Jeff Rowland Concentra 1 Integrated Amplifier

NO REMOTE

This is an amazing integrated amplifier. PURITY is how I would describe it’s sound and an uncanny balance between tube and solid state sound (but it’s 100% solid state)! If you want to get off the tube vs. solid state merry go round, or if you just want to get an integrated that is truly high end then find one of these used. I have tried so many combinations of preamps, amps, integrateds, and with the Concentra I know that I won’t ever need to make a change for as long as it keeps working!

I wanted to “downgrade” my McIntosh separates mainly for size; I move a lot and did not want them to get damaged. Wanted to replace them with something smaller and possibly better built (succeeded here). Initially I set my eyes on the Sim Audio Moon I-5 but found the Rowland used for a good price at a reputable dealer, so I bought it (interestingly enough, I called the manufacturer asking them to tell me who owned it, using the serial number (it’s very low, in the 100’s). They said they had originally sent it to a reviewer for Stereophile who never reviewed it. They said they never saw it again…I actually contacted Stereophile and asked them to put me in touch with the reviewer (who resides in Hawaii), which they did. All he would say is that “it’s a sweet piece of gear”….sounds like these reviewers have something funny going on…) Anyway….
I loved my Mac gear (C-15 & MC-300) but I must say this unit is superior in sound reproduction overall. Its sound is very neutral (read as, unfatiguing, pleasant at high frequencies and high volumes, and CLEAN/grain free ALWAYS). It is more revealing, has better imaging and soundstaging, and overall has a more refined presentation. I have heard the Levinson 383 with the same speakers, and believe the Rowland to be superior in terms of musicality, depth of presentation, and “bloom.” While beautiful in many ways, the 383 seemed slightly more analytical. In addition to the Rowland I use Aerial model 6’s and an SCD-777ES SACD player. The amp is wonderful at loud and soft volume levels, and never loses its temper (refined!).
I honestly feel like this is the 1st piece of gear I have ever owned that I could not best; if in the future I wanted to exchange it I would only do so for more power (don’t need it now) or for a different sound altogether based on new preferences, or a system matching component that I felt I had to have (you know the disease). I have great respect for my speakers and CD player, but feel that now they are the weaker links in the chain. This is definitely a two-in-one box product that easily bests many separates. Should you find one used and want an integrated, buy it. For one thing, it will last forever the way it is built. I have not been happier overall with an audio purchase than this one.
By the way, I talked with the manufacturer about cables (I use Transparent) – – they would not endorse Cardas over the phone and stated the below mention is untrue. If anyone thinks they have found a great match please let me know!

1996-2001
Retail price in 1998 in the Netherlands 7.260 euro

The Concentra is Jeff Rowland’s very first integrated amplifier. More or less a one-box version of the Synergy 2 preamp and model 2 poweramp. Put more precisely, the power supply was taken from the Model 2 Amplifier and combined with an output section that resembles that of the model 10 and model 112 power amp. There is no official info on the matter of output stage but from looking at the pictures it seems that the LM3886 integrated amplification circuits have been used instead of bipolar transistors. This integrated has created quite a stir in high-end circles. It had a modest 100 watts of power but just like all Rowland amps, it was much more powerful than these figures would lead you to believe.

All Concentras have a balance control which makes sense because they contain a version of the Synergy preamp inside. Using the remote control, the balance will work but this just is not indicated on the front panel. To reset the balance, press “Mute” for a couple of seconds.

The early Concentras had no possibility of putting it into standby or “sleep”. It would always consume a quite large amount of power unless you pulled the plug but that would lead to a long startup time every time you plugged it back in. The Concentra 1 can be identified by its red display. There is an option to upgrade early Concentra units with a “standby” mode that allows the unit to run cool and lower power consumption when not in use. The standby mode is then engaged by pressing the “mute” switch after which the power transistors shut off and the unit consumes only a few watts. However, the original Concentra cannot be upgraded to Series II status.

It can be fitted with optionally available high-quality internal phono preamp modules for 884 euro, as can be seen below.

The inside of the Concentra 1 is mostly lifted from the model 2 power supply but the power output devices are not bipolar. Instead, the output stage is apparently built using LM3886 integrated amplification circuits. You can tell by counting the pins: 11 instead of 3 as is usual for bipolar transistors. This looks like these were taken from the Model 112 or 10 power amp which both appeared later. Would the Concentra therefore actually be their forebear?