posts
 
My Criterion just arrived. I hope the Criterion works much better than my GamuT 3Di pre-amplifier, because people say that after JRDG was sold for chineses, they lost his beautiful sound. I will see.
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
Huh, I'm not sure what you mean by "after JRDG was sold for chineses". Could you explain. I've visited his shop in Colorado Springs, CO as recently as last fall and Jeff was still there with his assembly crew. His software designer is in Boulder, CO and I met him at RMAF.

Asians have been major JRDG customers for many years, but the designs are developed by Jeff Rowland to please Jeff Rowland's ears.

Dave
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