Rowen L'Absolute pre

(It is hard to find titles)

Rowen is a Swiss brand, which is a little less known than his other Swiss counterparts. Unlike Goldmund, PSI Audio, Nagra, DARTZEEL, Piega, Soulution, Tron and other Swissonor-reries, this brand has, in the judgment that I have always struggled to get a place in the sun while the ingestion should probably get all of the HES (since there are only two).

However, my personal experience with Rowen has always been very good. I met them the first time there twelve years, when buying my first integrated amp, a nad C340, Rowen changed to push the sound qualities, and they did really well. My uncle still has an old chain Rowen, which should probably be 20 years old, and still works like the first day.

To return to the craft that interests us, I would say that is a small rectangle before the COPY aluminum finish, which takes quite a comparison with Accuphase. Milled aluminum knobs calibrated and stable property, mounted on shafts stable metal, all in a stable box. Superb mix of components and salute in passing the upper plexi plate (or no ... you choose) which, for an amateur beautiful mechanical Grail represents the technical implementation.

However, even critical for many (and Accuphase), but we do not really have a choice in finish / color of the casing. 1000 and each manufacturer Restek options remaining for me, still the benchmark to shoot.

Another critic, already crested price Sfr 4'990 (3'992 Euros approximately) does not include the transformer (called ABSOLUTE PSU) which will require him add yet Sfr 1'490 (1'192 Euros) for the pleasure to see him walk.

Yes it is expensive, and yet, if you can keep it thirty years, it is rather depreciable if you know what I mean. I would add that dark shit Moon By way Symaudio also run in these prices, you see, not if it is only by Chinese components used, you're not going to have that long. It is not in the same level of finishing. Even with Accu, I would look not too compare either ... when you see the inside of a DP-410 for example, it does not really compete. There really all that big Accuphase preamps to reach this kind of quality, and, in general, already budgets that have atomized 10k Euros.

So not a big deal but a deal.

After, in terms of technical capabilities, it is a small pre-amp that has the particularity to be sent out all its Class A gimmick for some absolution for others, I'll let you decide . It is also possible, he added a phono pre-amp of very good quality, which will be an estimated cost then at 2,490 Sfr (ie approx. 1'992 Euros).

The connection is sufficient, although only one pair of XLR inputs and output. What is a little bit.

I also had the uncomfortable feeling that the son or daughter must have taken Lavardin grade at Rowen, because it was right on the manufacturer's website, a succession of technical Bullshit that rivals Alba stickers.

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Tones:

Swiss sound. You know, without the curtain and really neutral, which leaves room for instruments, voices and actors in fading in the background.

Well that's it. That's what its there. Perhaps less clinical and basically clean the sound Golmund, it still remains far anyway, with an airy notes that reminds me a lot the Accuphase C-2800, also a very good pre-amp before the eternal.

This kind of sound goes with everything going on with everything. On the classic is great. On the Jazz is excellent. On the Danish black metal, it's dirty. On the samba, it's hot ... I can not describe to you what no sound. This pre-amp has, so to speak. It could be compared to a very good volume control in a pro active management. We are faced with this kind of delirium.

Of course, depths and widths scene are correctly returned. But I know it must be specified. On well-settled stage speakers, it passes a hit details. And do not tell me that it is stressful, if a guy coughing in the orchestra at the bottom left of the choir in 8th place, it will cough you.

Just a small dose of delicacy and more heat, but not hurt in any way and do not bother to use any more since the delicacy does not interfere with the dynamic momentum he may have.

A very very good pre-amp, which is a little expensive, but offers a lot in return.