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Review: Jeff Rowland Design Concentra mkIIp Amplifier

Category: Amplifiers

I'm in to Jazz (specially guitar), Funk, Afro-Cuban, some hip hop, Classic Rock and blends of these genres.

I use any/all Cubop label Afro-Cuban LP's for testing. they're the best recordings I've ever herd period. I also use Wes Montgomery on vinyl (because Wes rules), a Cachao CD called Dos.

For me naturalness, dynamics, warmth and detal are important. I want deep tigh extnded bass that is coherent with the rest of the sound and well defined. No one-note bass lines. Nauralness and warmth re more important than detail or even imaging. Bright tinny sounds turn me of no matter how detailed or how god the imaging is. Better to want more thn to get too much of one thing. If it's not there, you may not notice it but if there's too much you'll want it to go away.

Ive had the Concentra II about a month. It replaces the Plinius 8200 (8100 upgrde w/phono). Even if the Concentra doesn't have quite the raw musle, the refinement smoothness and naturalness with better imaging make it a pure joy. The build quality and intangibles are world class. Unbelievably beautiful. And also quite pwerful 175 watts per channel very conservatively rated I'm sure.

Strenths are beauty, convenience, world class sound, great phono, warmth, detail, power, naturalness.

Weaknesses, well it retils for $7,100 but if your an audiophle then that's not crazy. You can't record one source and listen to another like the Plinius. Sonically no weaknesses. Thi may be one of the best Integrted solid state rigs in the world.

If money was no object I would still be thrilled with this unit...who knows if money was no object I could die of my own devices. Cheers. Love. Dave in S.F.

Associated gear
Sony XA7ES CD, Project Perspective Turntable /Benz Micro Gilder Cartrige, Tannoy Definition 900 Floorstanding Towers.

Similar products
Plinius 8200
davabar

Showing 2 responses by artmaltman

artmaltman
769 posts
 
Ovature, what speakers were you trying to drive with the Concentra II? I have heard the problems you describe when amps were not warmed up (Concentra I was very grainy when cold) or when an amp had insufficient power for the speakers it was trying to drive. When underpowering speakers you get volume but it's unpleasant. As for Dave's review, well, by coincidence I heard the Concentra II at Dave's house and to my ears his review - on his speakers, in his home - is pretty much on the money. I would perhaps have added that the unit does not have the "tube palpability" that many hobbiests seek, so it might not be for every taste. And we definitely did not open up the unit and look inside. The II sounded more liquid to me than the I, by the way, and crisper and cleaner. As for what else I've heard, well, you name it. I've got 20 years experience as an audiophile including owning lots of gear and visiting many stores and shows (CES several times, etc.). And of course opnions and tastes among hobbiests do vary.
Art
artmaltman
769 posts
 
ps: Shortly after the Concentra II became available, Rowland began to migrate to a different technology for their amplification. This could account for the short shelf life of the C-II, if it in fact has been discontinued.
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