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Rowland 625 versus Audio Research DS450

I'm a big fan of Rowland Products. I heard the 625 at CES and was rather impressed by its huge solid soundstage, and the detailed yet mellifluous sound. I was rather depressed by the price tag. I was hoping it would be in Rowland 501 range.

I also heard the Audio Research DS450 with Magnepans at CES. While the sound was very relaxed and tube like, I didn't hear as much bass, as I would have liked. Perhaps it was the speakers or the recordings played?

I noticed both manufacturers avoided the term Class D or "Ice Module" like the plague. I think Class D has become a dirty word among some audiophiles...

Any other thoughts on how the sound of the Rowland 625 compares to Audio Research's DS450?

I would like to save up for one of them. The DS450 or even DS225 seem like they might be "better bang for the buck" (in relative terms). Appreciate your comments. Tks!
optimus
palewin
58 posts
 
Seems no one has pointed out a basic answer to the original poster's question about missing bass and the ARC/Maggie combination. Maggies are "bass light" which is why most Maggie users have ongoing discussions about whether or not to try and add a sub-woofer to their system. I was just listening to my 1.6s (driven by an ARC SP-8/150.2 combination) and going through that same discussion with myself. Granted, my vintage and "entry level" ARC components don't fall in the same league as the DS450, but I think the largest contribution to the "minimal bass" issue is the Maggies. Of course I'm a Maggie-lover, and willing to sacrifice the low end for the wonderful midrange, but that is another discussion.
optimus OP
28 posts
 
Palewin - Thank you! So there is hope yet for the DS450...
inna
7,263 posts
 
I am barely familiar with this type of speakers. Are big Soundlabs bass light as well? And I never heard anyone complain about their midrange. Why are you so attached to Maggies? Something very special? If there is no good bass there is no foundation. Even if you only listen to solo guitar or singing.
I don't know about Audio Research but there are no bad Rowlands so if someone wants to choose the best for a particular application one has to try a few. Older Rowlands can sound deeper.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Classic Rowlands and 300 series Rowlands tend to have a 'meatier' bass than M625.... mostly because they impart a pleasing and ponderous whooliness to the midbass. Conversely, M201 and M501's bass seems a little light and 'non-denominational'. By contrast, The bass of M625 appears to be more pitched and musically coherent than what I have heard from Rowland M7, M201, M501, C500, M301, M302, and M312.
audiozen
831 posts
 
Optimus, you may want to consider the just released DS450M mono blocks from Audio Research. There power supply is overkill with over 176,000 microfarads in each amp. A serious brute. Audio Research never used Ice modules in the past, but did use Tripath modules, which is now out of business. All current class D products from Audio Research use their own made in house designed switching module. Class D has always got a bum rap since the first experiments started in 1958 with poor results. At the time, amps kept blowing up since they could not handle the large volumes of modulating current, until John Ulrick came along in 1968 and installed a class D amp in an active subwoofer when he owned Infinity. Audiophiles also need to understand that class D has nothing to do with digital whatsover, unless specified, it is nothing more than a category classification of an analog amplifier.
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