ROTEL RMB-1075 Or EMO XPA-5?

[ShockWave]

I have narrowed the search for a amp to these two.

I am totally new to amps. If price was equal which amp would be better to own (power, sound, build etc.)? The Emo has more watts per channel but not sure how to look at it correctly.

Any thoughts, tips, ideas?

Thanks

[cembros]

i have the rotel 1095 and it is amazing, i feel like i put a v12 under the hood

[09camaro]

So far I am extremely pleased with my XPA-3. I have read some
good reviews of the 1075, also.

If you will be using it to power your B&W's the XPA-5 may be the
better choice, I've heard they can be pretty power hungry. Either
way I think you'll be happy.

[btf1980]

I have zero experience with Emotiva products, but I do have experience with Rotel. The 1075 is a damn fine amp that is a bargain IMO. I've used many more expensive amps, and the 1075 can hold its own.

Keep this in mind also, as upgrades are a natural progression with this hobby, despite what you might think about buying anything else later, you will - you simply don't know it yet. If you buy used, the 1075 will retain its value, and you might not even take a loss if you sell it down the line. The 1075 has been holding steady on the used market for around $550 to $700 for YEARS. The release of the new Rotel 15 series amps has not devalued the 10 series amps. That says a lot. This is not a reflection of the quality of Emotiva, I'm sure it's fine, but despite the fact that the Emotiva amp sells like hotcakes, it does not have the same resale value. Food for thought.

[ShockWave]

Does the watts make a huge difference between the two as far a performance? 125 vs 200.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by ShockWave

Does the watts make a huge difference between the two as far a performance? 125 vs 200.

The additional watts may give you a little more headroom, but that does not necessarily mean your speakers are going to sound better. Other factors such as the design, power supply, etc. play a role in sound quality.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by btf1980

I have zero experience with Emotiva products, but I do have experience with Rotel. The 1075 is a damn fine amp that is a bargain IMO. I've used many more expensive amps, and the 1075 can hold its own.

Keep this in mind also, as upgrades are a natural progression with this hobby, despite what you might think about buying anything else later, you will - you simply don't know it yet. If you buy used, the 1075 will retain its value, and you might not even take a loss if you sell it down the line. The 1075 has been holding steady on the used market for around $550 to $700 for YEARS. The release of the new Rotel 15 series amps has not devalued the 10 series amps. That says a lot. This is not a reflection of the quality of Emotiva, I'm sure it's fine, but despite the fact that the Emotiva amp sells like hotcakes, it does not have the same resale value. Food for thought.

Although I haven't personally investigated to check on the accuracy of this statement, if true, then this is also an important consideration to take into account.

John

[Opips2]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

The additional watts may give you a little more headroom, but that does not necessarily mean your speakers are going to sound better. Other factors such as the design, power supply, etc. play a role in sound quality.

The Lsi9s are rated by Polk for 20 – 200 watts into 4 ohms. Although they can handle more than 200, feeding them 500 sounds like too much. Some people swear by giving their speakers more than recommended to achieve better sound quality but this is very subjective and possibly even dangerous to the speaker. How loud can you turn it up when your 200w speakers are being fed 500w?

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by Opips2

The Lsi9s are rated by Polk for 20 – 200 watts into 4 ohms. Although they can handle more than 200, feeding them 500 sounds like too much. Some people swear by giving their speakers more than recommended to achieve better sound quality but this is very subjective and possibly even dangerous to the speaker. How loud can you turn it up when your 200w speakers are being fed 500w?

Who are you and what have you done with Opi?

I would think there was a thing such as "too much" headroom, where it's just wasted amps/money that will never be used.

[Opips2]

Originally Posted by aramis109

Who are you and what have you done with Opi?

I would think there was a thing such as "too much" headroom, where it's just wasted amps/money that will never be used.

The answer is going to be different with cd, dvd, tv, etc. More commonly people fry their tweeters by sending a clipped signal from overdriving an underpowered amp, but it’s also possible or even likely to cause mechanical failure from overpowering them. Tech support at Polk can explain it better and probably help you find a comfortable number to feed them. Depending on your set up, if you want to get a feel for what more power will do for them, you could always bi-amp them with the 7125 and still have 3 channels left for center + rears. MAKE SURE to remove bridges. This would feed them 400 clean watts, give them 3 dB or so more at a given volume, and let you decide if more is “cleaner” or “better”. I’d check with Polk first though, if you bi-amp them and crank the volume you’ll be asking the drivers to do a lot more work than they were designed for.
Here’s an experiment: Listen to a song you like at say 90dB (or pick a volume you enjoy) from the lsi9s with 7125 driving them one channel per speaker (200w per side). Leave the room. Have a friend hook it up again in bi-amp (400w per side), and using a pressure meter ($50 at radio shack) have him adjust the volume back to 90dB, and you enter, blindfolded, and see if you can hear a difference. Repeat this 5 times or so (10 samples completely at random) and I’ll bet you pick the difference about 50% of the time.

Why not you try to find out it?

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Opips2

The answer is going to be different with cd, dvd, tv, etc. More commonly people fry their tweeters by sending a clipped signal from overdriving an underpowered amp, but it’s also possible or even likely to cause mechanical failure from overpowering them. Tech support at Polk can explain it better and probably help you find a comfortable number to feed them. Depending on your set up, if you want to get a feel for what more power will do for them, you could always bi-amp them with the 7125 and still have 3 channels left for center + rears. MAKE SURE to remove bridges. This would feed them 400 clean watts, give them 3 dB or so more at a given volume, and let you decide if more is “cleaner” or “better”. I’d check with Polk first though, if you bi-amp them and crank the volume you’ll be asking the drivers to do a lot more work than they were designed for.
Here’s an experiment: Listen to a song you like at say 90dB (or pick a volume you enjoy) from the lsi9s with 7125 driving them one channel per speaker (200w per side). Leave the room. Have a friend hook it up again in bi-amp (400w per side), and using a pressure meter ($50 at radio shack) have him adjust the volume back to 90dB, and you enter, blindfolded, and see if you can hear a difference. Repeat this 5 times or so (10 samples completely at random) and I’ll bet you pick the difference about 50% of the time.

Why not you try to find out it?

Off-Topic..... "That was eerily coherent"

ON-Topic "well said!"

[Johnny Vinyl]

I thought the same thing...."well, I'll be damned!" Nice though! OPI
John

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Off-Topic..... "That was eerily coherent"

ON-Topic "well said!"

...yeah, that's cut and pasted from somewhere.

My point was never that having headroom was a bad thing- in fact, I've been saying it for awhile. My point was that at some point you're hitting diminishing returns as you have over 50% headroom that never gets used. What you pasted in reply didn't really address what I was bringing up, but instead was a retort to another conversation dealing with the need (or lack thereof) of headroom in an amp.

[Opips2]

Originally Posted by aramis109

...yeah, that's cut and pasted from somewhere.

My point was never that having headroom was a bad thing- in fact, I've been saying it for awhile. My point was that at some point you're hitting diminishing returns as you have over 50% headroom that never gets used. What you pasted in reply didn't really address what I was bringing up, but instead was a retort to another conversation dealing with the need (or lack thereof) of headroom in an amp.

I was study THX soundproof wall, ceiling, window and door. My project bluepaint for home theater in basement.

110db home theatre - soundproof wall STC 70 = 40db

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by John72953

I thought the same thing...."well, I'll be damned!" Nice though! OPI
John

John,

You are right, he is getting much better and more understandable.

Rich

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by naturephoto1

John,

You are right, he is getting much better and more understandable.

Rich

Originally Posted by Opips2

you damn, you're foolish boy!!!

I was study THX soundproof wall, ceiling, window and door. My project bluepaint for home theater in basement.

110db home theatre - soundproof wall STC 70 = 40db

Then feel free to translate that for me Rich. I'm not sure he and I are even discussing the same things. There's another thread where the same thing is occurring. I should probably just stop responding to him.

[naturephoto1]

Originally Posted by aramis109

Then feel free to translate that for me Rich. I'm not sure he and I are even discussing the same things. There's another thread where the same thing is occurring. I should probably just stop responding to him.

Sorry, can't comment or help out on OPIPS2' last comment. I was responding to his previous entry in the thread. John and I had had a couple of PMs about understanding him; John had indicated that he thought OPIPS2' comments were getting better.

Rich

[got rice]

Originally Posted by Opips2

The answer is going to be different with cd, dvd, tv, etc. More commonly people fry their tweeters by sending a clipped signal from overdriving an underpowered amp, but it’s also possible or even likely to cause mechanical failure from overpowering them. Tech support at Polk can explain it better and probably help you find a comfortable number to feed them. Depending on your set up, if you want to get a feel for what more power will do for them, you could always bi-amp them with the 7125 and still have 3 channels left for center + rears. MAKE SURE to remove bridges. This would feed them 400 clean watts, give them 3 dB or so more at a given volume, and let you decide if more is “cleaner” or “better”. I’d check with Polk first though, if you bi-amp them and crank the volume you’ll be asking the drivers to do a lot more work than they were designed for.
Here’s an experiment: Listen to a song you like at say 90dB (or pick a volume you enjoy) from the lsi9s with 7125 driving them one channel per speaker (200w per side). Leave the room. Have a friend hook it up again in bi-amp (400w per side), and using a pressure meter ($50 at radio shack) have him adjust the volume back to 90dB, and you enter, blindfolded, and see if you can hear a difference. Repeat this 5 times or so (10 samples completely at random) and I’ll bet you pick the difference about 50% of the time.

Why not you try to find out it?

Opi?

Originally Posted by Opips2

The Lsi9s are rated by Polk for 20 – 200 watts into 4 ohms. Although they can handle more than 200, feeding them 500 sounds like too much. Some people swear by giving their speakers more than recommended to achieve better sound quality but this is very subjective and possibly even dangerous to the speaker. How loud can you turn it up when your 200w speakers are being fed 500w?

Wow! very nice.

Originally Posted by Opips2

you damn, you're foolish boy!!!

I was study THX soundproof wall, ceiling, window and door. My project bluepaint for home theater in basement.

110db home theatre - soundproof wall STC 70 = 40db

Bummer!

[Opips2]

GotRice,

I respect aramis's opinion. He dislike very expensive home theater equipment is waste.

Very interesting....He never learning experienced gift to share us.

[zicmubleu]

Originally Posted by aramis109

Who are you and what have you done with Opi?

I would think there was a thing such as "too much" headroom, where it's just wasted amps/money that will never be used.

opi -the 'practical paster'

aramis109, would an amplifier operating at its lowest end deliver the same flat response as it does in a mid-range setting? I agree with your statement, too much is too much, and I think that an amplifier's flatness across its full range would be a factor to consider in this discussion.