Jeff Rowland Continuum S2 Integrated review by Roy Gregory at TheAudioBeat.com...

Raidho said:
personally I find that if you buy the S2, you have to buy both the DAC and the phono stage, because they are brilliant... very close to world class.. specially the DAC is really great sounding.. at Raidho we have bought 2 pcs. for demos.. the S2 will for sure out compete a lot of pre-power combos
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So the DAC is a $450 option and the phono is a $350 optional module. It's interesting your take on the DAC because Roy Gregory, while agreeing with you that it punches well above it's weight, he thinks it still lacks in certain areas. Here are some his comments on the DAC below:

The DAC option is frighteningly effective. Super quick and clean, it will sound rather thin and overly polished on first installation, but run a signal through it for a week and it soon starts to fill out and settle down. Clarity and purpose are its strong suits, performance traits that dovetail perfectly with the emphatic dynamics and solid sense of presence generated by the CEC TL 3N transport. This was a combination that performed well beyond its price point...

In absolute terms the Rowland DAC card does flatten the depth perspective and introduce an overall smoothing of textures. Even running from the CEC transport it never had the textural finesse or overall sense of spatial coherence, that sense of the air not just between but surrounding the instruments, that you get from a player like the Wadia S7i -- but then it doesn’t do the same damage to your bank balance of a player like the Wadia. The Wadia is more three-dimensional in terms of both the images and the overall acoustic, and it offers a broader and more natural range of tonal colors. But that is to rather miss the point. The S7i might well be considered a natural partner for the Continuum S2, as might Rowland’s own Aeris DAC, but both come at a heavy price. The internal DAC option offers both a viable stop-gap solution -- one that will easily outperform equivalently priced freestanding units -- or a step up in performance for a secondary source. In either role, its crisp, clean, dynamic and purposeful delivery, full of drive and energy, will make it welcome.

As well as the CEC, I found myself using the Naim UnitiServe for much of the review period. This UPnP network server solution, connected via its own S/PDIF output rather than a separate streamer, seemed like the natural partner for the no-nonsense approach of the Continuum S2. Its mellow, relaxed sound and typical Naim sense of musical pace offered the perfect source for the internal DAC’s positive sense of musical purpose. Sure, if I hooked up the dCS Vivaldi it was only too obvious what I was missing, but for general musical enjoyment and non-critical listening this iPad-driven source component/library was ideal -- and I can see the internal DAC card fitting right into this role.
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On the phono stage, he wholeheartedly agrees that eventhough it's only a $350 optional module, it's performance comes close to delivering truly high end sonics. Here are some of his comments:

It would be easy to assume that, in much the same way that the DAC is an ideal stepping stone or secondary source solution, the internal phono option is best considered a stop-gap, unlikely to satisfy those looking for the last word in vinyl replay. In practice it’s a lot better than that, offering a step up in performance over the DAC card and in many cases I suspect that it will be as much phono stage as many listeners will want and a better phono stage than they’ve ever had. In many respects that should come as no great surprise; from standalone devices like the Michell Iso onwards, simple but carefully executed IC-based phono stages have demonstrated just how capable and cost effective they can be. Shackle this one to the kind of power supply and electrical infrastructure that go with the Continuum internals and the results are exceptional given the price...

The challenge for any high-resolution phono stage is giving access to the music buried in those vinyl grooves without letting the storage medium and its shortcomings intrude. I can’t say that the Continuum S2’s phono cards are particularly kind to surface noise -- they’re too quick and extended for that -- but they do have the happy knack of reproducing clicks and pops in a completely different plane to the music...

The true vinyl devotee will probably want more facilities and more performance than the Continuum S2 phono cards deliver. Greater tonal differentiation and insight would be nice, as would switchable EQ curves -- but at what price? I compared the internal boards to several of the standalone units I have in-house and they consistently delivered a quicker, cleaner sound with far greater poise and structural clarity than the external options -- and at a lower cost too. These are no afterthought or make-weight option, but a genuinely capable vinyl replay solution. For listeners who want continued access to an existing vinyl collection, even as they transition to or reinforce a greater reliance on digital media, they’ll be a godsend -- as well as being a more than capable answer for the more dedicated vinyl listener while he waits until his bank balance recovers enough (after buying the S2 and/or a turntable, 'arm and cartridge) to afford the standalone phono stage of his dreams. Don’t overlook the Continuum S2’s phono stage on the basis of price; you could be very pleasantly surprised.
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So you can get both optional cards at the same time for the S2 or it's either or?
 
Jock...said only one but I believe you can get both at same time as that's how Roy Gregory reviewed the unit with both modules on board.
 
Raidho said:
personally I find that if you buy the S2, you have to buy both the DAC and the phono stage, because they are brilliant... very close to world class.. specially the DAC is really great sounding.. at Raidho we have bought 2 pcs. for demos.. the S2 will for sure out compete a lot of pre-power combos
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I have to agree that the DAC card is really incredible. I am just loving my S2, and the DAC is an incredible value. I have had some really good DACs in the system, and this one easily holds its own. I think it is a no-brainer for $450, and actually makes the unit that much more special.
 
kiwi_1282001 said:
Welcome bk12.

Could you share some system details and in particular what speakers the S2 is driving.

Thanks!
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Thanks for the warm welcome guys. I am running a set of Soundlab ESLs with the S2...and it is doing quite well. JRDG does a great preamp-and having that teamed with the DAC card and the Pascal class D modules just makes for a great integrated.
 
Hi Ralph, I have just requested info on Continuum S2 idle power consumption from the factory... I will post here as soon as I receive the information.

Yes, Continuum S2 can be left on, unless there is a danger of electric storms or power anomalies on the grid.

On the subject of the CS2 manual... It is not yet on the Rowland site... But I should be receiving a draft copy shortly. If anyone needs it, please send me a PM.

Saluti, GUido
 
Hi Ralph, the overall recommendation from Jeff is to leave all current Rowland amps including Continuum S2, linestages, and Aeris powered on continuously to optimize sonic/musical performance. He always reminds us that in case of possible power disruptions, equipment should be turned off.

The good news is that unlike the old ICEpower-based amps, the current crop of Rowland amps is also quite pleasing when just turned on... My own experience with M925 is that it continues to blossom further for about 24 hours of amplifying a signal, until it reaches complete stability.

If you leave it idling overnight, it will still sound quite good in the morning, and will achieve peak performance again in 90 to 120 minutes.

Admittedly, I am somewhat more anally retentive than some, when it comes to break-in and warm-up recommendations *grins!*


I have no direct experience with Continuum S2, but I suspect that behavior may be similar.

Guido
 
Hi Ralph,

It looks like this has been answered, but I can confirm that I leave mine on and it seems to suit things just fine. This thing draws very little power at idle, and it is shockingly efficient. I am powering with a PurePower unit that shows draw, and this thing barely gets over 10% usage, even when playing at high levels. I haven't tried to leave mine cold and compare the sound there-it is just so easy to leave on. I can't recommend this unit enough, truly remarkable!
 
Anyone compared a Continuum S2 directly or indirectly vs a Devialet? I'm currently using a D170 with my Raidho C-1.1s and would like to give an S2 a try. Particularly interested in how the DAC option compares with the Dev (which is rather good in that respect).
 
There is a reported 1000 hour break in. But I'm excited to hear the famous combo in my home.


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Mike - do you think the S2 is a match for your Raidho D3s? It seems a little, err, asymmetric in terms of component values! It's a great recommendation if so though, and I really look forward to trying the S2 with my C-1.1s.
 
Rufus McDufus said:
Mike - do you think the S2 is a match for your Raidho D3s? It seems a little, err, asymmetric in terms of component values! It's a great recommendation if so though, and I really look forward to trying the S2 with my C-1.1s.
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Its what Raidho uses for demos.


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The S2 is very very good. It matches up great w Raidho. Today I've listened to the S2 on the X1s and D3s. Both were great!

It's a great value.
 
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