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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
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
Those reading Audiofil's post may mistakenly believe that the Jeff Rowland Design Groups are radically designed. In my view their physical appearance is very conservative, giving the feeling of understated quality. The blue lights for the buttons are very small and the display can be muted on devices like the Capri and Continuum. The engineering sample of the Critereon was similarly understated.

Whether the Critereon will ultimately allow users to customize their displays, I have no answer. The USB allowing firmware update would make that a possibility. All I need is Phono, Digital 1 and Digital 2 and maybe Tape in the future, we'll see. Lacking that a simple 1, 2, 3, 4, as on my Continuum 500, will suffice. I really have no trouble remembering what's what and don't let anyone else use my rig without supervision.

BTW, my Playback Designs MPS-5 has a large, red LED display and some complain about that. I mute it when not in use, but there's no satisfying everyone. There'll always be someone bitching about something. I just make sound my first priority and follow that cue.

Dave
audiofil
17 posts
 
I agree that the Rowland product is somewhat tamed and my comment pertaining to fashion was a general one addressed to the marketplace as a whole.

Then again, if you go for the right feel, the switches on the JRDG are in my view too small and oddly shaped for comfortable pressure to be found (here imagine what fun would it be to have them in different colors, just as large like the ones Tandberg once used on the 910!) I think as B&O lost its design factor appeal by having employed an outside of the industry stylist a good number of high end products are still just an engineering vision turned reality without the involvement of the right and talented industrial designer. Please take note that I am not addressing this to any specific brand. To comment Dave's reply, I differ here and I am a strong advocate of sharing the music system as an appliance with all others. Appliances are however best when they are good, robust in performance, reliable, beautiful and intuitive to operate by all.
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
Audiofil, you have a point about buttons on JRDG. . . they are a little to small for me as well. . . in particular, the on/standby power switch on the 312 amp is a tiny round thing. . . flush with the front plate. . . I always hunt around with my fingers before finding it. On the other hand, I thought buttons and volume knobs on Capri and Criterion to be no problem at all. G.
audiofil
17 posts
 
As for the Capri (I have to ask Jeff again about this) you still cannot display the balance situation. My hands have not touched the Criterion, but it appears that Jeff employed the slightly larger M&Ms. Then there is yet another element rapidly changing in video and not seeing new technologies in audio. Connectivity. Today, the traditional XLR and RCA could just as well be replaced with something smaller in size and also with better performance as well as the ease of use. I hope new standards will be implemented in the near future - a market wide benefit to all. There is an enormous amount of new technology in connectors today... By now we should all be used to illuminated switches, as well as illuminated remotes, but how many can you list? BTW, what is the Criterion remote look like? The Cardas implementation by JRDG is clearly a winner and I hope more brands would use this solution. In any case, the Criterion today looks just lovely.
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
The Criterion will show a balance reading. The Criterion's remote will be very different from Rowland's prior minimalist remotes. It still won't be a 100-button style, but it'll provide a lot more flexibility. Unfortunately, I don't think it's on any site yet where you can see it. I saw one in his shop a few months back, but that was too long ago for me to provide any detail. (Darn, I should have taken a picture).

I understand your point of view towards controls, but I'm in the other camp. I like simple and minimalist, orieted toward an owner/user.

Dave
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