Jeff Rowland Daemon
The Daemon delivers explosive dynamics, iron-fisted loudspeaker control and remarkable transparency in a lavish single-chassis system. OCD HiFi Guy highlights its clean, punchy authority, while extensive analogue and digital connectivity—including preamp and direct amp modes—makes this dual-mono integrated a compelling hub for ambitious reference systems.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
82/100
Build Quality
92/100
Features Connectivity
91/100
Value for Money
94/100
Pros
Exceptionally transparent, clean and dynamically explosive sound with commanding loudspeaker control.
Comprehensive system flexibility through balanced and RCA inputs, digital connectivity, preamp outputs and a direct amplifier input.
Exceptionally substantial machined-aluminium construction is reported as solid and sturdy.
WATT RECOMMENDS
Save your favorites. Compare them anytime.
Create a free HiFi Hub account to save products to your Wishlist and compare your favorites side by side.
What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 82/100
The available listening report describes an exceptionally clean, transparent and forceful presentation, with notably firm loudspeaker control. It does not address stereo imaging or soundstage depth, and offers limited detail on tonal colour beyond the amplifier's clean character.
Transparency Resolution
96/100
OCD HiFi Guy calls the Daemon “extremely transparent” and says it delivers transparency “like you wouldn't believe.” The reviewer also repeatedly characterises the sound as very clean, supporting an unusually open and low-obscuration presentation.
Tonal Balance Musicality
84/100
The review characterises the Daemon as very clean and controlled rather than warm, lush or deliberately coloured. There is little direct commentary on timbre, tonal richness, long-term ease, or its handling of different musical genres.
Dynamics
96/100
The reviewer reports an “absolutely dumbfounding” level of explosive dynamics and extreme control with Vienna Acoustics loudspeakers. Its immense stated power output and the report of authoritative speaker control suggest effortless headroom with demanding systems.
Soundstage Imaging
50/100
The available review does not meaningfully describe image focus, stage width, depth, layering, or spatial dimensionality. Its comments centre on cleanliness, power and control rather than stereo presentation.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
92/100
OCD HiFi Guy reports that the chassis begins as half-inch aluminium plate and is machined down from there, calling it incredibly solid and sturdy. That is strong direct praise for its enclosure construction, though the review says little about long-term reliability or internal component execution.
Features Connectivity
91/100
The Daemon provides three RCA and two balanced XLR analogue inputs, extensive digital connectivity, a USB input, preamp outputs, and a direct amplifier input for use with an external preamplifier. Buyers can also specify an onboard DAC or phono stage, making it adaptable to either digital- or vinyl-led high-end systems.
Value for Money
94/100
At $51,500, the Daemon is firmly a statement-level purchase, but OCD HiFi Guy calls it the best integrated amplifier he knows in terms of performance and what buyers receive for the money. That is emphatic praise for its proposition among ultra-high-end integrated amplifiers.
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
- Max. Power Output
- 8 Ω: 1500 WPC / 4 Ω: 2500 WPC
- Frequency Response
- 10 Hz – 70 kHz
- THD+N (20 Hz – 20 kHz )
- < 0.05%
- Intermodulation Distortion (CCIF)
- 18 kHz +19 kHz, 10 W, 8Ω 0.001%
- Peak Output Current
- 30 A
- Absolute Phase
- Non-Inverting
- Analog Inputs
- 3x RCA Unbalanced / 2x XLR Balanced
- Digital Inputs
- 2x RCA SPDIF / 2x BNC SPDIF / 1x AES/EBU / 1x USB / 3x TOSLINK
- Volume Control Range
- 99.5 dB
- Weight
- 99 lbs / 45 kg
- DIMS (h/w/d)
- 9.25” x 17.5” x 17.25” / 235 x 445 x 438 mm
Manufacturer's Description — Jeff Rowland
Daemon Integrated
Jeff Rowland Design Group launched the 1500 WPC Daemon Super Integrated Amplifier at Munich High End 2015. Named after the ancient Greek word for the power of “creative genius” and the spirit of “scientific inspiration”, the Daemon represents a technological leap forward as Jeff Rowland’s fifth generation of integrated amplifiers.
“Designing the integrated amplifier is one of the most challenging tasks in audio. To achieve perfect synergy of all components while entirely eliminating cross component interference is a black art,” says founder and president Jeff Rowland. “When done well, the results can be spectacular. The Daemon is one of our most sophisticated products to date. You’ll see much of its DNA expressed in future products. ”
Features
MACHINE-ALUMINUM CHASSIS
Precision-machined chassis with integrated heat-sinks milled from a solid block of aircraft grade aluminum, provides exceptional thermal heat transfer/dissipation. RFI/EMI shielding, resonance control, and minimizes micro-phonically induced micro-vibrations from any source.
BALANCE TOPOLOGY
Inherent cancellation effects of balanced topology implemented throughout all power and input/output circuits ensures greatly reduce distortion and noise under dynamic signal conditions
HIGH-PRECISION SURFACE COMPONENTS
Extensive use of Lead (pb)-free, low temperature coefficient, active and passive surface-mount components results in significantly smaller loop areas, reduced circuit capacitance and inductance, and introduces less noise than conventional leaded components.
THIN FILM RESISTORS
All resistors are low noise, 0.1% thin-film type for extremely low thermal noise which complement the low-noise characteristics on the active circuitry.
TEFLON COATED WIRES
All signal carrying input and output wires are teflon coated, also for low dielectric energy storage, further ensuring that each audio note reproduced naturally decays into the deeper silence of the music.
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 amplifier overall gain when using unbalanced input adapters.
ACTIVE POWER FACTOR CORRECTION
A Power Factor Correction (PFC) integrated into the power supply reduces AC line harmonic noise pollution and increases AC line power utilization to 99%.
HIGH-EFFICIENCY SWITCH MODE POWER SUPPLY
Highly efficient, compact, light weight, 1500 watt DC switch-mode power supply provides optimum voltage regulation for all circuits and operating conditions, and allows for quiet operation over a wide range of AC mains power sources.
BINDING POSTS
CE approved speaker output terminals require no tools for secure, low resistance connections.
FRONT PANEL STANDBY BUTTON
Standby button is part of the three buttons on the front of the DAEMON .
REMOTE ON/OFF
(3.5mm) mini plug connector on rear panel permits amplifier power on/standby switching switching in remote and home theater applications.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
All Dealers
Zoom out the map to see more dealers
Authorized dealers for Jeff Rowland Daemon
- 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
Featured Partners
