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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
 
That "desk chickie" was probably Jeff's wife, OR one of the production assemblers. No one there just answers the phone, so your report is probably accurate.

Chassis lay in wait for the boards and software. I've seen them myself, months ago. The big unknown is software development. Has anyone here ever depended on a software engineer to finish something on time??? Raise your hands... so my prediction is two to six months. Jeff's not really in control regarding this issue.

Dave
guidocorona OP
4,114 posts
 
Kawika, I do not recall anyone by the name of Chicke at JRDG. the nice lady who usually answers the phone at JRDG is Kelly, who is an excellent business manager, while Jeff drives engineering and strategy. G.
kawika
56 posts
 
Did I offend someone? I come from a Pilot background and no offense was inteneded whilst referering to the nice lady answering the phone at JRDG. While comming up the ranks we always referred to the pretty young lady answering phones as the airport receptionist as the "Front Desk Chickie" Just in case you truely had no clue what I was talking about!
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
Everyone knew what you're talking about and there's no "front desk chickie" at JRDG is our point in response.
guidocorona OP
4,114 posts
 
no offense taken Kawika, I really shouldn't throw stones myself. I was introduced to the ARC and Rowland Sound many years ago by Angie, the owner of American Sound in Toronto. . . only after mistakingly referring to her as the "sweet thing" telephone receptionist with one of her horrified staffers. . . and amazingly, Angie still talks to me years after my gaffe!

Returning to the main topic, I have secret hope that firmware will be complete before the end of December, but as a former sofware developer myself, I know that programmers think of themselves as artists first and foremost, for whom a 'deadline' is only an obscure entry in the English dictionary to which they simply do not relate.
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