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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 Brazcole, let us all know the results of your comparison. Guido
pinkus
144 posts
 
Brazcole,

to claim that the Capri is as good as the KX-R is laughable. I have owned both. Also comparing preamps in
systems that are other than your own is a crapshoot at best.

On another note, when you want to make a statement, your knowledge of English seems to be fine. However, when others ask you a question, you seem to forget the language. What gives ?
brazcole
63 posts
 
Let's go.
Yesterday, I took my Criterion to my friend's house. And my Capri also, because I would like to sell my old Capri to him if he likes better than his Ayre.
IMO the Criterion is 200% better than the Ayre KX-R. The sound stage is much stronger and transparence. My old Capri, with 2.000 hours, I could say soud the same with the KX-R. So I didn't sell it. Better, I'll keep it with me by pleasure.
The cables was all Valhalla, except for the speakers cables that was a Reference Musical Cable (good stuff, anyway, from Dinamarq).
His amplifier is also the Model 312, and the source was the CD-3 from GamuT.
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
That is great Brazcole! Did your friend also prefer Criterion better than KX-R? Obrigado, Guido
brazcole
63 posts
 
He's a new friend that I knew only after I got my Model 312. I bought my Capri from a musician times ago, and the pre stay with me for about 600 hours. When I decided to have a pre with 2 pairs of XLR outputs, for bi-amp, I bought the pre D3i and 2 stereos D200 from GamuT.
I demo the Odin power cord for a couple of days, but I'll keep my Valhallas. The Valhallas IMO is more strong, as I prefer.
In a couple of week I will demo the Odin XLR.
Let's see.
And, Pinkus, sorry if I disturb you, kid.
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