Jeff Rowland

Zd542,
My JR 525 replaced a Parasound A21. Prior to purchasing the 525, I had in my system, a Bryston 4bsst2, Ayre integrated, and a JR 125. To my ears and in my system the, with the exception of the bass, the Jeff Rowland 125 was the most musical. I decided to get the 525 based on my evaluation of the JR 125.

Ricred1,

I believe every word you are saying. I just used my Rowland as an example of how things can go wrong when you least expect it. If you chose your Rowland because you liked it best, then you made the right choice. I still keep my Rowland, even though its not currently being used, because it does do things that no other amp I've heard at any price, or design does. Equipment matching is not bashing. Sometimes good components don't work well together.

Zd542,
I know your not bashing...my point is that I "try" to evaluate components in my system. I continue to say, "there are no absolutes in audio only preferences."

That's what I figured, but I just wanted to make sure you didn't take offence to any of my comments.

I had a JR 525 in my system briefly, replacing a monster McCormack DNA-500. I paired it with a Modwright-LS 36.5 preamp. It sounded pleasant enough but I felt it was lacking in dynamics, presence and oomph. I then bought a used JR Continuum S2 here on A'gon and used that in place of the 525/MW and McCormack/MW combos. Much, much better. I sold the 525, McCormack and Modwright -- all great units, but the Continuum sounded at least as good as the McCormack-MW combo and I thought it was appreciably better than the 525-MW combo.