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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
 
All, Criterion will be featured in Soundings Hifi's own showrooms in Denver during a series of open-houses during the RMAF show. The demo system will be identical to my own except for CD player, and will likely consist of the following components:

Primare CD31 player.
Jeff Rowland Criterion preamplifier.
Jeff Rowland 312 stereo amplifier.
Vienna Mahler V1.5 speakers.

Wiring/cabling is likely to be my own set of Furutech Evolution II ICs, PCs, and speaker wires. . . or the new Analysis Plus Big Oval Silver.

Tentative schedule as follows:


Friday October 2nd from 6pm to 10pm,
Saturday 3rd from 6pm to 10pm,
Sunday 4th from 5pm to 8pm.

Soundings will also have a booth in the Marriott lobby, but will not have a demo suite in the hotel this year.

The Soundings showroom is located approximately 10 minutes walk from the Marriott hotel, just across the parking lot. For more info, Soundings can be reached at:

8101 E. Bellview Avenue,
Denver, Colorado
80237
Phone: 303.759.5505
Fax: 303.759.4273
Email: sales@soundingshifi

Driving directions and map at:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=8101+E+Belleview+Ave,+Denver,+Denver,+Colorado+80237,+United+States&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.768112,76.992187&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=0,39.625328,-104.894038&ll=39.626268,-104.894028&spn=0.008495,0.018797&z=16&iwloc=addr

Hope to see you guys in Denver!

Regards,

G.
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
Thanks to Brazcole, I have just received today a copy of Audio&Video magazine from Brazil featuring a professional review of Criterion by Mr. Andrette. I'll scan the article and will attempt to submit a Google translation. If the translation results are not totally outlandish, I will post salient extracts to the thread in a few days.
kawika
57 posts
 
I have a new Criterion and will report on my thoughts after a few hours of break in. Obviously, it's drop dead gorgeous and has incredibly smart features. I'll get to some of these later. First, a little taste. It's already better at soundstaging placement cold out of the box than my Capri.
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
Good stuff David. . . keep us posted on your Criterion. . . old Brazcole and I was just about startin' to get lonesome 'round here. . . wasn't we Braz? (grins!) G.
kawika
57 posts
 
I'm not going to repeat Guido's comments on the entire break in process, except to say I have found the same things changing at the same time he did. If anyone needs further clarification on it, please ask. I will say that I was suprised at the need to run signal into each input to achieve full break in for that particular input #. After one input was run in, switching to say input #2, caused an implosion in the soundstage and lack of detail & dynamics etc... In other words, each numbered input must be run in with signal for at least 250 hrs to "open" it up. Standby for thoughts after full break in.
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