Hunting for a new Amp - ideas welcome

[asrgt]

Hi Guys,

I am back in the market for a new amp and was wondering if anyone has had any time with the Rotel RMB-1575 ? I have heard allot of good things and some negative regarding this particular amp . My main concern is the front stage and after demoing my system with a pair of Nuforce Ref9V3SE mono blocks the difference was night and day sound stage opened up music reproduction was so smooth and the bass response was amazing so much so I had to double check the sub was in fact off.

Now I am more than aware the Rotel offering will not sound the same as the mono’s but at 5grand a pair there reaching the limit of what I can justify spending and this system is multi role Music/Movies so I would still need another one for the center channel.

Sound wise if anyone has anything they could say might be worth a listen I am all ears Class D class A/B I don’t care its about what it sounds like to me . I’m after something that will help improve imaging , offer a wider sound stage and offer some more depth to the sound.
Main stage is B&W CM9, CMC2 can be seen in my gallery if interested.

Thanks all.

[sandman922]

Originally Posted by asrgt

Hi Guys,

I am back in the market for a new amp and was wondering if anyone has had any time with the Rotel RMB-1575 ? I have heard allot of good things and some negative regarding this particular amp . My main concern is the front stage and after demoing my system with a pair of Nuforce Ref9V3SE mono blocks the difference was night and day sound stage opened up music reproduction was so smooth and the bass response was amazing so much so I had to double check the sub was in fact off.

Now I am more than aware the Rotel offering will not sound the same as the mono’s but at 5grand a pair there reaching the limit of what I can justify spending and this system is multi role Music/Movies so I would still need another one for the center channel.

Sound wise if anyone has anything they could say might be worth a listen I am all ears Class D class A/B I don’t care its about what it sounds like to me . I’m after something that will help improve imaging , offer a wider sound stage and offer some more depth to the sound.
Main stage is B&W CM9, CMC2 can be seen in my gallery if interested.

Thanks all.

if you don't mind could you give an idea on the budget you have that will help us with the recommendations . by the way nice set up i demoed your speakers with a bryston 4bs and it sounded awesome .

[asrgt]

$5000 is about the upper limit of what i am willing to spend for the front stage to be powered ( FL ,C,FR ) , i cant realy justify much more at least not without a dedicated listening room :P

Thanks for the feedback.

[sandman922]

Originally Posted by asrgt

$5000 is about the upper limit of what i am willing to spend for the front stage to be powered ( FL ,C,FR ) , i cant realy justify much more at least not without a dedicated listening room :P

Thanks for the feedback.

parasound halo a 31 on audio advisors for 3k 3 channel amp outlaw has mono blocks for about 350 each the more you buy the more you save , emotiva xpa1 3 mono blocks for about 3k and audyssey has some monos and 3 channel amps in your price range .

[callas01]

Originally Posted by sandman922

parasound halo a 31 on audio advisors for 3k 3 channel amp outlaw has mono blocks for about 350 each the more you buy the more you save , emotiva xpa1 3 mono blocks for about 3k and audyssey has some monos and 3 channel amps in your price range .

you mean Odyssey....

http://www.odysseyaudio.com/

[sandman922]

Originally Posted by callas01

you mean Odyssey....

http://www.odysseyaudio.com/

thanks steve i was up at 5am yesterday was getting tired didn't catch that

[Solaris]

Originally Posted by asrgt

$5000 is about the upper limit of what i am willing to spend for the front stage to be powered ( FL ,C,FR ) , i cant realy justify much more at least not without a dedicated listening room :P

Thanks for the feedback.

How about Mcintosh MC205? I have the same setup as yours.

[TheFactor]

Originally Posted by sandman922

parasound halo a 31 on audio advisors for 3k 3 channel amp outlaw has mono blocks for about 350 each the more you buy the more you save , emotiva xpa1 3 mono blocks for about 3k and audyssey has some monos and 3 channel amps in your price range .

X2 on all of the above although im partial to Parasound because I own one and have had the chance to really enjoy it and all it has to offer . Im very happy with it and you have many different options . I went with the A52 3ch and despite its lower power level its sounds like it has as much power if not more then other amps ive had in the past with triple the power rating and most importantly it has a very low floor noise also offering I feel a very wide sound stage and detailed sound . Great for music and movies.

[Intamin]

My opinion would be to go to tubes. I tried some pricey amps, such as the Pass Labs X250.5 ($8500 msrp) and Boulder 860 ($10k-this was when I was auditioning my speakers), and ran it against my Rotel 1075 and Audio Refinement and didn't notice anything discernably different. I don't notice any difference between my Multi 2 and 1075 either; that's just me. However, having tried tubes I can hear a difference that I like and that I'd say is an improvement. You could get some PrimaLuna monos for less than your budget. With tubes, I'd recommend listening prior to buying if you can given the different presentation. On the SS side, I'd just buy what one you like the looks of that meets your needs specs wise; I doubt you'll notice much, if any, difference between any of them.

[asrgt]

Originally Posted by Solaris

How about Mcintosh MC205? I have the same setup as yours.

I did try out this amp, overall i was impressed however i found it lost some high details on the CM9s when compared with the Nufroce Ref9V3

I also recently demoed a pair of Audiolab 8200MB's rather impressive little monos for there price point.

Thanks everyone for you sugestions i have been slowly researching and demoing where possible what people have listed. Will update when i make my decision.

[pearsall001]

I just picked up a pair of these beauties, M2-600M mono blocks from d-Sonic. I was astounded at how well they performed. My KEK Q900's never sounded better. I love them so much I'm tempted to pick up another one for my center. Check them out. http://www.d-sonic.net/

[callas01]

Originally Posted by asrgt

Hi Guys,

I am back in the market for a new amp and was wondering if anyone has had any time with the Rotel RMB-1575 ? I have heard allot of good things and some negative regarding this particular amp . My main concern is the front stage and after demoing my system with a pair of Nuforce Ref9V3SE mono blocks the difference was night and day sound stage opened up music reproduction was so smooth and the bass response was amazing so much so I had to double check the sub was in fact off.

Now I am more than aware the Rotel offering will not sound the same as the mono’s but at 5grand a pair there reaching the limit of what I can justify spending and this system is multi role Music/Movies so I would still need another one for the center channel.

Sound wise if anyone has anything they could say might be worth a listen I am all ears Class D class A/B I don’t care its about what it sounds like to me . I’m after something that will help improve imaging , offer a wider sound stage and offer some more depth to the sound.
Main stage is B&W CM9, CMC2 can be seen in my gallery if interested.

Thanks all.

If you listen to a lot of music, and you want something to really play well when it comes to 2-ch, look at this tube stereo amp,
http://www.rogueaudio.com/Products_Medusa.htm

Then for your center channel get a nice smaller, but powerful Mono block, Id recommend the Outlaw Mini Mono for $350.
http://www.outlawaudio.com

[asrgt]

Thanks Guys for the suggestions so far,

Callas01 cheers for heads up on the Medusa a real intresting solution i had not thought of.

Add all these to the demo list for the weekend .

Sandman emotiva is also on my list problem is with not been able to demo there mono blocks and with having to pay shipment to AUS there return policy dosent really offer me much comfort when it will cost me $400 in shipping if it turns out there not what im after.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by asrgt

Thanks Guys for the suggestions so far,

Callas01 cheers for heads up on the Medusa a real intresting solution i had not thought of.

Add all these to the demo list for the weekend .

Sandman emotiva is also on my list problem is with not been able to demo there mono blocks and with having to pay shipment to AUS there return policy dosent really offer me much comfort when it will cost me $400 in shipping if it turns out there not what im after.

I was looking at the Cronus Integrated Amp at one time but it was gonna be too much for me,AND it didnt have a HTBP which I wanted/needed as well as the fact that I have little kids, and tubes being out in the open isnt a good idea, so I went with the Naim Nait 5i-2 Integrated Amp

the fact they have an australian dealership im sure helps out a lot.

[Leef DaLucky]

Love my 1575.
I mated it with a Emotiva UMC-1 and a set of paradigm studio ref's (B&W was my second choice).
You should really go demo one for yourself.
I prefer the more detailed highs of classD's (i was a big supporter of those little panasonics a couple years ago and bought into class D bigtime).
They aren't for everybody though as you may have read and more than a couple reviewers have accused it of being a bit shrill/fatiguing?
I love mione though.
Solid detailed punchy bass too.


coming from a Supertramp/Zeppelin/Genesis/Classical guitar/Home Theater lover.
suits my tastes awesomely.
Been going strong for 3 years with it and I would buy it again if I had to.

cheers,
Me.

[asrgt]

Originally Posted by Leef DaLucky

Love my 1575.
I mated it with a Emotiva UMC-1 and a set of paradigm studio ref's (B&W was my second choice).
You should really go demo one for yourself.
I prefer the more detailed highs of classD's (i was a big supporter of those little panasonics a couple years ago and bought into class D bigtime).
They aren't for everybody though as you may have read and more than a couple reviewers have accused it of being a bit shrill/fatiguing?
I love mione though.
Solid detailed punchy bass too.


coming from a Supertramp/Zeppelin/Genesis/Classical guitar/Home Theater lover.
suits my tastes awesomely.
Been going strong for 3 years with it and I would buy it again if I had to.

cheers,
Me.

Thanks for the input nice to here from a user of the Rotel, its defenitly on my to listen to list. Now i just need to find time to get down to the hi-fi store and spend a few hrs in front of what they have