Jeff Rowland Pre-Amps: The Corus & The Capri

Stephen, I'll try to address your Corus vs Capri question as specifically as I can.

1. I have experience with Capri and Criterion.

2. Criterion is so close to Corus that any discussions about sonic differences between Corus/Criterion are as meaningful as disquisitions on number of Angels dancing on a pinhead. Hence, please equate Corus=Criterion for all intents and purposes.

3. In my system, the rest of the chain consisted of Esoteric X-01, Rowland M312, and Vienna Mahler V1.5.

Here are the differences I perceived:

A. Criterion has more fleshed out sound stage in the three dimensions, with much more specific instrumental/voice images and greater "silence between the notes".

B. Criterion has more harmonic development than Capri.

C. One of the few shortcomings of capri is a certain lightness or blanchness of the bass... Criterion's bass is much deeper and textured, without running the risk of becoming woolly deep, or romantic.

D. Criterion treble is once again, more articulate, textured, and coherent than Capri, and is much more capable to control strident intermodulation in multi-part string passages.

Hope this helps, Guido

Hi Guido,

Thanks for the response. Where does the Coherence II fit into this equation regarding the quality of the various Rowland preamps. Thanks Stephen

Stephen, Rowland like many other designers, learns something new with each new product, and his devices have evolved. His older designs were warmer-sounding, and not quite as extended, resolving, and transparent as his newer ones. In particular, I remember Rowland commenting on Capri vs Coherence II... according to him, Capri outperforms Coherence II in resolution, transparence, and musicality, even though Coherence looks like a much more impressive device... At the time of Coherence, Rowland did not have available the high speed low noise parts that he used in Capri, and later in his Criterion and Corus devices.

Of course, older products have already that "nostalgia factor", that the newest stuff will eventually acquire a decade or so down the road *grins!*

Guido

Stephen, three years ago you asked this question. Now in your system the Capri is still mentioned. Did you make any direct comparisons with Corus? Was there any argument not to upgrade because of sonic matters?

I'll just mention this and let you do the research. The Rowland Continuum S2 integrated amp is unimaginably good. I replaced a Capri and a pair of Hypex NCore 400 monos and was amazed by the upgrade. Before my purchase I was very persuaded by the Roy Gregory review.
It puts out 400 watts per channel, contains the new Capri S2 preamp and can be bought with either a phono or DAC on board. Functionally, it is identical to your current Capri. Same inputs, outputs and controls. Worth a look.