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
David, I do admit freely that there are a lot of amps with greater authority than 312. My old Rowland 7M monoblocks for example, had comfortably greater authority than 312. . . after all, 312 peaks at 40 amps for a fraction of a second, while the old 7Ms peak at 50 Amps continuous. Having said that, I really would love for you to visit my system and bring your Wadia player along for the ride. . . I am not at all experiencing shiness in the bass region, on the contrary. My room is relatively dampened. It may be a matter of different speakers, CDp, and cabling. . . or simply different personal preferences. And while I do listen to music at relatively high volume, I probably never get 312 to near clipping situations.

I found your observations about Criterion sound extremely a propos. . . 'majestic' is definitely one of its sonic attributes. . . . and it is rather unflappable even when it yields very high dynamic swings.

I found that 312 is very sensitive to power cords. . . including what it does in the bass region. This far, some of the very deepest and cleanest bass has been with Shunyata King Cobra power cords, and Furutech High Performance ICs and speaker wires. I have further found that good power distribution also contributes to a tuneful, deep, and linear bass performance.
Love the one you're with. Corus anticipation could be a lengthy process. And it will only lead to the next anticipation. This thing is like climbing an endless stairway. It's just a series of plateaus that you die anticipating.......
Yes How true Guido. I died a Thousand times waiting for the Criterion. (2 years!)It is better than I though it would EVER be. I would actually go as far as saying it is irreproachable ! Yes Virginia, it is THAT good. The only other pre amp I've ever heard that comes close (but with lots less air aruond instruments, and less definition in the nether regions) is the Gryphon Sonata Allegro.