Amp protection lights on

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PWRmx24

Junior Audioholic
My old faithful Rotel RMB-1095 (5 ch 200w) amp has two saftey protection lights on that won't go out. I turned it on and off a couple of times and disconnected the speaker wires but the lights are still on. The other 3 channels work fine. Any ideas what to do next, other than take it in for service?
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Seriously, I have no life.
My old faithful Rotel RMB-1095 (5 ch 200w) amp has two saftey protection lights on that won't go out. I turned it on and off a couple of times and disconnected the speaker wires but the lights are still on. The other 3 channels work fine. Any ideas what to do next, other than take it in for service?
It needs service. Most likely power transistors have failed. I would not use it with protection lights on. Leave it unplugged. The problem is that there are no service guys left. So if you don’t have the test equipment and experience with servicing complex electronics, your options are likely limited.
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Seriously, I have no life.
My old faithful Rotel RMB-1095 (5 ch 200w) amp has two saftey protection lights on that won't go out. I turned it on and off a couple of times and disconnected the speaker wires but the lights are still on. The other 3 channels work fine. Any ideas what to do next, other than take it in for service?
Rotel are better organized than most manufacturers. They have eight authorized service center in the You can find them on the Rotel site.

I have a friend who lives nearby that has one of those amps. It also has at least one channel failed and the protection light on. I would service it for him, but I can't lift it. This units weigh 100 lb. I have researched them and the final driver stage is an IC, which was probably a mistake. It is on a heat sink which makes it a tricky repair. This is a common failure with those and it takes down the output transistors pretty much every time. Cost of repair seems to be about $200.00 per channel.

The problem as I see it is that all the channels will likely fail, so to service all channels you are looking at about $1000.00 and up. So it is up to you to consider recycling, selling for parts or repair, or sending to a service center. At 100 lb weight shipping to and fro will be significant unless you are in driving distance of a service center.
 
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PWRmx24

Junior Audioholic
TLSGuy,
Thanks for the reply. I think the Maryland Rotel location will work for us. A family member is moving to Washing D.C. and I may be able to get him to take it there this spring.

Do you think it's possible I messed up the RMB-1095 by driving different ohm and wattage rated speakers? I have my old Rotel-1570 processor hooked to the RMB-1095 (5 ch 200 w per at 8 oh) driving the center Polk LSiC (4 ohm 200w) and 2x Bose 301s (8 ohm 75w) and the Rotel RB-1080 (2 ch 200w per at 8 ohm) driving 2x LSi15s (4 ohm 250w). Volume 70 is as high as I've ever gone.....I think.
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Seriously, I have no life.
TLSGuy,
Thanks for the reply. I think the Maryland Rotel location will work for us. A family member is moving to Washing D.C. and I may be able to get him to take it there this spring.

Do you think it's possible I messed up the RMB-1095 by driving different ohm and wattage rated speakers? I have my old Rotel-1570 processor hooked to the RMB-1095 (5 ch 200 w per at 8 oh) driving the center Polk LSiC (4 ohm 200w) and 2x Bose 301s (8 ohm 75w) and the Rotel RB-1080 (2 ch 200w per at 8 ohm) driving 2x LSi15s (4 ohm 250w). Volume 70 is as high as I've ever gone.....I think.
No, I don't. The current in the output stage will be higher with lower impedance loads. However, any self respecting power amp with the "pretensions" of that Rotel should be able to handle 4 ohm loads with no problem.

Those amps are known for this issue, largely due to an improper design decision.

I would advise you to get an estimate for repair, as I personally don't think those units are worth investing a lot of money into. They probably will just fix the faulty channels and then a few weeks after you get it back another channel will blow.

My advice after consideration is not to repair that unit and invest in something more reliable.

I don't personally favor putting more then three amps in one chassis and preferably not more than two. However I understand that for the front three in an AV system one chassis is handy. For one thing if you use only two channel amps you are likely to end up with an unused amp channel.
 
P

PWRmx24

Junior Audioholic
Thanks. What's the concern about using the other three channels while two of the protection lights are on?
 
P

PENG

Audioholic Slumlord
Thanks. What's the concern about using the other three channels while two of the protection lights are on?
If it is outside of warranty, depending on the estimated repair cost it may not be worth doing it. If the other 3 channels are working, it should be safe to keep using it, but if you are still concerned, just email Rotel's tech support.

Volume 70 is as high as I've ever gone.....I think.
That means very little to us, without knowing what is the maximum setting, and your trim level settings, as well as the input source you were using at the time it failed. So, vol 70 could be okay, but could also be too high, dangerously high.
 
P

PWRmx24

Junior Audioholic
TLS Guy wrote: "I don't personally favor putting more then three amps in one chassis and preferably not more than two."

If I go that route I'd look at another used Rotel RB-1080 (I have one already) or RB-991 which seem identical. Paired with my Polk LSi15s, LSiC, and LSi9s. Any thoughts on these two? Or differences betwwen them. Reason being I see these two on used sales.....
Thanks.
 
everettT

everettT

Audioholic Spartan
TLS Guy wrote: "I don't personally favor putting more then three amps in one chassis and preferably not more than two."

If I go that route I'd look at another used Rotel RB-1080 (I have one already) or RB-991 which seem identical. Paired with my Polk LSi15s, LSiC, and LSi9s. Any thoughts on these two? Or differences betwwen them. Reason being I see these two on used sales.....
Thanks.
Those Polks are very hard on amps, I'd personally prefer a Purifi or Hypex NCore X, as they deal very well with low impedence and sharp phase angles, especially throughout the powerband where your speakers are demanding.
 
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PWRmx24

Junior Audioholic
Thanks for commenting The Hypex NCore X is probably a great amp but I was advised class AB are usually a bit better. I'm not an expert. I've only ever owned Rotel amps. Seems like a good used RB-991, 1080, or 1090 would do just fine. Not sure I'd tell the difference in a "higher end" amp. Not sure.
 
everettT

everettT

Audioholic Spartan
Thanks for commenting The Hypex NCore X is probably a great amp but I was advised class AB are usually a bit better. I'm not an expert. I've only ever owned Rotel amps. Seems like a good used RB-991, 1080, or 1090 would do just fine. Not sure I'd tell the difference in a "higher end" amp. Not sure.
Whoever told you AB is better isn't doesn't have all the information on the two brands I mentioned as they are the most technically sound amps made today, with the Benchmark AHB2 us the closest class AB for large amps.

Note that the amplifiers are load irrelevant and would handle your speakers with ease and many manufacturers use the modules.


 
G

Golfx

Senior Audioholic
Thanks for commenting The Hypex NCore X is probably a great amp but I was advised class AB are usually a bit better. I'm not an expert. I've only ever owned Rotel amps. Seems like a good used RB-991, 1080, or 1090 would do just fine. Not sure I'd tell the difference in a "higher end" amp. Not sure.
I agree everettT whoever told you Class AB amps were superior has outdated information—at least a decade’s worth. Class D from hypex and purifi offer the best measurements. Being more efficient they are also much smaller, much lighter and are much cooler running.
 
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PWRmx24

Junior Audioholic
The NAD M23 is out of my price range. The Hypex NCx500 seem too good to be true if a 2 ch amp with "700 watts" at 8 and 4 ohms can be had for $995.
 
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everettT

everettT

Audioholic Spartan
The NAD M23 is out of my price rang. The Hypex NCx500 seem too good to be true if a 2 ch amp with "700 watts" at 8 and 4 ohms can be had for $995.
I linked the article to the NAD as a bench test but you can get the same modules from another vendor for a lot less. Check out these vendors

Both Hypex NCore and Purifi are designed by the same person, Bruno Putzeys

 
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Golfx

Senior Audioholic
The NAD M23 is out of my price rang. The Hypex NCx500 seem too good to be true if a 2 ch amp with "700 watts" at 8 and 4 ohms can be had for $995.
It is true. It is called engineering innovation and progress. You can read the reviews over at ASR.
 
P

PENG

Audioholic Slumlord
The NAD M23 is out of my price rang. The Hypex NCx500 seem too good to be true if a 2 ch amp with "700 watts" at 8 and 4 ohms can be had for $995.
NAD's typicaly would cost more because of their overhead costs, and use of more expensive enclosures, heatsinks etc.

Smaller companies such as Apollon, Audiophonics are more cost effective even if the might have to pay a little more for the amp modules due to perhaps lower volume, hence less volume discounts than the likes of NAD and ATI.

For sound quality only, I wouldn't pay more for the NAD's Hypex or Purify based amps.
 
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PWRmx24

Junior Audioholic
Ok so are you all telling me I'm wasting money on a used Rotel RB-1080 or 1095 or 991 and can get a brand new unit that's as good or better sounding for the same or less $ that will last as long?
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Seriously, I have no life.
Ok so are you all telling me I'm wasting money on a used Rotel RB-1080 or 1095 or 991 and can get a brand new unit that's as good or better sounding for the same or less $ that will last as long?
Yes, it will sound as good. Longevity is not predictable as a rule, and judged only by experience. You were lucky with that Rotel. Those units are known for a high rate of premature failure.

Some units are known for exceptionally high reliability. One for instance is Quad, before being acquired by Chinese masters. Quad products when Peter Walker was the owner, are known for exceptional reliability and command high prices on the used market, which are fully justified.
 
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Golfx

Senior Audioholic
Ok so are you all telling me I'm wasting money on a used Rotel RB-1080 or 1095 or 991 and can get a brand new unit that's as good or better sounding for the same or less $ that will last as long?
yes welcome to your future.
 
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