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Review: Jeff Rowland Continuum 500 Amplifier

Category: Amplifiers

Preliminary, limited review --
I haven't even taken delivery of my Continuum 500 integrated amplifier yet, but I got to listen for 3-hours this afternoon to help with the decision to put down $8,800 to take it home.

My dealer is Soundings, South of Denver, Colorado, owned and operated by Rod Tomson with the very able assistance of this very knowledgeable crew. See the Soundings site at http://www.soinc1021.qwestoffice.net/

When I arrived at Soundings the Continuum 500 was driving the very nice DALI Helicon 400 Mk.2 speakers. This are very nice speakers that received a positive review from Michael Fremer in Stereophile recently.

I listened to several cuts from the following CDs:
"Strike A Deep Chord" on Justice Records
"Cannon Reloaded" on Concord
"Breakfast on the Morning Tram" by Stacey Kent on Concord
"Famous Blue Raincoat" by Jennifer Warnes on Shout
"Don't Take Your Time" by Erin Bode on MaxJazz

I started off really worried when I played "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" from the Cannonball Adderley tribute album, Cannon Reloaded. The bass was indistinct, with few overtones and just showing a one-note quality. The bass on this cut is Marcus Miller playing some really tasty electric bass, with lots of energy and pop. It was lacking all those.

After that I pulled out the Jennifer Warnes CD and played the "If It Be Your Will" cut which has extensive, low, bass synthesizer. On the DALIs it lacked definition and detail. I just sounded like a low sine wave being switched on and off, with no character.

Listening to the DALIs with several vocals, with more typical, higher bass and things were pretty good, with great imaging, rich midrange and high-end details.

When I expressed my concerns to Soundings' Mark Krekeler he suggested that we put the Vienna Acoustic Beethoven Baby Grands into the system. There was immediate nirvana. Now Marcus Miller's bass was rich with overtones and details. The synth on the Warnes CD now had texture and detail, not just sine waves.

Now I could really listen the amp and not be drawn to focusing on what I wasn't hearing in the particular speakers attached.

Several cuts on the "Strike a Deep Chord" were very revealing. The richness of Odetta's voice has absolutely powerful. The chest and head were clearly revealed. Most striking was Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown's which features extreme dynamics, from almost silent to huge sections of bass, guitar, vocal, horns and drums. The quiet was almost totally black.

The highs had no extra edge. I was really surprised by this, given the low hours on the amp. Clarence plays with a piercing tone on "The Drifter". (We guitar players call this tone, "icepick-in-the-eye" bright). Well it was all there, but not ugly. I didn't detect any of the usual "new equipment needs burn-in syndrome" so if this things gets better with time I'll be VERY, VERY pleased.

That's all for now. I need to get it into my own system, in my own room, burn it in for a few hundred more hours, then spend three or four several hour sessions to get more conclusive. I'll hang onto the Conrad Johnson CA200 long enough to do some meaningful comparisons. (Watch for a great deal on A'gon in the not too distant future).

Here's the bottom line, I loved the Continuum 500 enough that I'll be taking a $8800 or so check to Soundings this Friday.

Dave

Associated gear
Vienna Acoustic Beethoven Baby Grand speakers
Analysis Solo Crystal Oval 8 speaker cable
Pro-ject RM10 turntable
Sumiko Blackbird cartridge
Pioneer Dv-58AV universal player modified by Ric Schultz

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dcstep
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
You are correct Dave, what I wrote concerns the 500 model; furthermore the Continuum 250 does not incorporate a PFC circuit. Guido
dcstep OP
1,518 posts
 
04-27-08: Guidocorona said:
"You are correct Dave, what I wrote concerns the 500 model; furthermore the Continuum 250 does not incorporate a PFC circuit."

I should mention that was part of my thought process in chosing the 500. It's around one-thousand dollar more, vs. the 250, but you get the PFC circuit AND 500 more watts into 4-ohms (my nominal speaker load). That seemed like an incredible bargain to me.

The quietness astounds me. I've never such a power and quiet amp before, bar none.

Dave
ric982
9 posts
 
I've got a Rowland Concerto integrated (250 Watts per channel - no PFC). The manual says to leave the power switch on, but you can turn on the mute to shut down the amp outputs (the pre-amp outs stay active all the time). In speaking with Rowland, he said my amp only draws 22 watts when its muted so its simpliest just to leave it on which avoids having to wait for the pre-amp to warm up.

Also, BTW, I asked Rowland about their PC-1 and whether it can be used with a Concerto. The PC-1 puts out 385VDC and there's a switch inside the Concerto that can be set to allow the PC-1 to be used with it (along with a fuse change). What he said you would notice is a lot more base extension (presumably if your speakers can handle it). However, my understanding from something I read that I cannot found now was that all their new monoblocks and integrated amps have PFC - though I'm not positive about that.

BTW - do you know if the Dali Helicon 400 Mk II's you heard had any run in time on them. The Mk IIs are pretty new and I've heard they sound pretty poorly just out the box.
dcstep OP
1,518 posts
 
Thanks Ric. I've heard that the Continuum 500 has PFC but not the 250. The Capri pre-amp doesn't have PFC, but it's compatable. Guido reports much improvement to the Capri he's evaluating.

I think it's a sound investment to add a PC-1 in front of your Concerto.

Yes, I read the other manuals online and decided to leave my Continuum on all the time.

I'm certain that the DALIs that I heard have at least 100-hours on them. I'm going back later this week to give them another chance with another amp. (Probably a class AB Conrad Johnson).

Dave
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
In current integrateds Continuum 500 has PFC; 250 does not have PFC but is compatible with PC1. In amps 302, 312, 301 have PFC built in; 201, 501 do not have PFC but are compatible with PC1 through fuse change/repositioning. I recommend 2 PC1 units in 501 for max authority, but JRDG can supply PC1 Y splitter if preferred. Capri pre does not have PFC but is compatible with PC1 without any switches/fuse changes because it has an autosense power supply. I suspect Continuum may also have autosense pS, so PC1 on 2650 may not need any setup.
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