Rowland 625

I owned the Capri in a second system for a while and the Criterion replaced it in that system. I don't think the Capri is in the same league but it's good for the money and amazing for the going secondhand price.

I look forward to hearing the 625; I was not all that impressed with what heard from the C500 I owned but enjoy the MC6/Criterion pairing and have an affinity for the 2/6/8/9 generation amps. I will say that the Criterion is much more transparent than the Coherence II Mk 2 I owned and quite good overall, among the best I've heard, perhaps the best value, but surpassed in some areas by some other preamps, albeit at a much much higher cost.

After I listen to the sound of the Electrocompaniet 4.8 preamplifier I could say that the Criterion is really a wonderfull device with his incredible transparency.

And I want to like better the 4.8, because I have bought the Electrocompaniet AW250R as well, but I couldn't.

Anyway the AW250R is amazing.

Sorry, because I don't speak a good speak English to write different words that I need for a review.

But the AW250R is much better than the GamuT D200 MkIII and hugely better than the Model 312.

For what I listen, I'm pretty shure that Electrocompaniet is much better than the M625.

Isvaldo, I am glad you are enjoying Electrocompaniet AW250R. Unfortunately, as I have never auditioned AW250R, I have absolutely no idea if I would enjoy it more than JRDG M625. Over the years, I have realized that my guesswork has often been disappointingly off the mark, and has been at odds with, well .... live listening results.

If you ever have the opportunity of auditioning AW250R and M625 in the same system, please let us know your live impressions.

G.

I don't need to have a auditioning between the AW250R and the M625 in the same system.

And I think you need to have the courage to move on and change the brand of your amplifier. Yes, the life is made of changes... or the courage of change.

I want to say if the Model 312 was, until a couple of months ago, the joy of the JRDG this treasure is not so good, because the difference to the GamuT and much more for the Electroconpaniet is HUGE.

So what you can expect from the 625?

Electrocompaniet, GamuT and few others are making real joys since many, many years ago.

Like the Navy Seals you need to have courage and move on to another brand of amplifier.

Anyway the Criterion is wonderfull, maybe the best in the world together with 2 or 3 others preamplifiers.

I.

Hi Isvaldo, I do love GamuT products, and have in fact already have reviewed their CD3 for PFO ... I am sure I will review more GamuT products in the future.

You have just stirred my interest in ElectroCompaniet. I'll try to audition ElectroCompaniet amps at RMAF this coming October. If I like what I hear, after I receive and fully break in and evaluate the upcoming JRDG M925, I might try listening to ElectroCompaniet amps in my own system, and would contrast it with the sound of several SS amps, including M312, M625, and M925. I have simply no idea about the possible outcome.

Concerning M625, it is in my system right now, but I have not completed its evaluation. At this point M625 appears to be exceeding M312 comfortably in:

* Frequency extension;
* harmonic development;
* Mid bass linearity;
Micro detail;
* Three-dimensionality / solidity of stage and imaging.

M312 conversely still yields an overall larger image, which is quite understandable, given M312's higher power rating.

One thing extremely surprising about M625 is that bass controll is improved over M312, even though M625 damping factor is only 200, versus M312's 1,000.

Hope this helps.

G.