Capri to the monoblocs 501, which cables?

Hi Clavil, I play classical almost exclusively. I use a Capri with the JRDG 312 stereo and am also quite familiar with the 501 monos. If you have recently bought your Capri and 501 amps, they are probably not at all broken in. Expect that for the next 1000 hours of playing time they will do all sort of 'interesting' sounds, that will start slowly turn into music only sometimes after the 500 hrs mark. Until you have just over 1000 hours on the units it is not worth while thinking about interconnects or power chords, because you would be overcompensating for pre-break in artifacts. Rather, if you have the budget, you may look at a pair of JRDG PC1 Power Factor Correction units. You place them between the 501 and the current power cords. They convert the 110V AC from the wall outlet to 385V DC that they feed to the 501s. The 312 and the new Continuum 500 already have PFC built in. Rowland introduced the PC1 to bring the performance of the 501 and 201 much closer to that of the flagship products. You can expect greater authority, more filegreed treble and midrange, and lots more low level information. . . e.g. harmonics and string vibrato.

I use Audioquest Sky ICs throughout my system. They are graceful and extended and work remarkably well with the current generation of JRDG gear. . . but I do not pretend them being the ultimate solution. I have also heard Capri connected with Purist Anniversary ICs. . . absolutely wonderful, but staggeringly expensive.
One recommendation. . . leave Capri and 501 always turned on. . . that's JRDG recommendation. . . but idle time does not count towards break in.

Guido

hi everybody,

thank you for the advices, I have heard the JFR with Cardas and Trenner-Friedl loudspeakers, it sounded warm and quiet.
With the NBS it's fast, even sometimes too agressive but of course the source isn't the same : Denon DCD versus EMM Labs

Hi Guidocorona,

you will probably find the following history funny. I was thinking to replace my Threshold Fet Nine E for an ARC ref 3 or un Mark Levinson 326 ... I was in Bangkok when somebody of the forum told me about your thread (ARC ref 3 or Capri) which made me very curious about Jeff Rowlands Capri ... back to Switzerland I got last week a Capri and an ARC ref 3 at home. The importer of the products of Jeff Rowland invited me to hear trough all the JFR products so that I got also the monoblocs 501 at home... when I compared them to my OCM I had a great schock ... opening of a new dimension of the stage imaging, definition, precision, control of the loudspeakers so that I decided to buy the monoblocs 501 + the Capri ... I was slightly desapointed by the ARC (beautifull warm sound but not so precise ... was it because it had only some 130 hours on the counter or because a Jeff Rowland preamp matches better with a Jeff Rowland amp ... or just because the Capri is so good???
In any case thank you! So I got my Capri yesterday, I am still using the monoblocs of the dealer because mine are still in the US, waiting for a transoceanic flight.

once more thanks a lot

kind regards

Hi Guido,

I am professional musician (classical music), that's why I am looking for a system which shows the reality ... the warmth of tubes is beautifull nevertheless a kind of distorsion of the reality ... the precision of the Capri is indeed amazing.
I use my system for 2 different purposes a) enjoy music b) as a kind of microcospe allowing my hears to zoom into the orchestra isolating one or other instrument.

In Europe we have 220 Volts, is the JRDG PC1 also build for this ?

regards

Clavil,

I have no advice for you on cables but your 501 monoblocks ought to be able to drive this speaker (notoriously heavy load). Another Arnie Nudell designed beauty (in addition to your fine R 90's).