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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
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
Thank you Clio, please keep us posted. Do you know if the Criterion was running on battery power or AC? If it is, see tomorrow if you can switch it back and forth and report on any perceivable difference. Guido
clio09
3,355 posts
 
Front end is DCS. I will get back to you on whether it was running on battery power or not. I asked Jeff yesterday and didn't get a straight answer, so I'll assume it was not. I was in the room today but focused more on listening.

The set up is very good. I think it tended towards the bright side, but overall a rather detailed and transparent sound. The Criterion is a couple steps above my Capri, but overall it has made me have a greater appreciation for what a great value the Capri is.

FWIW - many rooms at the show appeared to sound bright to me. The set up is difficult due to most rooms having a double tier with railings. The Rowland room was one of these so I have to give Jeff credit for getting as much out of the room as he did.
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
On Stereophile's blog they say that the Criterion was on static display. I suspect that you're right and they're wrong (I saw it active at RMAF, but on AC only) but I'm wondering what was going on.

I suspect that Jeff ran it on AC and didn't want Stereophile to hear it until they could hear DC. Once Jeff gets the programming finished for this thing I suspect he'll never hire a programmer again. (Necessary evil).

Dave
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
If Jeff were indeed using Nordost wiring, it may not be a marriage made in heaven in an already reverberant/bright environment. Guido
cappuccino
122 posts
 
Valhalla is the best cable I have had in my system with 301 monos. The trick was to have Valhalla all the way. When I had Valhalla only partly in the chain, the sound was too bright and edgy, but all Valhalla has made my 301 shine as absolutely fantastic amps. I have compared against Stealth Indra, Synergistic Research Apex/Precision Reference and Wireworld Gold. Valhalla is the clear winner.
In another system (Cary, Sonus Faber) I have done the same test, in that system Synergistic was the winner, Indra second and Valhalla third.
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