Rowland 625

I was very wrong.

As I'm going to receive my new preamplifier nex week, I decided to install my old Gamut D-200 MKIII, just to verify how this device would work with the cables I'm using now: Siltech IC and digital, Nordost power cord and the Stealth speaker cable.

Huge, but a very huge difference comparing with my ex-beloved Model 312. I start to listen a more 3D sound, with large and deep sounstage. The stereo sound became amazing.

I could say that now I can listen to music much more time without my mind become tired.

So, now, I've no doubt the M625 is much better than the Model 312.

But, now, I start to think if JRDG are top devices or not.

Anyway, I have ordered the Electrocompaniet AW250R. For what I read, Electrocompaniet are "tube-like" solid states devices, something less "warm" than MacIntosh.

I think that the AW250R will be a wonderfull match with my cables and my dCS sources, because they will open the dark side of the AW250R.

Something in the analogic direction.

Isvaldo.

I have tweaked my 301s quite a lot to get maximum sound quality out of them. Nordost Odin power cables and a Quantum Qx4 AC purifier for each. The sound I now have is unbelievable. I have placed each one of them on a Symposium Ultra platform which also has improved the sound quality a lot.

Capuccino

I understand perfectly and personnally I have the impression that only a few people in High End scene and especially dealers are not able / don't want ?
to get all the potential out of the elements.

I have heard the 312 sounding amazingly with special spikes, with custom made power and speakers cables. Now my dealer says me that the 625 doesn't accept these cables, so that I wil have to compare the 625 to the 312 using standart Cardas Clear ... let's see and hear.

Claude, M625 has the same 2 sets of Cardas binding posts, just like M312. The only difference is that on M625 set "A", that is the outer set, is rotated 90 degrees, to facilitate binding from the side. Unless there is something that I am missing, If a speaker wire can be used on M312, there should be no reason why the wire should be incompatible with M625

yesterday I could "i fine" find some time to compare brievly the 625 and the 312

I took the excellent Cd (very plastic and incredibly colourful) of Mahler Symphony n° 6 made by Acousense and I drove to my dealer's (his name is Peter) studio. I used only 1st and 4th movement of the symphony, the most complicated regarding the structure and instrumentation with quite a few demanding tutti for the system where even a big hammer is being used ... by the way incredible masterwork

I started hearing the system how it was built:
dCS Puccini +clock
Corus + 312
Avalon Ascendant
all cables custom made

I heard quite a bit of the fist and fourth mov. ... no surprise I know the system, I just thought one more time it's incredible what Peter is getting out of these 2 either modest loudspeakers!

He told me as we had discussed on the phone that the 625 doesn't work properly with his custom made loudspeakers cables. I asked for an example, he told me that on soprano voices at quite loud volume, it could happen that some distortion appears, I asked why, he couldn't give me an answer and just told me that he didn't have this problem either with Pass Lab, Ayre & some other brands he is selling.

So we had to take his loudspeakers cables out and to install the Cardas Clear ones ( by the way I think product of the year in TAS ... but I am not sure) ...
result ? the 3D imploded litterally, the music lost intensity, colour ...
I have been making my way trough the cables starting with XLO PR O650, going to NBS Monitor III & IV and than Active II, trying quite a few ones beside ... so that I know that Cardas Clear are quite good starting "downstairs" ... but here ... frankly ... ? ...
it was a torture to hear to Mahler's 6th !

Well it didn't take long time, we decided to install the 625 which was warm and has more than 300 hours. As he hasn't developped yet the perfectly right spikes for the 625, he installed it on an custom-made acryl platform with spikes built in.

We switched the system on ...
yes a beautiful surprise!
I was quite surprised
-immediate expansion of the 3D
-smoother and very detailed trebble
-bass with more definition

now I would have like to have more time and to install again the 312 with the custom made loudspeakers cables in order to compare them directly to the 625 with Cardas Clear ...
I thought retrospectively there were playing at a similar level with maybe a little bit more drive and energy with the 312 ... but it's so difficult to compare seriously when it's not immediately one after this other...

so that this will be a next experience ...