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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
clio09
3,360 posts
 
The Criterion was definitely plugged in, no battery power.

The room sounded very good today. I ran through a couple of my test CDs and found the system to be less bright and more neutral. Bass was very good too. A very even presentation with a large sound stage. Many rooms had issues with depth and/or off centered image due to the room layout. Not the Rowland room.
kawika
57 posts
 
So we just go on waiting for another year?
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
I'll call Jeff next week and will find out what the situation may be. Guido
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
Spoke to Jeff Rowland today, the Stereophile report of Criterion being on static display at CES '09 appears to be one of those urban legends with an unknown cause. . . Criterion was playing music throughout the show, including during the Stereophile visit. Apparently Criterion was frequently being switched between AC and battery operations. Some units have already been shipped in limited quantities in December and January. General availability will commence as soon as a few residual kinks are extirpated from the remote control microcode.
clio09
3,360 posts
 
Near the entrance of the Rowland room on a table there were static displays of the Criterion and also the Capri stacked with the Model 102 stereo amp. Not sure how Stereophile could have missed the Criterion that was hooked up to the system. I'm just sorry they never had the battery power supply engaged the few times I swung by.
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