Hi Perrew, you should still tell us what kind of sound you are seeking. . . warm/neutral? Extended/cozy? tube-like? SS-like? etc. . . G. |
Bill, if you have a contribution of personal findings to offer to the topic at hand, I know everyone here would welcome your opinion. E.G. what can you tell us about the performance of the Pass integrated? G. |
Hi grant, I suspect many of us may be members of the Half Century audio/music club. . . yet, may I suggest to all and sundry we abandon the game of "ma fiddlestock's much bigger'n yourn?" [grins!] |
Perrew, nice lineup. . . while there is no 'best', there is going to be an integrated that you may end up liking 'best'. . . that will depend on what else is in your system, on your sonic/musical expectations, and to a lesser extent, on what music you enjoy listening. |
Perrew, have you tried to use a different linestage with the Spectron, or a different amp on the VTL TL7.5?
By the way, as the Rowland Continuum 500 converts the AC to 385V direct current and buffers it through capacitors before feeding the result to the power supply, it should also address most any residual AC noise problems you may be experiencing. G. |
Mapman, there are a couple of Continuum 500 offered on Agon. Instead of going to a retailer you may purchased one of these discounted pieces. . . they are bound to be very new. And if the C500 ended up not being your cup of tea, you can probably sell it at no loss. |
Fafafion, have you had the opportunity of listening to the Pass integrated?
To which other integrated amps have you had the opportunity of comparing it directly?
How did it fall short? |
Hifisoundguy, unless you tell us a little more, the Cayin is likely to remain the secret it has remained up to now. . . back to you. G |
Thanks Grant. . . I officially turned senior on August 30th!
Bill, I did not know you were an audiologist. . . how much do you charge for a full audiological test run?
G. |
Hi Mapman, I agree completely with you there not existing a 'best'. . . . there are too many system dependencies and equally valid user preferences/priorities. Concerning JRDG Continuum, there are 2 variants of the JRDG Continuum integrated. . . between the 250 and the 500, the latter may in many cases yield greater value of the 2, and sound more refined with greater authority. Reason is its use of ASP1000 module and built in PFC circuitry. |
Hi Perrew, as you said, these are all very good units. . . no one unit 'beats' any other one. In the end, you are the only one who can decide what is right for you, based on price, your speakers, your room, and your sonic/musical prefs. G. |
All, what we still do not know is what Kiwi meant by "ad a "listen" to the C500. How many hours of break in did the unit have when he performed critical listening? How many hours of active warmup did the unit have since the last power down? We do not know Kiwis expectations nor his sonic reference. Let us also consider that one audiophile's bleached sound is one other audiophile's accuracy. I have for example listened to Spectron only on SP speakers. . . and vocals where anything but sounding bleached to me, rather, I found them to sound grand and nuanced. But then, I am admittedly not fond of typical tube sound. Kiwi's 'bleached vocals" may be nothing more than a matter of differing expectations. G. |
That is why on some CDPs, linestages, and integrateds there exists an 'absolute phase' switch. . . . just in case the phase of the recording were incorrect. . . and your ears could tell the difference. G. |
Hi AudioZen, by coincidence, I just received some info yesterday about the new Rowland Continuum Sereies 2 integrated amp. Like the old Continuum 500, CS2 it is based on a class D design, but Continuum S2 is designed around new technology power conversion modules, that are not from B&O ICEpower. Power rating is 400W over 8 Ohms, and 800W over 4 Ohms. The preamplifier section is based on the new Rowland Capri S2, and the amp supports an optional DAC card as well as an optional Phono card. PFC is not incorporated, but the amp can be fed through the Rowland PC-1 rectifier, which is based on active PFC. We will find out how it sounds after the integrated is released during Q2. |
I agree with you HighEndBob, I heard the Rowland S2 at RMAF 2013, and found it to be an amazingly resolving and musical device... And it can take an optional phono or DAC card for only a few hundred dollars more. Roy Gregory posted a very favorable review of Continuum S2 the Audio Beat last January:
http://www.theaudiobeat.com/equipment/jeff_rowland_continuum_s2.htm
A good amount of information on Continuum S2 can also be found at:
http://jeffrowlandgroup.com/kb/categories.php?categoryid=211
If I were not spoiled by my Rowland M925 monos, I would consider Continuum S2 extremely seriously.... And with its 400W per side into 4 Ohms essentially doubling into 4 Ohms, it should drive my beloved Vienna Die Muzik with true grace.
Guido |
