When re-launching a product like Caspian, Roksan isn’t just making an amplifier, it’s continuing a legacy.
In an exclusive interview, we put five killer questions to Roksan Electronics Design Director Jon Green on what’s gone, what’s new and what’s yet to come…
Roksan’s Jon Green, turning on the red light for Caspian
1. What’s the secret to the Caspian’s long-standing success?
Jon replies: “Every Caspian product, at the time of launch, provided an unbeatable sound quality / price ratio.
“The Integrated and CD player were absolutely at the top of their game and still highly regarded more than two decades on. It’s this trend we’ve strived to replicate in the new 4th Generation offering.”
2. These new models are a significant design departure. How have you retained the range’s DNA while bringing the line up to date?
“Not as significant as you might think, the industrial design is Caspian re-imagined. Euphoria is seeded from the original Caspian series AB topology.
“Even the DAC IC used in Rapture is a modern derivative of the type used in the 1998 CD player, the current-conveyor is the game changer here though.
“The MAG transparent design philosophy applied to every element of the system, (you can’t improve anything until you understand what you have got) resulted in an evolution, it is Caspian for the 21st Century.”
3. What were the biggest design challenges you faced?
“Fitting it all into the enclosure, it’s crammed full of tech like a game of Tetris!”
4. What are you most proud with these new models?
“Capturing the essence of Caspian, it wasn’t broken, so we didn’t fix it. It’s bigger & bolder and can now stream.”
5. What’s next for Caspian – can we expect a power amp and perhaps a new, dedicated phono stage?
“We will be releasing pre and power amps in 2025. In fact some of the photography we’re using for the launch of Caspian shows the power amplifier as a bit of an Easter egg teaser!
“A separate MC phono stage could be in the works, but we’ll look at that following the release and gauge feedback from global partners and customers.”
Read our exclusive review of Roksan’s Caspian 4G integrated amplifier.
