hifi-advice.com

UNOFFICIAL JEFF ROWLAND INFO DATABASE

JRDG - The most beautiful amplifiers around

Criterion - Current Reference

hifi-advice.com - info and reviews - Christiaan Punter - April 2010, updated April 2012

Back to preamps

Criterion

2010-present

approx 22.000 euro

The Criterion incorporates the most tried and proven concepts trailblazed by JRDG over the 25+ years of successfully developing the finest audio products available: battery power that provides the cleanest possible power source and isolation from the power grid, balanced circuitry, transformer coupling and much more. This time the batteries are incorporated in a much more user-friendly fashion: now they are user replaceable! Rowland's latest products now feature a slightly curved frontpanel and are less wide (now 39,4 cm instead of 44,5 cm)

I haven't directly compared it to the Coherence II but a friend of mine has. It was at his place that I heard the Criterion but after he had sold his Coherence II. What I heard was a very fast, very dynamic and very open sound with still a hint of the famous Rowland air and fluidity. According to the friend, the Criterion is much faster than the Coherence II, it makes your feet tap more. This could well be true since the Coherence II is indeed not the forward or fast preamp around. But I like its fluid and romantic nature and I doubt whether that's also present so much in the new Criterion.

Rear panel

The large screw terminals top right is where the batteries are. Easily user-replaceable, Much better than having to screw open the housing and fiddling with the battery packs, isn't it?

Update 2012

Supposedly the Criterion may no longer be sold in the EU due to its battery powersupply. I assume JRDG aren't resting on their laurels and they're looking into other designs. We may see a preamp fed by a super capacitor some time soon. For now, the Corus could be considered something of its replacement.

Information reprinted from the JRDG site

How is Criterion a green technology product, and why is it important?

The Criterion reference preamplifier is a green technology product. Thanks to its highly regulated and very high speed switch mode power supply, its sophisticated DC power management system, and the extremely efficient TI Burr Brown OPA1632 fully differential I/O audio amplifier modules, Criterion draws only 15 Watts of power on idle, and a mere 50W at peak. It runs so cool to the touch that it can even be housed in a cabinet or custom media unit with no fear of overheating.

Criterion is completely Lead-free, and its battery technology is free of Cadmium metal, letting it conform to European (EU) environmental regulations.

Almost the entire preamplifier is made from recyclable materials, including its advanced ceramic electronics boards.

This is a time of rising energy costs across the World. Jeff Rowland is committed to creating and offering products that are not only supremely musical, but are also environmentally friendly, and help our customers to minimize their energy bills, while helping all of us to manage the finite energy resources of our planet.

SPECS

Overall Gain Independently Programmable 0 to 20 dB on each input

Gain Range 99.5 dB, 199 Equal Increments

Gain Resolution 0.5 dB, +/- 0.03 dB Over Entire Range

Frequency Response 10 Hz – 300 kHz, -3 dB @ 8 ohms

Maximum Input Level 13.5 volts (RMS) @ 0 dB Gain

Maximum Output Level 13.5 volts (RMS)

THD + Noise < .003% @ 2 volt (RMS) Output, 50 Hz – 20 kHz

Signal-to-Noise Ratio > 100 dB

Common Mode Rejection Ratio > 90 dB, 20 Hz – 20 kHz

Channel Separation 99.5 dB

Input Impedance 40k ohms Balanced or Unbalanced