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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
brazcole
63 posts
 
I bought today the Áudio & Vídeo magazine with the Criterion's review from Fernando Andrette. He had a Coherence for 8 years, he still likes JRDG devices, and said that love to review the Criterion to compare with his old pre-amplifier, as I said above.
In his opinion the Criterion keep the wonderfull sound of the Coherence with a STUNNING improvement. After the reviews, he always gives notes ( 1 to 10 ) about specifics itens. The maximum a device can rich is 80. The Criterion rich 81,5 because he gives 3 notes 10,5: for Sound Stage, for Dinamic and for Transientes ( I don't know this name in English).
You can go to www.clubedoaudio.com.br to see this review in the home page, but you need to apply to read it. Anyway, it's in Portuguese.
I'd like, any day, of course, read a full review for the Criterion from Giodocorona, another expert in audio, to compare with Fernando Andrette's review.
Very good, Guidocorona, that you are back in home, because now you're close to your set up.

Let's listen to music !!
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
Thank you Brazcole for the link to the review. I am enjoying every minute of music from my Criterion, which at about 700 hours seems to me fully broken in. Among other things, the Criterion has added significant authority to my system. As I mentioned on Positive Feedback Online in my review of the Furutech Evolution II wires, the only negative observation that I could make about my JRDG Capri was that the bass, while quite extended and tuneful, suffered of a certain diaphanous lightness. . . If you listened to Edgar Meyer playing the cello Bach suites on his double bass. you will know what I am talking about.
Criterion among other things addresses this particular issue: resulting bass is tuneful and extended for sure, but has also the correct dark timbre, and transient authority is delightfully satisfying. For my Furutech Evo II review, see:
http://positive-feedback.com/Issue45/furutech.htm

Guido
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
Brazcole, not too many of us read Portuguese. . . that means that not only we can't read the Andrette review, but we do not even know how to subscribe to the web site. Could you please create a Google translation of the review, then paste the translated text to this thread? Thanks, Guido
brazcole
63 posts
 
I bought the Áudio & Vídeo magazine on a street store. Clubedoaudio.com is the electronic adress for the electronic edition for the magazine above. And I don't subscribe the on-line magazine.

But I have a solution, that means... I can send to you by mail the edition with the Criterion review if you give your adress.

Easy.
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
Fabulous idea Brazcole! I will send you a personal message right away with my mailing address. You should find it in your eMail inbox shortly.

Grazie mille! and. . . Obrigadissimo!

Guido
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