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
When I visited Jeff in his shop he talked about being amazed at how different an amp or pre-amp could sound by changing one or two internal wire. He held up three or four little micro-strands of wires, all of which he'd tried in some recent project. He does a lot of iterative testing in development and might use copper in one application and silver in another, all selected by ear.

Like Guido says, just because he uses a specific brand in a specific application today, doesn't mean that he'll use that in all future applications.

Dave
When I visited Jeff in his shop he talked about being amazed at how different an amp or pre-amp could sound by changing one or two internal wire

I am pers. amazed how ext. cables can change the sound, I have been using my wife and friends to corroborate that I don't suffer under acoustic hallucinations ;-)
No, the remote control AND the Criterion's Manual will send to me later. It's OK, because the software for the Menu is very easy to work. Anyway, JRDG e-mail me that will be soon.
My next step is check if the Ayre 5x is better than my GamuT CD-3. After I've got my JRDG devices I'd like to get the best source I can buy in Brasil.