Any Jeff Rowland owners?
- Thread starter daveyf
- Start date
Penthouse-D
New member
I love the design of the new gear. Haven't had the chance to hear it though. You live in a beautiful town. I've been to L.J. many times. Wonderful place...
audio.bill
Active member
I run the Rowland 625 power amp (latest version) which sounds superb in combination with the Audia Flight Line and Phono preamps driving Piega C10 Ltd. speakers. The 625 uses a class A/B output stage with a power factor corrected switched mode power supply. 
Rick Vestal
New member
Quad 201 monoblocks here. I was shocked to see a post in the JR subforum...
Rick Vestal
New member
Sexy beast!
socfan12
Active member
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- Apr 5, 2013
- Messages
- 3,579
Thanks for starting this thread, Davey!
Long time owner of a Model 8TiHC amp. Superb sounding even after so many years, and responds beautifully to Shunyata Anaconda PC.
Davey, curious what the top plate and choke mods are?
Rick, Bill, great picks on JRDG gear!
Long time owner of a Model 8TiHC amp. Superb sounding even after so many years, and responds beautifully to Shunyata Anaconda PC.
Davey, curious what the top plate and choke mods are?
Rick, Bill, great picks on JRDG gear!
GuidoCorona
New member
Hi Davey, what an excellent idea you had to start this watering hole for Rowland owners on Audioshark!
I am proud owner of a pair of M925 monoblocks, a Criterion linestage, and -- as of two weeks ago -- of an Aeris DAC.
In the past I had M725 monos, M625 stereo (original version), M312 stereo, Model 7 monos, and Capri (original version) preamplifier.
I have started a thread here on Audioshark where I have logged my break-in experience with M925:
http://audioshark.org/amplifiers-8/experiencing-rowland-m925-monoblocks-2360.html
Saluti, Guido
I am proud owner of a pair of M925 monoblocks, a Criterion linestage, and -- as of two weeks ago -- of an Aeris DAC.
In the past I had M725 monos, M625 stereo (original version), M312 stereo, Model 7 monos, and Capri (original version) preamplifier.
I have started a thread here on Audioshark where I have logged my break-in experience with M925:
http://audioshark.org/amplifiers-8/experiencing-rowland-m925-monoblocks-2360.html
Saluti, Guido
At Raidho we have often used electronics from Jeff.. We have on Shows used most if his electronics with great success.. We got the " best sound on the Show " this year both at the CES on the Munich Show.. Do we love his electronics... Absolutely yes.. 
Lars
Raidho
Lars
Raidho
GuidoCorona
New member
Hi Lars, in fact at RMAF 2014 Rowland featured the new Continuum S2 integrated driving a pair of Raidho D1s using Cardas Clear Beyond speaker wires... I visited the suite several times... The music was magic.
Saluti, Guido
Saluti, Guido
The Raidho/Rowland combo at RMAF was outstanding. One of the best sounding rooms.
GuidoCorona
New member
Hi Bruce, the only current Rowland amp that still uses ICEpower power conversion technoloogy is the new entry level M125 bridgeable amp, which is based on an enhanced 125ASX2 module.
The M625 midrange stereo amp is based on a class A/B circuit... The top end M825 and M925 amps have Ncore technology in the output stages, while the Continuum S2 integrated uses a Pascal module.
Interestingly, the Continuum S2 that Mike and I heard at RMAF, had less than one week of music on it, and yet it sounded great already.
Guido
The M625 midrange stereo amp is based on a class A/B circuit... The top end M825 and M925 amps have Ncore technology in the output stages, while the Continuum S2 integrated uses a Pascal module.
Interestingly, the Continuum S2 that Mike and I heard at RMAF, had less than one week of music on it, and yet it sounded great already.
Guido
socfan12
Active member
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Guido,
I am so jealous of your Criterion pre. I would love a battery powered JR preamp...
GuidoCorona
New member
Hi Allen, do you live in an area with particularly dirty AC? If you do, a Corus linestage with the upcoming Rowland PSU supply will give you at least the same isolation from AC grundge as batteries, but with probably better macro/microndynamics. PSU should be released soon... It is based on ultracapacitors and will deliver continuous DC to Corus and/or Aeris without requiring a recharge.
But if your power were relatively reasonable, like in Austin where I live, the SMPS in Corus or Criterion performs identically to the bateery supply... And in fact makes these devices largely invariant to upmarket power cords.
Saluti, Guido
But if your power were relatively reasonable, like in Austin where I live, the SMPS in Corus or Criterion performs identically to the bateery supply... And in fact makes these devices largely invariant to upmarket power cords.
Saluti, Guido
What I really love about the new Rowland electronics is, that they all have a much more black background to the music.. much more black than most of the High-end electronics we have been using together with our speakers.. We are happy that you found the Rowland and our D-1 sounding outstanding at the RMAF Show.
Greetings from Hanoi.. Vietnam..
Greetings from Hanoi.. Vietnam..
GuidoCorona
New member
Hi Kiwi, did you review C500 or C250? The C250 lacked a PFC unit which helps to protect the ICEpower module from residual grundge and ripple... Hence C250 would sound a little sterile, somewhat like the M201 mono amplifier.
C500 did have a PFC unit, which was however different from the one found in the M312 stereo amp.... For some reason, the 312 sounded always amazingly musical, with instrumental and vocal images fully alive and fleshed out with harmonics and microdynamics (at least compared to its contemporaries), while C501 did not seem to reach the same degree of refinement, and could not yield the same emotional involvement to me... Yes, I heard them at length in the same system during the same session.... Rest of system was a Boulder CDp, Capri (original) on M312, and Vienna Die Muzik speakers. It is possible in theory that C500 may be handicapped in some way by the bank of output capacitors post power conversion module... They were designed to enhance authority and macrodynamics, but they might have been slightly detrmintal to subtlety.
Furthermore, C500 required a complete break-in of about 600 hours, before which it would sound sterile and hard.
You are correct also that the casework of Continuum S2 is based on the original C500. Internally things are entirely replaced/redesigned.... Different PFC unit, ICEpower is gone in favor of Pascal technology, different transformer coupling, and the preamplifier circuitry is that of the new Capri S2, which is very different from the original Capri.
There is a CS2 section on the Rowland Knowledge base where you will find 20 short articles with some more information:
Continuum S2 Integrated
Bottomline is that I had some reservations about the performance of the original C500, while what I heard at RMAF 2014 from Continuum S2 and the Raidho D1s -- particularly on the third day (Sunday) -- was magical.
Guido
C500 did have a PFC unit, which was however different from the one found in the M312 stereo amp.... For some reason, the 312 sounded always amazingly musical, with instrumental and vocal images fully alive and fleshed out with harmonics and microdynamics (at least compared to its contemporaries), while C501 did not seem to reach the same degree of refinement, and could not yield the same emotional involvement to me... Yes, I heard them at length in the same system during the same session.... Rest of system was a Boulder CDp, Capri (original) on M312, and Vienna Die Muzik speakers. It is possible in theory that C500 may be handicapped in some way by the bank of output capacitors post power conversion module... They were designed to enhance authority and macrodynamics, but they might have been slightly detrmintal to subtlety.
Furthermore, C500 required a complete break-in of about 600 hours, before which it would sound sterile and hard.
You are correct also that the casework of Continuum S2 is based on the original C500. Internally things are entirely replaced/redesigned.... Different PFC unit, ICEpower is gone in favor of Pascal technology, different transformer coupling, and the preamplifier circuitry is that of the new Capri S2, which is very different from the original Capri.
There is a CS2 section on the Rowland Knowledge base where you will find 20 short articles with some more information:
Continuum S2 Integrated
Bottomline is that I had some reservations about the performance of the original C500, while what I heard at RMAF 2014 from Continuum S2 and the Raidho D1s -- particularly on the third day (Sunday) -- was magical.
Guido
GuidoCorona
New member
Hi Ralph, Raidho speakers need long-drawn setup, particularly in small rooms, like the 13x19 suites at RMAF. If the UHEA reviewer visited the suite on the first day, or in the morning of the 2nd day, he would have heard traces of peakiness in the treble because CS2 was still relatively underexercized, and more than some mid-bass over-resonance from D1s. The Rowland team continued to dial in the speakers until they achieved optimum setup by Sunday... having said that, D1 would enjoy a breathing space that the RMAF standard suites simply won't afford to them, hence one needs to factor in the limitations of the environment... Admittedly, A double sized suite would have yielded enhanced synergy, but on Sunday, bass pitch unspecificities were hard to detect, except for occasional traces in double-bass bowed parts of large symphonic works.
Raidho D1s were set on top of blocks of carbon. I do not know what was between them and the carpet... Sorry, I have been blind as a bat for the last three decades, and do not do pics.
Concerning the sound of a cold C500... Yes, I fully expect it to have sounded horrid... That is an unavoidable characteristic of ICEpower modules coming out from deep sleep, inside amps from any manufacturer.... They do take about two days of exercising a signal before they yield best performance... Past full breakin, that is.
If I were to make a comparison from memory between C500 and CS2, using the 2nd movement of Dvorak's new world symphony with Bernstein and the Israel Philharmonic... C500 yields an intro low brass chorus where the stage is relatively two-dimensional, and the cuivree has hints of jarriness, so do the Tympanis at the end of the first cadenzas... The double bass line in the first thematic exposition is definitely well pitched, but has a wooden and non denomoinational quality to it... Yes, orchestral instruments are "transparent", but they lack ultimate harmonic and microdynaic subtlety... There seemed to be residues of edge... And the build up to the concluding cadenza on tutti of the first thematic exposition does slide into some further jarriness and detectable treble cross-modulation.
All above defects were completely absent on the Continuum S2-based system I heard. Staging in the chorus projected in 3D... Cuivre meant that the brass resonated, not that upper harmonics fought with one another to generate the nasties.... Tympanies sounded intense and present, rather than inducing you to avert your ears.... Double was pitched starting from the fundamental, and showed harmonics and small dynamic shifts... I heard no traces of treble cross-modulation... The experience was emotionally immersive rather than clinical.
As for technical details on S2... When I receive a full briefing, I will post them... Meantime, discount what you heard from old and withdrawn C500... 'Tis a dead horse. Beyond the casing, there is no commonality with S2...
G.
Raidho D1s were set on top of blocks of carbon. I do not know what was between them and the carpet... Sorry, I have been blind as a bat for the last three decades, and do not do pics.
Concerning the sound of a cold C500... Yes, I fully expect it to have sounded horrid... That is an unavoidable characteristic of ICEpower modules coming out from deep sleep, inside amps from any manufacturer.... They do take about two days of exercising a signal before they yield best performance... Past full breakin, that is.
If I were to make a comparison from memory between C500 and CS2, using the 2nd movement of Dvorak's new world symphony with Bernstein and the Israel Philharmonic... C500 yields an intro low brass chorus where the stage is relatively two-dimensional, and the cuivree has hints of jarriness, so do the Tympanis at the end of the first cadenzas... The double bass line in the first thematic exposition is definitely well pitched, but has a wooden and non denomoinational quality to it... Yes, orchestral instruments are "transparent", but they lack ultimate harmonic and microdynaic subtlety... There seemed to be residues of edge... And the build up to the concluding cadenza on tutti of the first thematic exposition does slide into some further jarriness and detectable treble cross-modulation.
All above defects were completely absent on the Continuum S2-based system I heard. Staging in the chorus projected in 3D... Cuivre meant that the brass resonated, not that upper harmonics fought with one another to generate the nasties.... Tympanies sounded intense and present, rather than inducing you to avert your ears.... Double was pitched starting from the fundamental, and showed harmonics and small dynamic shifts... I heard no traces of treble cross-modulation... The experience was emotionally immersive rather than clinical.
As for technical details on S2... When I receive a full briefing, I will post them... Meantime, discount what you heard from old and withdrawn C500... 'Tis a dead horse. Beyond the casing, there is no commonality with S2...
G.