Pre-amp for Rowland Model 102

Feds, Syntax's Klyne reco is excellent, by far the best SS preamp that I have ever heard. You have noted the scarcity of them on the used market, there is a good reason for that, they are worth keeping. Keep looking, it could be very rewarding.

I'm using Power Factor correcting conditioner Furman Elite 20 PFi with Rowland 102. It does not affect dynamics but makes everything cleaner. The strange thing is that bass became cleaner - more even and musical. Very good non-sacrificial over/under voltage protection is another benefit. I don't have to worry about leaving it ON 24/7. 102 is plugged into high current outlets while Benchmark DAC1, I use as pre, is plugged into lower current preamp dedicated outlets.

Hi Kijanki, fascinating info. I did not know that Furman was producing a PFC-based conditioner. how has the Furman Elite afected harmonic detail, microdynamics, and mid-treble intermodulation? Can you isolate the separate impact on M102 and Capri? Guido

Guido, I don't have Capri. Furman made it cleaner. They claim large peak current available (large capacitor behind large inductor) but it did not improve dynamics (other than removing bass resonances). Furman made big difference on my previous digital (DLP) TV, making colors more clean and saturated. I know it doesn't sound plausible in digital domain but removing jitter can do it. One thing that made huge difference was speaker cable (Acoustic Zen Satori) that enhanced lower midrange (Cello, male voice chestiness etc.) where 102 seemed to be a little thin. In addition it has this "silky" quality (but I'm rather new to high end cables).

Guidocorona,

"It bested my ARC REF 3 in harmonic development, control of treble intermodulation in complex passages (think of multipart violins)"

In reference to your quote above, how do you define harmonic development and treble IM? Are they something you listen for or measure?