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New Rowland Criterion 2-chassis battery pre

Jeff Rowland Design has just created a page for its upcoming statement-level, twin chassis, battery powered full function preamplifier. Detail is still scant, but a little bit of info is already available, in addition to front and rear view pics. Here’s the page:
http://jeffrowland.com/Criterion.htm
And here’s the front view:
http://jeffrowland.com/Criterion-front.htm
And here’s the rear view:
http://jeffrowland.com/Criterion-back.htm

You will find a few specs already on the site. JRDG should be publishing more info in the next few weeks. I will post here as I receive it. in addition to the published specs that you can read on the page above, here are a very few additional tidbits that I have learned this far:

. Uses Burr Brown TI OPA1632 high speed fully differentially balanced modules.
. Includes phono stage.
. Uses standard NiMH D-cell batteries available in most electronics stores, loaded in 2 rear-inserted tubes of power supply chassis.
. Capable of AC/DC operation . . . will recharge batteries on independent circuit during AC operation.
. Full remote control
. Target price $18K (not sure yet)
. Availability: probably early Fall 2008.
. Will be featured at RMAF in Soundings Hifi suite Marriott 503 or 505 from Oct 10th to 12th in Denver.

And sorry folks, I have not heard this device yet. Nor I have any good third party reports on its sound. Any speculations on Sonics from my part would be just. . . pure speculations. I’ll keep everyone posted as I learn more.

Guido
guidocorona
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
Husk1, no pressure. ;-)

Macrojack, the gizmo factor is low for me, but the thought of retiring my Continuum 500 and going the Criterin/312 route has crossed my mind. I think that the sound is going to be THAT good. Diminishing returns, for sure. The Capri and Continuum are incredible bargains.

Oh yeah, don't forget, we'll need the separate box Critereon phono-pre (another wait) to fully replace the Capri and Continuum with a Criterion based system.

Dave
cappuccino
110 posts
 
So are the batteries already implemented in the current 2-chassis Criterion?
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
Apparently. I understand that the issues are now restricted totally to the remote's functions.

Dave
guidocorona OP
4,114 posts
 
All, because of an emergency in Jeff's family, we may need to wait for Criterion a few more weeks. I'll keep you informed. Thanks, Guido
brazcole
63 posts
 
I bought a Criterion, and I'm going to receive it at the end of February. But now I'm not shure, because, after I read the posts, I think that there is no one Criterion sent for any customer.
I have a Gamut set up, with 2 GamuTs D200 in bi-amp, and I'm shure that my new set up, with 1 Model 312, will be much, much better.
I decided to buy the JRDG devices after I read the messages in this Forum.
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