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Jeff Rowland Model 8 - questions

I just bought one of these. I got a great deal and couldn't turn it down. It looks nice, but how does it perform? Does anyone have some good (or bad) information regarding this amp?
It is an early unit, and have never been upgraded. I have read that the earlier designs used choke input, and 320000 uf caps (thats inside mine). Then some modifications were done with the psu. The chokes were gone, and the caps now was 640000 uf.
How much better will it be if I perform a stage 1 upgrade? or stage 3?
Are there any recommendations to preamps? Of course JR will fit well, but I want to use a valve pre (with remote).

Hope anyone are familiar with this.
Best Regards
Bamb --- greetings from Norwa
bambadoo

Showing 2 responses by daveyf

daveyf's avatar
daveyf
2,835 posts
 
Bambadoo, see my posts above in the thread about new vs. old models.
I run my 8 with a CAT sig pre-amp, I modded this with NOS GE smooth plates and Russian rocket tubes in the phono stage. IMHO this combo is pretty awesome. I have heard many of the newer versions without the choke.Again IMHO you want to leave the choke alone.
The other day I heard the Tenor 75w combo amps, they are also an amazing amp and I would be tempted to change to them except the Co. is no longer in business!
But with Kharma's the Tenor's definitely had the goods.
So, the 8 is like sirspeedy said and to me it is an heirloom piece and very very hard to beat.
daveyf's avatar
daveyf
2,835 posts
 
Oops forgot to mention that I changed the top plate on my 8. This is a slight improvement over the older sheet plate. It seemed to increase the focus slightly and was definitely better to look at. The rigidity of the chassis is improved and the heat seems to be less.
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