Wobba Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 Unbelievably poor performance for a power amp that sells for AU $10k. The Class-D module in this unit sells for a few hundred dollars. Where is the remaining $9k+ spent?? https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/jeff-rowland-535-stereo-amplifier-review.12531/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volunteer sir sanders zingmore Posted April 12, 2020 Volunteer Share Posted April 12, 2020 14 hours ago, Wobba said: The Class-D module in this unit sells for a few hundred dollars. Where is the remaining $9k+ spent? From the same thread: ”Overall, the selling price is about what you would expect. $200 for the class D amp. $200 for the pair of transformers. $100 for the other bits and pieces, including the binding posts. $300 for the case. USA assembly. Call it $1000 cost. By the time this makes it to the consumer via the usual high end markups, $6000 is about right.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LHH Posted February 27, 2022 Share Posted February 27, 2022 (edited) Has anyone actually heard it? I owned the 112 for a while, and it was a lovely amp. The best line stage I've ever heard was a JRDG one too (way better than the top offerings from VTL, Audio Research, Plinius, McIntosh etc.). I am less and less interested in measurements these days. I'm sure they are critically important when designing a product, but what I want with my system is something that brings musical pleasure, I couldn't care less if it is "accurate" or not. Pleasure and measurement don't seems to track in any straightforward way. I had a listen to the Nad M33 the other day - prior to listening I was pretty sure I was going to purchase it. But it sounds awful (to my ears), no matter what the measurements say. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. Tube amps, single driver loudspeakers, record players... Most of these measure terribly too, but they bring a lot of people a lot of joy. So again (and this is not intended as a defence of the JRDG 535, it may be awful), has anyone actually listened to this amp? Edited February 27, 2022 by LHH 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgehifi Posted February 28, 2022 Share Posted February 28, 2022 (edited) On 12/04/2020 at 6:57 PM, Wobba said: Unbelievably poor performance for a power amp that sells for AU $10k. The Class-D module in this unit sells for a few hundred dollars. Where is the remaining $9k+ spent?? Glitz and glamour,that's where. These I posted about this a few years ago, they are $100 Chinese Sanway subwoofer modules, sent to Pascal in the EU for mods. https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/1858215?highlight=Jeff%2BRowland%2BSanway Cheers George Edited February 28, 2022 by georgehifi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davewantsmoore Posted February 28, 2022 Share Posted February 28, 2022 On 13/04/2020 at 9:13 AM, sir sanders zingmore said: From the same thread: ”Overall, the selling price is about what you would expect. $200 for the class D amp. $200 for the pair of transformers. $100 for the other bits and pieces, including the binding posts. $300 for the case. USA assembly. Call it $1000 cost. By the time this makes it to the consumer via the usual high end markups, $6000 is about right.” Yep. I think this is about right, unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davewantsmoore Posted February 28, 2022 Share Posted February 28, 2022 1 hour ago, georgehifi said: https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/1858215?highlight=Jeff%2BRowland%2BSanway .... Quote "Duntechs, with their multiple drivers and complicated crossovers, are a very difficult load," Mytek's chief designer, Michal Jurewicz, told me. LOL... absolutely absurd statement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgehifi Posted February 28, 2022 Share Posted February 28, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, davewantsmoore said: On 13/04/2020 at 9:13 AM, sir sanders zingmore said: By the time this makes it to the consumer via the usual high end markups, $6000 is about right.” Yep. I think this is about right, unfortunately. Like I said years ago, Red Dragon do it for far less using the same modules, no glitz and glamor though if that's what turns you on pay the big bucks. https://www.reddragonaudio.com/collections/amplifiers https://ibb.co/RTGJg0X Module in the $10K Rowland Module in the $2k Red Dragon Cheers George Edited February 28, 2022 by georgehifi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LHH Posted February 28, 2022 Share Posted February 28, 2022 So, forgetting about whether Red Dragon can do the same for less (though I assume they don't feature the Lundahl transformers etc. and so don't actually sound the same), how does the Jeff Rowland sound? If I buy a product it's because I like how it looks and sounds. I've not yet made a selection based on the cost of the internal components and modules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgehifi Posted February 28, 2022 Share Posted February 28, 2022 (edited) 9 hours ago, LHH said: I assume they don't feature the Lundahl transformers Just what they used as input buffer, some prefer discrete active buffers some opamp based buffers. I have the Hypex NC500 modules in my monoblocks but with very large linear power supplies, same as what's used in the Belcanto Ref600 monoblocks except they use smp's for their power supplies. I can tell you no buffer sounds better than any buffer that I've tried, but you need a dac that outputs enough voltage to be able to drive the D modules direct to almost max without the need of an input buffer . Which my MSB discrete dac's output can, as it gives out 3.6 volts out SE or 7.2v xlr at max volume. A little more info Quote Jeff Rowland have been one of Pascal’s earliest customers among high-end manufacturers to release a few ‘entry-level’ products based on that module like the bridgeable 525 stereo power amp and the integrated Continuum S2. Red Dragon’s S500 beats with the same heart in a less high-end chassis http://6moons.com/audioreviews2/reddragon/3.html Cheers George Edited February 28, 2022 by georgehifi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zydeco Posted March 1, 2022 Share Posted March 1, 2022 On 28/02/2022 at 3:52 AM, LHH said: I had a listen to the Nad M33 the other day - prior to listening I was pretty sure I was going to purchase it. But it sounds awful (to my ears), no matter what the measurements say. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. This experience doesn't seem that uncommon but the reasons unclear. Is it confirmation bias? Or, perhaps, the amps struggling with complex loads of real speakers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest crankit Posted March 1, 2022 Share Posted March 1, 2022 (edited) Tell a Michelin star chef you can buy the ingredients of his dish for a fraction of the price he charges, I wonder how he/she would respond. 90% of gear is the same old stuff and a lot is hyped major brands that bores me to tears. The exotic or high end don't sell on a cost bracket, more over design/features from people with passion, Its companies like these that re-peak my interest in HiFi. Nat Audio is another company springs to mind Edited March 1, 2022 by crankit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hydrology Posted March 1, 2022 Share Posted March 1, 2022 Irrespective of ANY teardown review over at ASR, I would encourage everybody to make up their own mind with regards to the sonic quality of a product they are considering purchasing, by listening to it where possible. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest crankit Posted March 2, 2022 Share Posted March 2, 2022 Jeff Rowland on ASR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audiome Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 On 12/04/2020 at 6:57 PM, Wobba said: Unbelievably poor performance for a power amp that sells for AU $10k. The Class-D module in this unit sells for a few hundred dollars. Where is the remaining $9k+ spent?? https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/jeff-rowland-535-stereo-amplifier-review.12531/ i have never really heard 535 but ASR rated almost all products bad. Seriously do we need him to be so negative with our hobby? I won't take him seriously or even bother reading his negative comments in almost all products out there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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