[george_k]

I picked up a used Jeff Rowland Model 102 yesterday at a really good price.

I got home and connected it and did an A/B comparison against my NAD T742 receiver.

After about an hour of listening to music I am very familiar with, I came to the conclusion that the Rowland was only every so slightly clearer sounding on vocals. For low and high frequencies I didn't notice any difference.

I didn't think it would be this close and now I'm wondering whether I should return the Rowland or keep it. I'm also wondering wether there would be a significant difference if I were to go with a more expensive ice-powered amplifier such as a Model 201/501 or a Bel Canto Ref 1000.

Associated Equipment:
B&W DM 603 S3 mains
Squeezebox V3 (FLAC audio)

[Tweaker]

  I would give it more than an hour before judging, and perhaps forget about AB'ing until you've gotten used to the sound of the 102.  I've had that experience with new amps where initially there seems little difference compared with the old one then after a few days you begin to really start hearing just how different it really is. I think it's because initially one tends to focus on just a couple things, like the bass, and when you're that focused you don't notice the other stuff that may be going on.
Certainly the Bel canto would be a great amp, I don't think you could go wrong there.
There are some companies by the way, selling very good sounding ICE Power amps that are a fraction of the cost of the Bel Canto, JR's and the like:
http://www.d-sonic.net/
http://www.wyred4sound.com/
http://cgi.ebay.com/MURANO-AUDIO-P-500S-PLUS-ICEpower-MONOBLOCK-AMPLIFIER_W0QQitemZ180148708873QQcmdZViewItem

[george_k]

Hey Tweaker thanks for the reply

There is so much more to buy in the US but being in Canada its very hard to get a hold of it and even if you do the additional shipping, fees and duties make it un-appealing. Even Bel Canto products are only sold in a handful of places.

[electricbear]

Leave the amp plugged in and turned on for a couple of days. I run a quality digital amp in my 2 channel system and it sounds dramatically better after its been on for a couple of days. This type of amp can be left on 24/7.
You may also find that your 603s are the limiting factor. While the 603 is a great speaker for 1K it is known for its musicality rather than for being revealing. You will find that as you get better and better speakers the differences further up the chain become more apparent.
I would encourage you to stick it out with the Rowland, as your system develops and changes I think you will come to appreciate what the amp is really capable of. 

[BrianM]

Hm, I think I'm finally apprehending what people mean when they describe something as "musical."  Musical = less revealing?  Not for me.

I'm in a different camp.  If you can't immediately hear a difference it probably isn't there (or your ears aren't).

Leaving something on for 48 hours?  What exactly does that accomplish, other than running the electric meter?  Allows your hope to build up?

But certainly listen to the Rowland for a while if "getting used to it" is required.  And then plug back in the other one and try to hear the difference in the first couple minutes or so.  Again, if you can't...

(JMO.)

[ajayrav]

The reasons for your observation could be because:

1. You listen to music at low to moderate levels, so never really tax your amp
2. Your speakers are not difficult loads to drive
3. The DAC in your Squeezebox, interconnects and speaker cable are not up to the quality of the Rowland, so you can't avail of the quality of what is considered to be superior amplification.  Your room may also be masking the effects of the amp switch.

That being said, I didn't see much of an improvement swapping in a Musical Fidelity X-150 amp for my Marantz receiver (SR8400).  My system consists of a Marantz SA8260 used as a transport fed to a Musical Fidelity X-DAC V3 and tube buffer powered by an MF Power Supply (X-PSU V3) connected with Revelation Audio Lab umbilicals.  My cables are AQ Diamondbacks and speakers are ACI Sapphire XLs connected with Gregg Straley's Reality Cables.  I hear differences in power cords, cables and speaker wire- so was very surprised when the amp did not make a difference.  I listen around 70-75 dB and my speakers are easy to drive.  I'm sure there would have been a difference at higher levels (with the MF toroidal transformer schooling that of the Marantz), but for me it made so little of a difference, I sold the MF amp.