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Jeff Rowland Model 8 - questions

I just bought one of these. I got a great deal and couldn't turn it down. It looks nice, but how does it perform? Does anyone have some good (or bad) information regarding this amp?
It is an early unit, and have never been upgraded. I have read that the earlier designs used choke input, and 320000 uf caps (thats inside mine). Then some modifications were done with the psu. The chokes were gone, and the caps now was 640000 uf.
How much better will it be if I perform a stage 1 upgrade? or stage 3?
Are there any recommendations to preamps? Of course JR will fit well, but I want to use a valve pre (with remote).

Hope anyone are familiar with this.
Best Regards
Bamb --- greetings from Norwa
bambadoo
bambadoo OP
19 posts
 
At last someone responded to my thread :-)
Thank you very much. My JR model 8 is up and running beautifully. It is one brute of an amp.
It is playing extremely well, however it is getting pretty warm when playeing for long periods of time. But if I remove the top, the amp doesn't get warm at all. I actually I prefer the sound with the top off... Why is that?
However the "warm-up time"
I notice that JRDG changed the top-plate for the 8 model when upgrading to the 8T and newer.
daveyf's avatar
daveyf
1,174 posts
 
Oops forgot to mention that I changed the top plate on my 8. This is a slight improvement over the older sheet plate. It seemed to increase the focus slightly and was definitely better to look at. The rigidity of the chassis is improved and the heat seems to be less.
bambadoo OP
19 posts
 
That is very interesting Daveyf.
I will try to get a new top-plate for the amp.
Btw. my former message didn't turn out all that well it seems. What i wanted to say was that I think the amp needs at least 6 hours warm up, before it performs best.
Anyone notice that?

Best Regards
sirspeedy70680e509
1,064 posts
 
As a point of reference,I too had the top plates updated.These new ones are ridged like the side heatsinks.As a matter of fact,they are heatsinks.The only downside for me,was I had to get two.My amps never run more than "slightly" warm.The switch mode chasis only gets just a wee bit warm.A good thing,in New York summers.Although I loved my tube amps,of the past,the Rowland is a listening,and ergonomic pleasure.I don't see myself getting rid of them for a LONG time. Best to all!!
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