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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
 
Merry Christmas all.. . hope everyone is having a Very Musical One! No Rowland gear under my virtual Xmas tree. . . but a little Dillon flugelhorn is being manufactured with 'my name on it.' . . hope it gets shipped soon. If anyone were curious. . .
http://www.dillonmusic.com/HeleoCart/ProductPage/DMB-FL-ROSE.aspx
and the answer is no. . . I have never played brass. . . but it's all DCSTEP's fault. . . he made me fall in love with his flugel last October in denver. . . now I'll have to learn to play it.

Besides who knows. . . if Rowland indeed introduces new products in 2010, I might very well end up succumbing again to audiophrenia. . .
http://positive-feedback.com/Issue46/audiophrenia.htm
and perform some act of uncontrollable audio lust sometimes later in the year.

guido
brazcole
63 posts
 
Happy New Year, man, and congratulation for the Dillon Flugelhorn.
I hope you send to us a link for a movie of you playing music. Of course you don't need to be in the Amazon forest or the wonderfull sand of Namibia, but will be a pleasure listen to your music... soon.
Take care, Guidocorona.
guidocorona OP
4,298 posts
 
Thank you Brazcole.. . I fear I will not make music but only horrid squeals. . . for many many months. I suspect the music from my system may evolve more rapidly than the music I'll be able to produce on the flugel (grins).
clavil
254 posts
 
Hi Guido,

I have heard here in Switzerland that Rowland will present his new preamp at the CES ... ?
do you know something?

Happy new year!
brazcole
63 posts
 
IMO the Criterion will be for a long time the top of the line. I have heard a lot of preamplifier from others brands. With 1,000 plus hours, the Citerion is the REAL 8º wonder of the modern world ( sorry, Wes Phillips and Ayre).

But, of course, JRDG needs to make money, I mean, they need to sell products that people can afford, so it's very possible a new preamplifier to take the Capri's place.
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