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. ”

The 1500 WPC dual mono integrated amplifier is machined from solid bars of 6061-T6 aluminum by Vertec Tool in Colorado Springs. Vertec has been sculpting Rowland products for over 25-years. Vertec’s creativity and expertise can be felt in the Daemon’s precision weighted volume bezel. Mounted between two industrial grade bearings, the volume bezel provides exquisitely tactile access to a 99.5 dB range in 0.5 dB increments.

Jeff Rowland has partnered with Thomas Holm, designer of the Aeris DAC and Continuum S2 digital circuitry, to develop both analog and the digital circuitry for the Daemon. For ultimate isolation, the digital and analog power supplies are completely separated and have individual local regulation at point of load. 6-layer Rogers ceramic circuit boards are used throughout.

Digital inputs include SPDIF BNC/RCA, TOSLINK, AES/EBU, and USB allowing for all sample rates from 44.1 kHz – 192 kHz. DSD compatibility is available via USB. Analog inputs include 3 RCA Unbalanced and 2 XLR Balanced. All audio inputs are transformer coupled with custom Lundahl transformers designed for the Daemon.

XLR + RCA Direct Power Amplifier Inputs bypass the pre-amplification section turning the Daemon into a 1500 WPC stereo power amplifier. When the Power Amplifier Input is selected, it is isolated and buffered by the same transformer input circuitry provided for all balanced and unbalanced audio inputs. XLR + RCA Preamplifier Line Outputs allow for use of a secondary external amplifier powering an external sub, additional loudspeakers, or for bi-wiring applications.

The 7” x 5” (178 x 127 mm) Touch Screen Interface was designed in collaboration with Danish user interface design house Mjölner. The machined aluminum hand held remote incorporates the latest BTLE (BlueTooth Low Energy) providing control for the most common device functions and permitting full navigation of the touch screen interface. BlueTooth enabled mobile device apps will also become available.

For headphone users there is a fully isolated headphone amplifier and a 1/4” output jack integrated in the face of the Delrin base for easy access. The base itself provides excellent isolation for the Daemon on almost any surface, and milled with threaded holes accepting standard footers if desired.

Optional features include: HDMI IN/OUT plug-in module; WiFi plug-in streaming module; and an internally installed MC/MM phono module. The firmware is updatable via a dedicated USB port. The Daemon’s universal auto-ranging power supply ensures trouble free operation throughout the world.