2. amps-preamps
  3. 1216693488

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
audiofil
17 posts
 
There is balance reset method in your manual. The other, lets call it interesting, thing about the remote itself is that it stops working sometimes and there is a simple fix. Strangely, I have a Grace Design 902 from Mike Grace, an ex employee at JRDG, who has been for sometime running his own shop with magnificent products and still gets the remotes (which are identical) from....Jeff. Something I missed in the GD manual and I brought the remote back from Europe for replacement, when all one needs to do is simply remove the batteries for about an hour for the unit to self reset. Not being able to see the balance is in my view a significant miss.
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
Audiofil, if your Capri remote displays occasional emotional issues, you should contact JRDG directly at 719-473-1181.

You are correct about L/R balance reset. Capri manual states that:

"NOTE: To return the balance to the center or 0 dB position, press and hold the MUTE button on the front panel of the preamplifier for 3 seconds. This will reset all microprocessor controlled functions and return the balance position to L/R +/-0 dB."

To the best of my knowledge, future JRDG designs are likely to include balance status indication on the display.

G.
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
And of course. . . Criterion does show R/L balance info on the display.
audiofil
17 posts
 
Guido, it was the Grace remote and I just happened to call JR on another issue..
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
Just managed to obtain one small technical tidbit from Jeff Rowland. . . Criterion utilizes the same oversized input and output Lundahl transformer that JRDG already has used on the 312 stereo amp and the Continuum 500 integrated. In the meantime, Jeff is confident that he will start shipping Criterion before year end. An engineering level unit with AC operation only and engineering level circuit boards is making the rounds of several dealers in Japan. . . in spite of device not being final production version, according to JRDG, reports are that dealers/users much prefer its sound even over the Coherence flagship. G.
More to discover