New Amp: Dilemma

[strube]

Ok, so I am strongly considering being a copycat and buying a Rotel RMB-1095 like ParadigmDawg's, only black. My fiancee even gave me permission! My dilemma is this:

Do I purchase it with a full warranty from my nearest Rotel dealer's demo room with about 20 hours on it for $1733 including tax?

Or do I buy it from Audiogon for $1150 plus shipping: http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampsmult&1239556812&/Rotel-RMB-1095-200-w-X-5-Chann

Or do I totally reconsider and think about another amp for a similar price or wait until class D's get cheaper, if they ever will? Maybe I am not looking at all my options with an absolute maximum budget of $1750...

Opinions or comments are welcome! Thanks!

EDIT: I am an idiot. That Audiogon amp is sold.

 

[rnatalli]

How about an EMO XPA-5 or MPS-2?

Wyred4Sound has a 5x250 @ 8 Ohms Class D amp for $1,999:

http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/site/74030/117839/shopping/shopping-view.html?pid=339143&b_id=&find_groupid=18048

Not much more than the new Rotel 1095 new.

 

[strube]

Well, I am stretching myself a bit with the $1750, so I better stick with that.

I shouldn't have started looking at other stuff! The Outlaw 7700 amp is a 7X200 for the same price, just not as beautiful and Roteltastic. Many people also seem to have good luck with the Emotiva XPA-5 and MPS-2 (though I am not a fan of fans in audio gear if avoidable). Bah!

I first thought I wanted pro amps, but I am not really excited about fussing with the signal power differences and the XLR-to-RCA stuff. Then I wanted the Rotel because it is sweet looking, has a great warranty, and I know it is of the highest quality from experience. Now I don't have a clue. This would be easier if I hadn't gotten permission .

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Unless you get what you really want, you will never be happy and in the end, you will end up buying the one you always wanted. Just get the one you want now and be done with it. I opt for the one with a full warranty. Go in there with the money and he will take another 100 bucks off of it.

 

[mnnc]

With $1500 at my disposal this would be a no brainer...Emotiva xpa2 and xpa5 combo. Run the mains with the 2 and everything else with the 5. That would kick butt.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Hey wait a damn minute, the Rotel on Audiogon came with a 12V trigger and deluxe power cord, I think Warp ripped me off!

Or do I buy it from Audiogon for $1150 plus shipping: http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampsmult&1239556812&/Rotel-RMB-1095-200-w-X-5-Chann


EDIT: I am an idiot. That Audiogon amp is sold.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

And I would never buy another EMO product.....

With $1500 at my disposal this would be a no brainer...Emotiva xpa2 and xpa5 combo. Run the mains with the 2 and everything else with the 5. That would kick butt.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

It's calling your name... the store is open for 30 more minutes... get in the car... drive... drive... drive...

 

[strube]

Unless you get what you really want, you will never be happy and in the end, you will end up buying the one you always wanted. Just get the one you want now and be done with it. I opt for the one with a full warranty. Go in there with the money and he will take another 100 bucks off of it.

That is good advice - and I trust salesmen I have spoken with before based on first impressions, regardless of what Alex says, unless they are GM or Chrysler salesmen ! I have to do my wheeling and dealing via email because "my" Rotel dealer is 70 miles away. I just shot him an email offering $1650 including tax in cash on Saturday, so I will see what comes of that.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Man, it would work better if you were there in person.

That is good advice - and I trust salesmen I have spoken with before based on first impressions, regardless of what Alex says, unless they are GM or Chrysler salesmen ! I have to do my wheeling and dealing via email because "my" Rotel dealer is 70 miles away. I just shot him an email offering $1650 including tax in cash on Saturday, so I will see what comes of that.

 

[strube]

Man, it would work better if you were there in person.

Damned kids (me) are always in a hurry. I hope I didn't hose the whole thing by email, which I myself have always thought was a bit impersonal...

 

[rnatalli]

You could also try finding a used NHT Power 5 amp which is 5 x 200 using IcePower modules I believe.

 

[strube]

You could also try finding a used NHT Power 5 amp which is 5 x 200 using IcePower modules I believe.

Well, if I didn't shoot myself in the foot with the Rotel, I will have to check out my other options .

 

[Alex2507]

I trust salesmen , regardless of what Alex says.

I did edit that a little just so that I could respond to that with ...
I'm actually at a loss for words!

Greg is right. Pile your g/f into the car and get up there with some cash.
You're not gonna ask what the g/f is for, are you?

 

[Warpdrv]

Shipping on that Rotel will cost you $100-$120 just an FYI

Is your system going to be 5.1 or 7.1.

The Rotel is a great amp, and put up with all I could throw at it... I'm not dumping on Emotiva here, but I still think they may need some time to establish a proven design..

Personally, if it were me - give your dealer one more chance to make a better deal for you or pull the trigger on the used amp. If it survived me, then chances are you won't ever have an issue with it used...


BTW P-Dawg... You totally got ripped off...

 

[strube]

Greg is right. Pile your g/f into the car and get up there with some cash.
You're not gonna ask what the g/f is for, are you?

Nah, I got it . Sounds good to me.

 

[Alex2507]

BTW P-Dawg... You totally got ripped off...

Ouch! Now that's gotta sting!

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Warp pushes his system like a little girl compared to me so I am not worried about the amp. He probably used somewhere around 3 watts and I have already caught the thing on fire 2 times. I mean lets look at the blown woofer tally:

Dawg- 3

Warp- 0

It is obvious that he is scared.

Ouch! Now that's gotta sting!

 

[egreen1976]

I just did the same!!!

I switched from the Emotiva to the Rotel 1075! Now I am debating whether to return that for the 1095! I am pushing Studio 100s v.4.

Is the 1075 enough???? Would there be a sound quality difference with the 1095? What about bi- amping?

 

[strube]

I will hopefully be picking up my 1095 on Saturday for $1695 cash, as long as I am not dead of chronic death syndrome by then. Then I will have an amp that is 99% overkill for my current speakers, until I am employed and can afford Studio 100 v5's and their respective matching surrounds, somewhere around the next December region for the fronts at least, hopefully.

Then after that I will probably end up with a Denon AVR-3810 as a pre/pro (by that time it will be the '10 model I am guessing), unless the Outlaw 997 pre/pro is out and decent. No Integra for me probably because of Davemcc's experiences with lame service.

EDIT: Woohoo!