JRDG Company Special – BPS-1
Available around 1998
Retail price in 1998 in the Netherlands 3.925 euro
The Rowland BPS-1 can power either a Rowland Synergy IIi preamp or a Rowland Cadence Phonostage separately or both at the same time.
Rare product with only around 200 made
Notice the similarities with the Coherence II power supply? My guess is that they are internally the same and the only difference is the simpler front for the BPS-1.
More Jeff Rowland
Jeff Rowland Company Special Main Page
Jeff Rowland Company Special BPS
Synergy I, II and IIi
Cadence Phono stage
Jeff Rowland Sinergy Manitou Edition and BPS-1
Do you know anything about it ?
It’s somewhat comparable to the update of the Cadence with the addition of the BPS1 or BPS2 battery power supply and extra charger unit. What’s done in the case of the Manitou Edition is that the Synergy is sonically updated to what’s basically Coherence II status (minus the pretty looks and extra inputs). As it turns out, much of the Coherence II’s superlative sound comes from its more elaborate power supply and BPS section. See also the information in the BPS2 article.
That mean the Sinergy Manitou Edition should have input and output transformers ?
Thank you !
That depends on the Synergy model that is used. “Manitou Edition” can refer to Synergy 1, 2, and 2i. You will know which Synergy model by looking at the back. See the Synergy page for the descriptions.
Thank you!
I have a pair of model 6 amps
And looking in to this Synergy Preamps to run them properly
Synergy will drive the sixes very well, especially if its power supply is uprated as is done with the Manitou version. I found that a friend’s Synergy 2i rivaled my Coherence II in many areas and even exceeded it in others. Key is that the charger remains connected, otherwise, the Synergy (and any other Rowland BPS-driven (pre-)amp) will lose some of its drive, impact, and incisiveness.
First of all let me thank you for all this info!
I am looking at this
Jeff Rowland Manitou Edition
Preamplifier
So on the back is marked only
Sinergy and there is the dual main output and the dual rec out, so it may be an Sinergy 2
Manitou Edition with the BPS1 power suply
You’re welcome Bogdan. Indeed, unless it was upgraded or changed by a previous owner, that should mean that it is a Synergy 2. BTW, Synergy 2i has the most refined and airy sound but the 1 and 2 are more robust- and “ballsy”-sounding, more in line with the Coherence II in that respect.
Follow up on the Sinergy Manitow Edition , so I place a bid for the preamp we talked about, and did not get it but I am happy with the outcome
As I like the Coherence ll better and I believe from a technical point of view Jeff did not build a better preamp than that , with the independent modules in separates chamber of the chassis!
I know the newer models have newer technologies in it like the ceramic boards in the Chorus and other marvels with the Criterion
But the separate modules technology like in the Choerence ll
Has not been beaten yet in my own opinion it’s just so expensive to replicate!
Thank you , Bogdan
Hi Bogdan, I’ve owned very nearly all JRDG preamps and I can say that, above all, their ranking is relative. What you will feel to be better will greatly depend on your preferences and the synergy with your system. The Coherence II is still a great preamp but it’s not as fast and transparent as the later offerings. The Criterion is especially nice and Corus + PSU is perhaps the best, although these two preamps do have the updated Rowland house sound and not the smoother, fuller classic sound. One thing with the Coherence II is that you need to make sure to replace the batteries every few years. If you keep them for too long, the sound becomes slow and dull.
Thank you, I appreciate your experience with Jeff Rowland equipment very much !
I was looking at what come up for sale in Japan
It was a Corus with the original power supply , not the
PSU end up at about $5.5K
Before that a Criterion sold for $9K , with one Criterion being listed every week for $18K
End the Sinergy Manitou Edition that I bid on end up at about $3.3K
Hi Christian,
i have a Syergy and a BPS-1, in the BPS-1 box (boughted used) there is a cable XLR-5 pin to one end and to another end a clip phone that inserts to RS232 plug, there is no Cardas XLR 5-pin cable such connecting the Synergy preamp with the AC power supply.
I saw on the net configurations connecting the BPS-1 RS232 plug with the 5- pin XLR input of the Synergy AC power supply, this is O.K. or i need to find a CARDAS cable both ends 5 pin XLR?
My best regards
Nikos from Greece
Alas, I have no experience with the Rowland’s RS232 port.
Thanks Christian,
for your immediate responce.
I’ m cheking also with Jeff.
Greetings
Nikos