JRDG Company Special – Capri s2

Capri Series 2

2014 – 2021

Capri Series 2-SC

2021 – present

Retail Prices Capri S2 in the Netherlands in 2015:

Standard version – 4950 euro
optional USB DAC module – 900 euro
optional Phono module – 600 euro

Extensive Review

Retail Prices Capri S2-SC in the Netherlands in 2024:

Standard version – 7.750 euro
optional Phono module – 600 euro
optional HP module – 2.100 euro

During CES 2013, Jeff Rowland has announced and released the Capri S2 (Series 2) preamplifier, a replacement of the original Capri product. Capri S2, as well as its optional DAC card, was developed in an engineering collaboration with Danish company Holm Acoustics. In addition to redesigned circuit boards internals resulting in lower distortion and the addition of input transformers, it features a new remote control with right/left channel balance, phase and display dimming support.

Jeff Rowland commenting on his collaboration with Thomas Holm:

“We worked together on the analog preamplifier circuitry of the Continuum s2. The Capri S2 uses the same circuitry and circuit boards as the Continuum S2 analog and control feature set. Thomas developed the 4 layer circuit board layout with a lot of attention to achieving a very low noise, compact, and low distortion circuit. Thomas is one of the best for circuit board layout which is an important component of overall circuit performance, and there are not a lot of designers with his level of expertise in this and other critical design areas. He also developed the front panel control circuitry and overall microprocessor control circuitry for all of the operating functions. I do not have any experience with microprocessor design and Thomas is one of most talented with this particular skill set. We also worked with the Danish Class D company Pascal for optimum integration of their platform within the Continuum S2. Both products have been, and continue to be very successful and reliable over their production life-cycle of many years. In general I feel that even to this day they have yet to be discovered by much of the audio market.”

While the original Capri could apparently  sound a little clean (I have not heard it), according to internet sources the Capri s2 apparently sounds comparatively fuller and richer. The Capri S2 succeeded the original Capri in 2014. It features an impressive complement of standard input/output interfaces; greatly enhanced flexibility through its optional DAC card or phono option; and the Rowland trademark prismatic platinum faceplate beautifully integrated into a non-resonant chassis milled from a solid block of aluminum. The front panel looks exactly the same but inside are some differences, most obviously the circuitboard color change from red to green. but less obvious are the subtle changes in the component used.

Note the seemingly separate front panel, offset from the main housing because of its silver colour, actually is part of the same single block of aluminium, just machined differently.

Above: the Capri s2 looks cute even compared to the Aeris DAC. Below: Capri s2 on top of Concerto.

While the Concerto’s front panel is indeed a separately bolted on element, the Capri truly exists from a solid block of aluminium. Below: Capri s2 on top of model 125 IEC power-based power amp.

Note the difference in colour for the circuit board: red for the original Capri and green for the Capri series 2.

Capri series 2 Features

Balanced preamplifier design housed inside a low profile, compact, 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. Features an elegant front panel precision-machined and sculpted with a diamond tipped cutting tool.

UNIVERSAL POWER SUPPLY
Low noise, high-current, dual regulated switch- mode auto sensing and auto ranging power supply provides Capri with optimum performance at any world-wide mains operating voltage.

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.

INPUT 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 preamplifier overall gain when using unbalanced input adapters. Other benefits include ground noise isolation and excellent common mode noise rejection (CMRR) from all sources.

I/O FLEXIBILITY
Dual low impedance line-level outputs (80 Ohms balanced, 40 Ohms unbalanced), 48 Ohms 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.

REMOTE CONTROL
Six-function remote control transmitter display dim, adjusts volume, input selection, mute, phase, and channel balance.

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 optical encoder mounted behind the volume knob commands the attenuation level of a monolithic resistor attenuator over a 99.5 dB range in 0.5 dB increments.

OPTIONAL PHONO CARD
Plug-in phono cards (installed internally) converts Line Input 1 to high performance phono input. Three gain and loading options can accommodate moving magnet (MM), moving coil (MC), and high output moving coil cartridge types.

OPTIONAL DAC CARD
Plug-in DAC card (installed internally) converts Line Input 1 to high performance DAC input. Accepts all SPDIF digital signal sources from 44.1 to 192 kHz sampling rates and adjusts accordingly.

HOME THEATER BYPASS ADJUSTMENT
The Home Theatre BYPASS RCA inputs can be changed to an additional set of standard inputs by placement of an internal jumper inside the unit.

DISPLAY OFF (5 SEC)
An internal jumper will place the display in an automatic OFF condition after 5 seconds from any operational command and illuminates again for 5 seconds after additional commands are initiated.

HIGH-QUALITY CONNECTORS
All signal connectors are rhodium plated, copper jacks (RCA) and Neutrix silver plated contact (XLR), soldered directly to the circuit board for direct connection to the signal circuitry.

GREEN TECHNOLOGY
Modest power consumption of mere 6 Watts permits constant power-up operation to eliminate warm-up time and maximize musical performance, and allows Capri to operate enclosed into an entertainment unit.

IEC
15 Amp female IEC AC power connector.

OPTIONAL DAC OR PHONO BOARDS
DAC and Phono cards are optional and fit in a single option slot. The single slot accepts either a DAC card or a phono card. The Capri can’t fit two cards at the same time. Importantly, the new DAC card and the new phono card are compatible with the Continuum II but not compatible with the original Continuum or original Capri.

Capri series 2 Specifications

Overall Gain
14 dB

Gain Range
99.5 dB, 199 Equal Increments

Frequency Response
10 Hz – 350 kHz, -3 dB

DAC Card (optional)
Internal DAC card accepts all SPDIF digital signal sources from 44.1 to 192 kHz

Phono Card (optional)
Adjustable for simple load and gain adjustments for MM, high-output MC and MC cartridges

Inputs
2 x Pair Balanced XLR, 1 x Pair Unbalanced (RCA) Unity Gain (Bypass), 2 x Pair Unbalanced RCA

Outputs
1 x Pair Balanced Line Level, 1 x Pair Unbalanced Line Level

Weight
9.5 lbs / 4.26 kg

Dimensions
2.6”(H) x 13.7” (W) x 6.2” (D) / 6.7 cm (H)x 35 cm (W) x 15.7 cm (D)

More Jeff Rowland

Jeff Rowland Company Special Main Page
Jeff Rowland Company Special Preamplifiers
Capri Extensive Review