ROWLAND RESEARCH M7

Second-hand. In good conditions. Show slight signs of wear. Without original packaging.

The Jeff Rowland Model 7 immediately stands out for its striking presence and sense of opulence: the massive chassis, black finish, and sculpted front handles convey solidity and refinement, creating an object that impresses as much with its aesthetics as with its technical performance. This is one of those rare components where the monumental appearance is entirely justified by what lies beneath. Inside, a huge 2.5 kVA toroidal transformer serves as the beating heart of an oversized power supply, flanked by imposing filter capacitors and rigorously selected components—clear indicators of an uncompromising pursuit of sonic excellence.

Its circuit design reflects a bold engineering philosophy: the input stage uses FET transistors in transconductance mode, optimized for heightened sensitivity to low-level signals, while the output stage employs numerous high-speed bipolar transistors in a sliding bias configuration. This allows the amplifier to operate in Class A at lower power levels, gradually transitioning to Class AB as current demand increases. There is no global or nested negative feedback, a deliberate choice that eliminates time-domain distortion and enhances the coherence of dynamic response. The signal path is completely free from capacitors, inductors, fuses, or active protection circuits, favoring absolute transparency and a sound untouched by artificial coloration.

The entire circuit is encapsulated in thermally conductive epoxy resin, ensuring thermal stability, mechanical protection, and ease of maintenance. The DC-coupled design, free from signal-path capacitors, allows for extremely linear playback, while advanced servo circuits constantly monitor and compensate for any DC offset, protecting both the amplifier and connected loudspeakers. The power output is formidable: 350 watts into 8 ohms and 700 watts into 4 ohms, enabling it to drive even the most demanding speaker loads without sacrificing its refined, sweet, and fatigue-free tonal character.

The sound is unmistakably Rowland: rich, warm, musical, with firm control in the low frequencies and a silky midrange, yet always ready to deliver brute force when needed. The Model 7 was born to prove that power and finesse can coexist—and it does so with a unique, unmistakable voice. Output terminals are designed for spade or bare wire connections, and the absence of noisy fans completes a design that makes no compromises. This is not an amplifier aimed at value, but rather at the absolute summit of American audio design, as recognized by critics and enthusiasts since its debut.

Technical specifications:

• Solid-state monoblock power amplifier
• Output power: 350W into 8 ohms; 700W into 4 ohms; 1100W into 2 ohms
• Power bandwidth: 0.15 Hz to 175 kHz; –3 dB
• Slew rate: 50 V/µs
• THD and noise: <0.015% (1 kHz, 8 ohms, 20W); <0.045% (1 kHz, 8 ohms, 100W); <0.06% (1 kHz, 8 ohms, 200W)
• Damping factor: >300 from 20 Hz to 20 kHz at 8 ohms; >90 at 100 kHz at 8 ohms
• Output current: 50A peak continuous; 150A peak into 0.1 ohms for 20 ms at 1 kHz
• Voltage gain: 26.4 dB
• Sensitivity: 136 mV for 1W into 8 ohms
• Selectable input impedance: 100k ohms; 20k ohms; 600 ohms
• Dimensions (W x H x D): 480 mm x 220 mm x 610 mm
• Weight: 52 kg each