Jeff Rowland Continuum S2
The Continuum S2 marries effortless 400W control with remarkably quiet, transparent Class D performance, bringing deep refined bass, liquid treble and expansive imaging to demanding loudspeakers. The Audio Beat praised its unforced musical flow and explicit space, while Anthony Kershaw found it equally compelling for its smooth, grain-free authority and adaptability.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
94/100
Build Quality
94/100
Features Connectivity
86/100
Value for Money
93/100
Pros
Delivers effortless authority and stable control with demanding loudspeakers, thanks to 400W into 8 ohms and 800W into 4 ohms.
Exceptionally quiet, detailed presentation with liquid treble, refined bass and precise imaging.
Versatile, beautifully finished one-box design with balanced and RCA connectivity, bypass, variable outputs, and optional DAC or phono stages.
Cons
Its highly neutral, revealing balance can sound slightly cool and will not disguise shortcomings elsewhere in the system.
Optional DAC connectivity lacks USB input, requiring a USB-to-S/PDIF converter for USB-based sources.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 94/100
Reviews portray the Continuum S2 as an unusually accomplished high-power Class D amplifier: exceptionally quiet, explicit and controlled, but also fluid, coherent and musically communicative. Its balance is fundamentally neutral rather than lush, so system matching matters for listeners seeking added warmth or forgiveness.
Transparency Resolution
95/100
The Audio Beat hears an “uncanny” continuity and coherence, alongside excellent separation of familiar voices and instruments. Part Time Audiophile likewise reports no electronic artifacts or glitches, only a notably quiet backdrop, while Audiophilia praises its detailed presentation, black backgrounds and highly articulated treble.
Tonal Balance Musicality
93/100
Reviewers consistently find the S2 natural, smooth and engaging rather than stereotypically sterile or grainy for Class D. The Audio Beat notes that it is “almost brutally neutral” and can sound slightly cool in an already detail-forward system, but also describes natural tonality, while Audiophilia highlights a liquid, sweet treble and glorious midrange.
Dynamics
96/100
Its 400W-per-channel output and full doubling to 800W into 4 ohms translate into repeated reports of effortless authority with demanding loudspeaker loads. The Audio Beat praises its unforced pace, tempo and dynamics, while Audiophilia calls the power delivery flawless and finds speakers “jumped to life.”
Soundstage Imaging
94/100
The Audio Beat reports air and space around performers, with a broad, deep and exceptionally explicit stage on spacious recordings. Audiophilia finds voices present and pinpoint in space, and Part Time Audiophile notes preserved liveliness alongside abundant inner detail.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
94/100
The reviews provide direct praise for the Continuum S2's extensively machined, contoured aluminum casework, polished faceplate, crisp controls and weighted volume knob. Part Time Audiophile also notes its sealed solid-aluminum chassis for isolation from RF and EMI, while AF Digitale calls the cabinet finish exceptionally refined.
Features Connectivity
86/100
The S2 provides two balanced XLR and two RCA line inputs, a unity-gain bypass input, and both balanced and single-ended variable outputs for preamp or multi-room duties. It also offers remote volume control, phase inversion and home-theater bypass; optional DAC and phono configurations broaden its appeal, though digital connectivity is not standard on the base amplifier.
Value for Money
93/100
At roughly $10,499 in base form, €12,900 in Europe, or CAD$12,250 depending on market and configuration, the S2 is plainly a premium purchase. Still, The Audio Beat calls its value arguably even greater than its exceptional performance, and Audiophilia describes its price and inherent value as especially compelling against suitable high-end speaker partners.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- Output Power @ 8 ohms
- Continuous RMS 400 watts, both channels driven
- Output Power @ 4 ohms
- Continuous RMS 800 watts, both channels driven
- Frequency Response
- 5 Hz – 70 kHz, -3 dB @ 8 ohms
- THD & Noise
- < 0.05%, 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Inputs
- 2 pair Balanced (XLR), 2 pair Unbalanced (RCA) / 1 pair Unbalanced (RCA), Unity Gain (Bypass)
- Outputs
- 1 pair Balanced (XLR), 1 pair Unbalanced (RCA) / 1 pair CE-Approved Speaker Wire Clamp
- Power Supply
- Switch Mode (SMPS) and universal AC input voltage
- Amplifier Weight
- 35 lbs / 15.9 kg
- Amplifier Dimensions (H) x (W) x (D)
- 5.3” x 15.5” x 15.0” (135mm x 394mm x 380mm)
Manufacturer's Description — Jeff Rowland
Continuum Integrated
Featuring enhanced sonic performance and flexibility, the new Rowland Continuum Series 2 integrated amplifier delivers stunning dynamic realism and expressive refinement through advanced topologies. Continuum S2 integrates the new Capri S2 preamplification circuit, input/output, and control features with an innovative 400 watt power amplification stage into a single chassis.
The amplifier delivers the trademark Rowland musicality, resolution, and unfailing authority to the most refined audio environments: challenge Continuum S2 to the extreme dynamics of high-resolution digital sources and the power requirements of large bi-wired speakers. Apply it to the complex loads of electrostatic panels in analog rigs. Admire its exceptional realism driving single-wired studio monitors in a sophisticated multi-media system.
The elegance of Continuum S2’s ergonomic console emerges from a solid block of aircraft-grade aluminum. Discover the impressive complement of standard input/output interfaces. Enhance its flexibility through the optional DAC card, or its fully redesigned phono stage.
Features
Understated elegance
Integrated 400W balanced amplifier design housed inside an elegant, 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.
Power supply efficiency
Regulated, high speed, vanishingly quiet switch mode power supplies (SMPS) ensure consistent performance under all operating conditions.
Leading preamplification
Advanced linestage circuit based on the sophisticated topology of the Capri 2 preamplifier yielding and incredibly refined musical experience from a compact and efficient system.
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.
Green power
Twin ultra- high efficiency power conversion modules yield 400 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms, doubling over 4 Ohms, and a peak current of 40 Amps.
Enhanced authority
Continuum S2 balanced output stages are equipped with unique bank of large bulk output capacitors that further enhance its transient speed, sonic authority, macro dynamics, and presence.
I/O flexibility
Dual line-level outputs (balanced and unbalanced), 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.
Fully balanced
Balanced input and output topology, including active positive and negative leads on Cardas output terminals for optimum speaker control, yields high common rejection ratio of 85dB over 20 to 20 KHz audio frequency band.
Line level transformer-coupled IO
Transformer coupled input circuitry provides universal component compatibility and virtually eliminate ground loop noise and RFI/EMI. Transformer coupling ensures identical overall gain with all inputs. Other benefits include ground noise isolation and excellent common mode noise rejection (CMRR) from all sources.
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 volume can be adjusted from 0dB to 99.5dB from the volume knob on the front panel, as well as from the 9 function remote control. Rapid turns of the volume control adjust the volume by 1.5dB increments. Slow turns of the control allow for very fine adjustments by 0.5dB increments.
Quiet power
Rocker switch on back panel coupled to timer relay, turns Continuum quietly on to full power after circuit stabilization.
Remote control
Six-function remote control transmitter with individual input select buttons controls volume, input selection, mute, and channel balance.
Remote trigger
Supports 12V remote ON/OFF remote trigger for power switching via 1/8” jack on rear panel.
Grounding
Grounding post for star-grounding and other advanced configurations is accessible on the rear panel.
IEC
15 Amp female IEC AC power connector.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Jeff Rowland Continuum 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)
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