Jeff Rowland Capri S2
The Jeff Rowland Capri S2 delivers rich tonal colour, an exceptionally low noise floor and deeply layered imaging from a remarkably compact chassis. Jason Kennedy found its smooth, neutral presentation especially revealing of vocal presence, instrumental nuance and ambience, while balanced operation adds welcome bass authority and spatial focus.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
92/100
Build Quality
94/100
Features Connectivity
88/100
Value for Money
88/100
Pros
Exceptionally quiet, detailed presentation reveals low-level ambience, instrumental nuance and wide dynamic range.
Rich, natural tonal balance with strong vocal presence, image depth and clear instrument separation.
Balanced connections improve bass authority, image depth and layer definition.
Superbly finished compact aluminium chassis, with flexible balanced and single-ended connectivity.
Cons
Not quite as open or transparent as the passive preamplifier used for comparison; a subtle polish or veil is audible by contrast.
Rhythmic timing is not its strongest attribute, and the overall sound can seem slightly constrained beside a passive design.
Optional DAC lacks USB input, and the DAC and phono cards cannot be fitted simultaneously.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 92/100
The Capri S2 is portrayed as a refined, revealing line stage with particularly strong low-level resolution, natural tonal richness and deeply layered imaging. It is not quite as open or rhythmically direct as the passive comparison, but reviewers found its musical flow, quietness and spatial insight highly persuasive.
Transparency Resolution
91/100
Kennedy praises the preamp's detail resolution, saying it makes it easy to hear what each performer contributes, while low-level ambience is clearly separated from the music. It is described as very quiet, neutral and revealing, though comparison with a passive preamp exposed a subtle polish or slight veil.
Tonal Balance Musicality
93/100
Review listening found appealing tonal richness, strong vocal presence and an unusually natural presentation of voice. The reviewer calls the resulting sound at times sublime, with the slight added polish seeming to support an easy, musically engaging character rather than sounding overtly coloured.
Dynamics
89/100
The Capri S2 tracks instrumental micro-dynamic changes particularly well and is said to offer plenty of dynamic range. Macro pacing is less assured: timing is explicitly identified as not its strongest suit, and the overall sound is described as slightly constrained beside a passive alternative.
Soundstage Imaging
93/100
The review repeatedly highlights image depth, openness, instrument separation and a broad acoustic space. Balanced connection brought further gains in low-end authority, image depth and clear-cut layering, reinforcing the Capri S2's strong spatial performance.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
94/100
The compact chassis is described as typical Jeff Rowland machined-from-solid aluminium, with the reviewer stressing that its beauty is more than skin deep. Close inspection found the distinctive-looking surface precisely flat, while the switch-mode supply helps achieve the unusually small enclosure.
Features Connectivity
88/100
The Capri S2 provides two balanced and two single-ended line inputs, balanced and RCA outputs, remote operation, fine 0.5dB volume increments and a home-theatre bypass that can be converted to a normal volume-controlled input. Optional internal cards add either adjustable MM/MC phono capability or a 24-bit/192kHz S/PDIF DAC, making the compact line stage notably adaptable.
Value for Money
88/100
The reviewer acknowledges that the asking price initially seems high for such a compact component. However, the conclusion is that its superb build, finish, thoughtful design and deeply polished sound make a convincing case for the premium.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
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Specifications
- Overall Gain
- 14 dB
- Gain Range
- 99.5 dB, 199 Equal Increments
- Frequency Response
- 10 Hz – 350 kHz, -3 dB
- DAC Card (optional)
- Internal DAC card accepts all SPDIF digital signal sources from 44.1 to 192 kHz
- Phono Card (optional)
- Adjustable for simple load and gain adjustments for MM, high-output MC and MC cartridges
- Inputs
- 2 x Pair Balanced XLR, 1 x Pair Unbalanced (RCA) Unity Gain (Bypass), 2 x Pair Unbalanced RCA
- Outputs
- 1 x Pair Balanced Line Level, 1 x Pair Unbalanced Line Level
- Weight
- 9.5 lbs / 4.26 kg
- Dimensions
- 2.6“(H) x 13.7“ (W) x 6.2“ (D) / 6.7 cm (H)x 35 cm (W) x 15.7 cm (D)
Manufacturer's Description — Jeff Rowland
Capri S2 Preamplifier
The Capri S2 features an impressive complement of standard input/output interfaces; greatly enhanced flexibility through its optional DAC card or phono option; and the Rowland trademark prismatic platinum faceplate beautifully integrated into a non-resonant chassis milled from a solid block of aluminum.
With an output impedance of only 80 Ohms balanced and 40 Ohms single ended, Capri S2 drives any amplifier with confidence. Whether serving a single-ended triode amplifier in a vinyl rig, or controlling a quartet of solid-state Rowland M525 monoblocks with a 192 kHz digital source, or at the nexus of a home theater setup, the Capri S2 preamplifier delivers the trademark Rowland musicality, resolution, and consistent authority.
Features
Compact elegance
Balanced preamplifier design housed inside a low profile, compact, ultra-low resonance, structurally rigid chassis that is precision-machined from solid blocks of aircraft grade 6061-T6 aluminum that is completely sealed for trouble-free operation and high RF and EMI isolation. Features an elegant front panel precision-machined and sculpted with a diamond tipped cutting tool.
Universal power supply
Low noise, high-current, dual regulated switch- mode auto sensing and auto ranging power supply provides Capri with optimum performance at any world-wide mains operating voltage.
Thin-Film Resistors
All resistors are low noise, 0.1% thin-film type for extremely low thermal noise which complement the low-noise characteristics of the active circuitry.
Four-Layer Circuit Board
All circuitry is populated on one side of a 4 layer circuit board to allow for continuous, unbroken, low impedance ground and power supply distribution planes. Care was taken to minimize signal path lengths and components sizes.
Input transformer-Coupling and Isolation
Transformer coupled input circuitry provides universal component compatibility and virtually eliminate ground loop noise and RFI/EMI. Transformer coupling ensures identical preamplifier overall gain when using unbalanced input adapters. Other benefits include ground noise isolation and excellent common mode noise rejection (CMRR) from all sources.
I/O flexibility
Dual low impedance line-level outputs (80 Ohms balanced, 40 Ohms unbalanced), 48 Ohms balanced and unbalanced inputs, and preamp bypass inputs allow unprecedented compatibility with audio and A/V components, while optional high quality phono cards are available for compatibility with vinyl sources.
Remote control
Six-function remote control transmitter display dim, adjusts volume, input selection, mute, phase, and channel balance.
Precision volume adjustments
Dual rate volume control allows precision level adjustments over nearly a 100 dB range. The volume control incorporates a permanently noiseless optical encoder that always maintain its tactile feel, accuracy, and channel balance at all settings. The optical encoder mounted behind the volume knob commands the attenuation level of a monolithic resistor attenuator over a 99.5 dB range in 0.5 dB increments.
Optional Phono Card
Plug-in phono cards (installed internally) converts Line Input 1 to high performance phono input. Three gain and loading options can accommodate moving magnet (MM), moving coil (MC), and high output moving coil cartridge types.
Optional DAC Card
Plug-in DAC card (installed internally) converts Line Input 1 to high performance DAC input. Accepts all SPDIF digital signal sources from 44.1 to 192 kHz sampling rates and adjusts accordingly.
Home Theater Bypass Adjustment
The Home Theatre BYPASS RCA inputs can be changed to an additional set of standard inputs by placement of an internal jumper inside the unit.
Display Off (5 Sec)
An internal jumper will place the display in an automatic OFF condition after 5 seconds from any operational command and illuminates again for 5 seconds after additional commands are initiated.
High-quality connectors
All signal connectors are rhodium plated, copper jacks (RCA) and Neutrix silver plated contact (XLR), soldered directly to the circuit board for direct connection to the signal circuitry.
Green technology
Modest power consumption of mere 6 Watts permits constant power-up operation to eliminate warm-up time and maximize musical performance, and allows Capri to operate enclosed into an entertainment unit.
IEC
15 Amp female IEC AC power connector.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Jeff Rowland Capri S2
- The ASOC Gallery of Fine Audio — in-store — Stratford, Ontario, Canada (website)
- Absolute Hi End — in-store — Ormond, Victoria, Australia (website)
- American Sound — in-store — Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada (website)
- Analogue Seduction — online and in-store — Whittlesey, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Ars Antiqua Audio — online and in-store — Boadilla del Monte, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain (website)
- Audio Affair — online and in-store — Deritend, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Audio Center (website)
- Audio Elation — in-store — Lolo, Montana, United States (website)
- Audiogears — in-store — Casalecchio di Reno, Emilia-Romaña (website)
- Class A Audio — in-store — Notting Hill, Victoria, Australia (website)
and 17 more verified dealers
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