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REVIEW: Jeff Rowland Model 10 Amplifier (SS)

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Model: Model 10
Category: Amplifier (SS)
Suggested Retail Price: $7500
Description: 150W Solid State Amp
Manufacturer URL: Jeff Rowland
Model Picture: View

Review by tnkujry ( A ) on October 13, 2002 at 17:44:41
IP Address: 65.101.234.75
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for the Model 10



“It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing!”


Holy s*&t! I thought I was pretty jaded - thought I was pretty hard to impress. Whoa.

Let’s back up. System is an Adcom GCD 750 player (don’t laugh, Stereophile rated it for a while, it’s actually a good player) into an Audio Innovations L2 British tube pre, with Von Schweikert VR4 speakers upgraded to 5s by Albert Von. Synergistic Research Kaleidoscope Phase II RCA Ics between CD and pre, Pure Note Epsilon RCA ICs from pre to amp, Synergistic Research Mark IIS cables. Synergistic Research AC Master Coupler at the pre, stock cords on the CD and the Rowland.

The system was formerly powered by a McCormack DNA .5. Loved the .5, but when I picked up the VR4s, the little fella couldn’t quite tame the extreme low registers. Rumor has it that the VR4/5s can reach 20Hz (some say 22) - a claim to which both my downstairs neighbor and I will testify under oath. Then, on to a BAT VK 6200 four channel x 200w biamping the 4/5s. Good amp to be sure, but geared toward HT, and over time, I found myself not listening as much as I used to, and wondered what was up. Lack of “musicality” was my diagnosis. Sure at 200w x 4 it had the power and the punch, but why was I not listening so often? Picked up the Model 10 used, in perfect condition, about six months old. I’d heard the Model 10 before in the dealer’s room – and it was truly the most musical system I’d heard (BAT pre and CD with Vienna Acoustics Mahlers)– so I was impressed, but not flat out convinced. Now I have my own.

The Model 10 is 150w per channel into 8 ohms, built out of a single piece of aircraft grade aluminum with a wavy finish via diamond blades – no cooling fins. If you’ve never seen one, take a gander at the web site jeffrowland.com. Very impressive looking for the WAF (no W here, but my 10 year old daughter thinks it looks “very cool”). Some call this audio jewelry, and I do admit that a nice, slick, efficient design smokes a black box every time. A separate power supply is in an identical box. At just over 3 inches high each, they don’t look like they could pack much of a punch, but at something like 64 pounds for the both of them, you realize that the whole amp is a heat sink, and once you plug it in, you’ll realize that in this isolated instance, size doesn’t matter – the thing is a monster. The amp runs warm, not hot. Let me also say that for those of you that measure an amp by its rated capacity, this one will fool you. This is one mean 150 watter. Granted, the VR 4/5s are 90 db, but they’re not the easiest to drive, and drive them the 10 does with sheer ease.

I guess the best compliment I can pay this amplifier is that there’s nothing to point to soncially – it’s the music which stands out – like the amp’s not there. I’ve literally stopped trying to listen to the equipment - just sit back and smile, and listen to the sound of the human voice, the sound of the pick as it leaves the strings – to hear that string resonate its voice in the body of the guitar. The timbre of Bill Evans’ piano on Kind of Blue, the sheer power of the bass on Joni Mitchell’s Turbulent Indigo and on Angelique Kidjo’s Oremi is absolutely incredible. What sheer unmitigated power and control this thing has.

Let me say that the BAT VK 6200 had bass punch out the ying yang – and it could push the VR4/5s to those extreme lower registers, but the bass came across as a somewhat non-distinct entity. With the Model 10, first, the lower registers get just a bit lower still. There is exceedingly low bass on some passages I have never heard with any other amp. Secondly, even at their very lowest, I can now hear the distinction between single bass notes. I have honestly never heard such classy control. If you blindfoled me, and told me this was a 150 watt amp, I’d briefly consider calling you a liar. (Thanks too, to the Audio Innovation preamps – incredible for their ability in this area.)

The mids are a tough call – perhaps a bit less forward than I’m used to. The word “relaxed” comes to mind. I guess if I could muster a complaint about this amp, it may be that the vocals are not quite as “out front” as they used to be – but by the same token, there were some parts of Coltrane’s solos on Kind of Blue that used to make me wince just a bit – no longer – now they’re so sweet they reach out to you. Nancy Griffith’s voice used to have a very slight edge on some passages which is now gone. Tubey? Not exactly. While it certainly has some warmth, it’s not really that liquid warmth of tubes (remember by pre is tube – so some of that passes through). I think I’d more call it an exceedingly honest solid state presentation.

The high hat sounds so sweet and never brassy. I used to try and ignore the higher end on some tunes – focus on other things. So far, I haven’t found a drum track I don’t like – the closer the mike, the better. There's a fine line between presentation and annoyance. I like this line right here.

To say that the imaging is impressive is an understatement. On some recordings, one can place the drum set and actually point to where the drum stick hits the high hat - makes me want to take up hallucinogens again. I’ve had a Classe CA 201 in this system for a bit, and while I liked the amp’s openness – the soundstage really opens up with the Model 10.

Perhaps the term “laid back” will make the Krell or Bryston crowd turn pale, but I think it fits here. Or perhaps “non-fatiguing” is the phrase. Another way to approach that characterization is to say that, after the first 24 hours of living with this amp, I’d put on a CD to see how this track or that one sounded, then lo’ and behold, I found myself listening to the rest of the CD – listening to tracks I never realized were there – and isn’t that what it’s all about – the discovery, and the continual rediscovery, of music? This amp’s got that swing. This thing is a delicate brute – it can rock with the best of them, or it can pick apart the most delicate and tender parts with ease. This is a true sit-on-the-couch-and-close-your-eyes amp.

Some, I would imagine, would dismiss the amp as “rolled off”, “too laid back”, or “just plain boring” – but for me, the flashy is flashy only for a while, and it then becomes tiresome. I like tried and true. Am I raving about this amp? I guess so. Certainly it won’t be all things to all people, but for me, it’s pretty incredible, and I’m pretty hard to impress.

Cheers.

Barton


Product Weakness: Perhaps a bit laid back for some.
Product Strengths: Honest presentation across the board.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Jeff Rowland Design Group Model 10
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Audio Innovations L2
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Adcom GCD 750
Speakers: Von Schweikert VR 4/5s, 90 db
Cables/Interconnects: Synergistic Research, Pure Note Epsilon
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz, African, Folk, Rock,
Room Size (LxWxH): 34 x 14 x 12
Room Comments/Treatments: I'm working on it.
Time Period/Length of Audition: One Week
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Synergistic Research Power Cord (preamp)
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition): same




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Topic - REVIEW: Jeff Rowland Model 10 Amplifier (SS) - tnkujry 17:44:41 10/13/02 ( 7)