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Found Perfect Amp For My Needs, But Is It Too Old?

While traveling last fall, I visited an old friend in Houston. Knowing I have, for a very long time, been serious about audio,and music, he introduced me to a neighbor, that he knew was also of like mind. I spent the better part of an evening listening to his wonderful system and talking audio.

What struck me the most about his system, a number of components of which I was familiar with, were the Jeff Rowland Model 6 mono's, which literally produced the best sound I have ever heard from a solid state amplifier (and I've been a died in the wool tubes guy). He was even kind enough to take the time to allow me to hear them connected to the preamp and cd player from his "office system" the Modwright LS100, and the Oppo Model 95, both of which I own.

My question surrounds the question of long term reliability, and/or servicing that older Rowland amplifiers might need. His performed perfectly, but the situation with those is likely a somewhat unusual case. He was the original owner, and purchased them locally. Since then, thay have never moved from their original place of installation in his listening room, while also being connected to dedicated power, as well as expensive power conditioning equipment. A rare, optimum situation.

I seem to recall reading often that caps need replacement in older amplifiers. And I expect servicing of the amplifers by Rowland might well cost very serious money. Possibly as much as buying some amplifiers?

Having heard those Model 6 monoblocks, I would dearly love to locate and buy a pair. But I need to be able to count on twenty years of service due to certain recent events. These would resolve an issue I've had since last year, in being unable to uncover any tubed amplifiers that will produce the power I need, that I can afford, and which will also not massively overheat my small listening area. And my experimentation with solid state has been less than completely satisfying.

Of course the other problem I am facing is that the Model 6's almost never appear for sale. Granted, there are a rare pair for sale at the moment, here, but both faceplates are badly scratched, and the asking price is far too high in that condition.
nightfall
pbnaudio's avatar
pbnaudio
1,613 posts
 
Have had 2 pairs of Model 6, a Model 8T and a few of the JRDG preamps, all beautifully made stuff.

B2B-100 Amplifier

Please read the comments posted by me. These are just about ready to ship would you care to be part of the Beta Team ? There is little to loose lots to gain.

Good Listening

Peter
rlwainwright
1,904 posts
 
The OP wrote:
" These would resolve an issue I've had since last year, in being unable to uncover any tubed amplifiers that will produce the power I need, that I can afford, and which will also not massively overheat my small listening area. "

Have you looked into the Butler Audio TDB-2250 Tube/MOSFET power amp? 250 watts/ch. Go to this link:

http://butleraudio.com/tdb2250.php

-RW-
warrenh's avatar
warrenh
2,299 posts
 
I cannot relate to Elizabeth's response. NBD, it's just not my ilk. Why o why would I want any audio product to last for 20 years? I owned a Bryston 4B for 10 years. True it had power slam dunk bass, but the 20 years means nothing to me. I would grab that used baby, enjoy it, and fix it when or if it goes. Relative to $$ spent, I would take used greatness rather than good longenevity. Who wants anything to last forever, except my mother. "buy good carpet. It will last 20 years!" Problem is I hated the carpet after 5 years and felt so guilty ripping it up because I spent so much. That was when I was young, naive, poor and stupid...
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Nightfall, here's a link to that pair of Model 6 amps I was talking about. It looks like they expire in about 22 hours. Yeah, he spelt the name wrong AND has no feedback, but since he 'lives' about a 100 miles away, I was thinking of taking a look at them, maybe cash n' carry. The pair I used to own had the black faceplate too, I like that better than the silver.

The problem is, like I said before, I'm kinda tapped out for cash at the moment. I COULD do it, but I SHOULDN'T do it. Then I'd have to buy a couple more power cords with 20A IEC's......it never ends. GREAT AMPS though.

@Tom6897, I did hear the Model 112 at a dealer's, it wasn't bad, but for some reason, JRDG just never seemed to relocate that magic it had in the midrange when they changed to their digital switching amps. Like I said earlier, I think Jeff reached his pinnacle with the 2/6/8/9 series of amps. Earlier models were a bit too dark, and the newer models, with the digital switching, just never grabbed me in an emotional way that his earlier amps did.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Nightfall, I would not be terribly concerned about maintenance of M6s.... Rowland amps are built like battlewagons.... I used for 10 years a pair of M7s made in the late 80s.... When they were picked up bodily by their newest Daddy a couple of years ago they were still in perfect operating conditions.

Concerning the Rowland sound, yes it is true, after M6 and M8 Rowland underwent a bit of a technology transition for a spell.... His reference machines ranging from M12, M112, M302, and early M301 were a little unemotional, often with slightly depressed leading transients.... And his Lower end amps like M201 and M501 did sound a little matter-of-fact and not particularly "Rowlandish".

However, I found the more recent M312 to be a very intensely emotional and musical device, which remained my reference for several years. Now I have M725 monos, which seem to deliver all that M312 did, but has an even sweeter treble and delivers a denser harmonic structure.

Soon I will try out the new M925 monos.... But that's a tale for the hopefully near future.

G.
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