Rotel v. Emotiva ITCHY TRIGGER FINGER

[egreen1976]

I need a new toy and want to add a power amp to my set up. My speakers are paradigm studio 100s with the matching center and sorrounds. My receiver is a Denon 2807. I have narrowed my choices down to the Rotel RMB-1057 and the Emotiva XPA-5. (The Outlaw was just to ugly to consider.) I live in an NYC apt but will prob by a house soon. So I am not sure how big a difference the power difference of the 2 amps will matter to me.

My empahsis is on sound quality. and I will be adding a pre/pro this summer most likelt the Emotiva UMC-1 (i must have hdmi 1.3 switching).

Because I fdont have an audio closet and my girlfriend is a stickler for aeshetics this is a consideration...... the Rotel is better looking.

Lastly, would i get MUCH better sound quality investing in an independant 2 chanel system for audio and analog audio?

Any thoughts?

 

[Nomo]

If you plan to get the UMC-1 then, aesthetically, one of the Emo amps would be the perfect match.
What models are you considering from each company?

 

[egreen1976]

I'm really only considering the Emotiva XPA5 and the Rotel RMB 1075...

any other suggestions welcome

 

[Midcow2]

Both are superb amps

I'm really only considering the Emotiva XPA5 and the Rotel RMB 1075...

any other suggestions welcome

Emotiva XPA-5
THD+N at rated power output: 0.007%
S/N ratio: >100db
Frequency response: 10 to 120Khz (-3db) and 20 to 20 (with less than .15db deviation)

Rotel RMB 1075
Total Harmonic Distortion
(20 Hz - 20 kHz, 8 ohms) <0.03% maximum
Frequency Response 15Hz - 100kHz +0.5dB, -3dB
IM Distortion <0.03%
Input Sensitivity / Impedance 1.0V / 33kOhms
Signal to Noise Ratio (IHF A) 116dB

Both of these specs are excellent with the Emotiva being better in THD and the Rotel being better in STN. You main sound quality will come from the speakers and in your case the quality of Paradigm Studio 100s ( i considered them when I recently went with the Def Tech 7002s) is excellent.

I would choose the Emotiva based only on my personal perference that it looks more classy. But then again any true audiophile revere the Rotel name. Although McIntosh or Crown are the most impressive to me

Cheers,

 

[rnatalli]

Both are excellent products and will sound similar. I'd go Emotiva for three reasons. It's 200wpc vs. 120wpc, excellent customer service, and it's less expensive.

 

[cbraver]

I'd prefer the Rotel. I demod the 1095 and really liked it. Seems well built, and I've never really heard any failure or customer service complaints from the customers.

Although McIntosh or Crown are the most impressive to me

Werd. Love my Crown amp. What a beast. Only two channel available, though, which is a big problem for most people (having to have a stack of amps), especially those with wives.

 

[cfrizz]

I would recommend the Emotiva.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If you are getting the UMC-1, then I think you should definitely get the XPA-5. No doubt about it, especially since aesthetics is important to you.

I think Rotel has more "prestige", but both will have the same sound quality.

But for aesthetics, the UMC will look much better with the XPA.

I think with the older receivers & pre-pros, separate 2Ch analogs sounded better. But with the newer receivers & pre-pros with the PURE DIRECT/SOURCE DIRECT modes, which bypasses all the tone controls, balance control, and EQs, I think you will get the same sound quality.

If you compare the specs of the Emotiva analog preamp RSP-1 vs the newer receivers in Pure Direct modes, you will see that some of the receivers (Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha) actually have BETTER specs - Freq Resp, THD, SNR, Crosstalk.

Yet, Audioholics gave the RSP-1 an awesome review-- FIVE stars for 2Ch audio performance!

 

[egreen1976]

Another Question

I appreciate all the responses... one more question....
Is 200w of power overkill? More specifically, does 120w vs. 200w make a difference in sound quality? I'm looking for more detail and tighter bass. Would there be a sound quality difference between the Emotiva XPA-5 vs. LPA-1.

 

[moreira85]

I appreciate all the responses... one more question....
Is 200w of power overkill? More specifically, does 120w vs. 200w make a difference in sound quality? I'm looking for more detail and tighter bass. Would there be a sound quality difference between the Emotiva XPA-5 vs. LPA-1.

I bought my Emotiva LPA from user RNATALLI and love it.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

...does 120w vs. 200w make a difference in sound quality? I'm looking for more detail and tighter bass. Would there be a sound quality difference between the Emotiva XPA-5 vs. LPA-1.

I doubt that you will ever hear the difference between the XPA-5 and the LPA-1. 120w vs 200w is no big deal.

 

[Nomo]

I doubt that you will ever hear the difference between the XPA-5 and the LPA-1. 120w vs 200w is no big deal.

With the studio 100s it won't make much difference.
As much as I like my LPA-1; if I had to do it all over again, I'd spend an extra $300 for the XPA-5.

I can't comment on the Rotel other than say it costs more.

 

[Davemcc]

I have the Rotel 1075 and I'm seriously looking at the Emo XPA-5. I think it would be an upgrade. Too bad my upgrade budget has all but disappeared lately.

 

[egreen1976]

Why do you think th XPA5 will be a signifficant upgrade frolm the Rotel 1075

 

[rnatalli]

Why do you think th XPA5 will be a signifficant upgrade frolm the Rotel 1075

I think the 1095 and XPA-5 are more on par with each other.

The XPA-5 is based on the LPA-1 design so sound-wise they'll be similar. The difference is in the amount of power. The XPA-5 channels all its juice into 5 channels rather than 7 like the LPA-1 and I think the efficiency is a little higher in the XPA-5.

 

[Davemcc]

Why do you think th XPA5 will be a signifficant upgrade frolm the Rotel 1075

Power and headroom to drive my 4 Ohm/86dB speakers to very high volume. I can't say for 100% sure that it would be a true upgrade, but it's an avenue I'd like to explore. There are times when I think the 1075 is falling short, producing harsh highs before the music is as loud as I'd like, which is very loud, don't get me wrong. I work in an industrial environment and loud really becomes relative when your in that environment day after day, year after year.

 

[Davemcc]

I think the 1095 and XPA-5 are more on par with each other.

The XPA-5 is based on the LPA-1 design so sound-wise they'll be similar. The difference is in the amount of power. The XPA-5 channels all its juice into 5 channels rather than 7 like the LPA-1 and I think the efficiency is a little higher in the XPA-5.

I'm pretty sure the LPA is a class H switching amp and the XPA is a class A/B. But you are correct that the XPA and the 1095 are more comparable.

 

[rnatalli]

I'm pretty sure the LPA is a class H switching amp and the XPA is a class A/B. But you are correct that the XPA and the 1095 are more comparable.

"Discrete, dual differential class AB amplifier topology with active current sources"

From Emotiva's LPA-1 page. I admit, I'm not too familiar with differences in amp classes so this might mean class H in some way.

 

[darien87]

I appreciate all the responses... one more question....
Is 200w of power overkill? More specifically, does 120w vs. 200w make a difference in sound quality? I'm looking for more detail and tighter bass. Would there be a sound quality difference between the Emotiva XPA-5 vs. LPA-1.

No such thing as too much power.

 

[jcPanny]

Emotiva amps

I have also had good results with the entry level Emotiva LPA-1 amp. The LPA-1 and XPA-5 are similar in that they are both class A/B and have a single toroid transformer for all channels but that is where the similarities end. The XPA series amps can deliver significantly more power and include balanced inputs. The monoblock style amps like the DMC-1/2 are class H.

For the OP's high end Paradigm studio system, you might hold out for the Emotiva XMC-1 pre-pro which will have a better Audio and video quality than the UMC and will include balanced outputs.