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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
clavil
254 posts
 
Which makes me think of the FM Acoustic, another amplifier that I liked a lot, but the six-figure price was offputting and it was not clearly superior to the trio that I mentioned before.

could you tell which FM amp & preamp you have heard and how it was?

thanks
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
If I recall correctly, FM Acoustics was showcasings its big monoblock amps costing $128,000. Guido
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
Guido, I think that the FM was a huge stereo amp.
clavil
254 posts
 
Guido and Dcstep,

the big stereo amp from FM Acoustics is the 1811 it costs 133'500 swiss francs
the monos are the 115, a pair costs 85'000 swiss francs
all FM Acoustics products are sold in swiss francs

the big preamp is the 268 which costs 110'000 sf

prices are stratospheric ... how is the sound?

Best regards
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
Clavil my friend, the sound of the amp was very, very good, IMHO. This was early in the show and the speakers were YG and the player was a rediculously over priced Weiss ($30,000 and using a $20 Phillips transport), but, even with this marginal set up, I think that the FM is top echelon and shown through.

We were told a price in US$. I can't imagine paying that much for an amp, so, after I learned the price, I lost interest. Despite that, I heard enough to say that anyone wanting to spend that kind of money on an amp should consider it, along with the Rowland 312 and Boulder 2060. It was clearly handling the big YGs easily. The harmonic richness was hard to judge because of the usual show issues, like speakers, front end and room, but I could hear good things shining through.

For that kind of money you'd expect a in-system audition at your house, after they check your bank account. ;-)

Dave
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