Pre-amp for Rowland Model 102

You can't go wrong with the Ayre K5. I can't think of anything else I would pick at that price point. If you can go a little more, the Aesthetix is excellent as well. You won't regret either one. For me personally, I feel Ayre makes the best solid state gear.

What do you think of the 102? I've always wanted to hear one. I have an old 112 that I put in my system every once in a while because it does certain things I like. I was wondering how different they sound from each other.

Klyne has outstanding Preamps, excellent sound, very reliable, the adjustable Gain Potis are the ticket to get the best out of any amps.

zd542,

The 102 needed some break-in before it started to warm up. Out of the box there was good detail in each instrument but they all seemed to be at the same volume or fighting to stand out or stomping on each other, I was getting really fatigued listening to it. After a week of constant use, there was much better separation, the soundstage opened up, and cybals/bells/triangles were now trailing off nicely. No fatigue at this point, quite the opposite, I find myself looking for recordings to extend my listening sessions.

I leave it turned on all of the time as suggested for Class D amps. I'm not sure if this is true because I haven't tried it yet, but I read that if one powers off a Class D amp for an extended period, the break-in period starts all over again. I have briefly powered it off to swap cables and relocate the amp, and it didn't seem to affect anything.

I read the reviews on the Aesthetix but it's a bit out of my price range. I'm hoping with luck I could score a good used Capri or K5xe (maybe even MP) or Klyne.

Syntax,

The funny thing is in three months of looking on A'gon, I haven't seen a single Klyne up for sale. I'm guess it's because people don't want to let go of them.

I'm also curious how a Cary SLP03 and Vincent SA-31MK (both tube/hybrid preamps) would sound with a Class D amp.

Fed, I have had extensive experience with Rowland Capri. It bested my ARC REF 3 in harmonic development, control of treble intermodulation in complex passages (think of multipart violins), bass control, and general authority and transients. Staging and imaging were comparable between the two devices. The only aspect of Capri that I thought might have benefitted from improvement was the lowest octave in the bass that could sound slightly blanched compared to REF3.

Note that a new Capri will take approximately 700 hours of operation before stabilizing and giving you its best. Like M102, it is perfectly safe to leave it on all the time, because power consumption is negligible, in spite of it operating in class-A.

You can significantly enhance the performance of your M102 by powering it through a Rowland PC-1 rectifier.

Technically, you can also connect PC-1 to both M-102 and Capri through a "Y" cord.... But I do not recommend it. PC-1 is great for M-102, M-201, M-501, and COntinuum 250, but makes the sound of Capri slightly pinched and throaty.

There is a significant amount of information on all these devices, and how they interact, on the Rowland knowledge base:

All manuals, including Capri and M102:
http://jeffrowlandgroup.com/kb/categories.php?categoryid=14

Capri FAQ (25 articles):
http://jeffrowlandgroup.com/kb/categories.php?categoryid=8

M102 FAQ (25 articles:
http://jeffrowlandgroup.com/kb/categories.php?categoryid=7

PC-1 FAQ :
http://jeffrowlandgroup.com/kb/categories.php?categoryid=23

Best, Guido

Feds, Syntax's Klyne reco is excellent, by far the best SS preamp that I have ever heard. You have noted the scarcity of them on the used market, there is a good reason for that, they are worth keeping. Keep looking, it could be very rewarding.