Jeff Rowland Pre-Amps: The Corus & The Capri

Onhwy61,

Very thoughtful and important question that I keep asking myself. I would say that I am confident that my speakers can give give me more back with a more powerful amp. They take a bit of power to push even in my 12 by 24 room and are not being pushed by my current amp. How much will another amp effect it? I am not sure. I do know I play the music loud and there is a point where the amp can't go.

Without any question the Cardas clear was 'much' better. It was more transparent,clearer,nuanced,open,dynamie, etc. Simply better in every way IMO. The Golden Reference was veiled and cloudy in comparison.

exactly the point ...

and there is much better than Cardas Clear !

Why didn't Jeff include a BYPASS INPUT for the Corus as he has with my SynergyIIi pre amp? Unless I am missing something it is preventing me from upgrading.

any input can be programed as a unit gain bypass circuit.

Stephen, I'll try to address your Corus vs Capri question as specifically as I can.

1. I have experience with Capri and Criterion.

2. Criterion is so close to Corus that any discussions about sonic differences between Corus/Criterion are as meaningful as disquisitions on number of Angels dancing on a pinhead. Hence, please equate Corus=Criterion for all intents and purposes.

3. In my system, the rest of the chain consisted of Esoteric X-01, Rowland M312, and Vienna Mahler V1.5.

Here are the differences I perceived:

A. Criterion has more fleshed out sound stage in the three dimensions, with much more specific instrumental/voice images and greater "silence between the notes".

B. Criterion has more harmonic development than Capri.

C. One of the few shortcomings of capri is a certain lightness or blanchness of the bass... Criterion's bass is much deeper and textured, without running the risk of becoming woolly deep, or romantic.

D. Criterion treble is once again, more articulate, textured, and coherent than Capri, and is much more capable to control strident intermodulation in multi-part string passages.

Hope this helps, Guido