Anthem PVA5/MCA50

[Davemcc]

I stopped at an Anthem dealer and he's got a PVA5 and a MCA50. He wants $950 for the PVA5 and $1850 for the MCA50. First off, I'm just wondering if these are good prices.

Second, I'm not sure the PVA5 @ 125wpc will be enough power. I regularly max out the Mac I'm using @ 105wpc, but that will have to go back to it's owner at some point so I'm looking at amps now.

I'm thinking that the MCA50 will have the power and headroom I need, but it's a lot more pricey so I want to be sure it's a good deal from an authorized dealer.

Comments are appreciated.

 

[mike c]

I've always thought that Rotel's 5 channel amps were more value for money than other brands ... for example, the Rotel RMB1075 is 125wpc at .0something THD for just 1k. the PVA is 105wpc <1% THD (now this could mean .99% THD and a spec of .0something might drop down the power rating)

the RMB1095 is sure to have 200wpc again at .0something THD for 2k. the MCA50 can only do 180wpc AND still with the misleading THD rating. note that Anthem quotes a .0something THD but only at 100wpc.

in short, I'd go Rotel over Anthem for anywhere near the same price.

 

[Davemcc]

This dealer also carried Rotel, but didn't seem like he wanted to actually sell it. I see your point about the Anthem, though. I may have it somewhat over-rated in my own mind. I may go back and see if he wants to deal on a Rotel.

How do you suppose the Rotel RMB1095 would stack up against the Outlaw 7500 5x200wpc for $1599?

 

[mike c]

i'm not familiar with the outlaw (but their reputation seems solid) and I think if they say they can do 200wpc, I believe them ...

but I think outlaw only sells online, so you won't have a dealer to deal with when something goes wrong ... you'd have to transact business through email.

 

[just_visiting]

Instead of the MCA50, I would opt for a MCA20 AND a MCA30. You get more power to the fronts. Price would probably be similar.

 

[Davemcc]

Here's how this played out. I bought a Rotel RMB 1075. I went back and forth between this and the 1095. I was convinced to get the 1075 after hearing it drive a pair of B&W 803's full range to quite loud levels while still sounding powerfull, balanced and precise. Common sense took over and I finally decided a) that 120x5 should meet my requirements in my small room, and b) that the 1095 would just be very expensive testosterone induced overkill. If I find I need more power, I can always revisit the issue of a larger two channel amp later, but I don't think I'll need to.

 

[mike c]

good for you! must be hard to fight the "testosterone induced overkill" I know I'd buy the 1095 if I saw it in person

how about this to tip it the other way:
if you buy the 1095, you won't need another 2 channel amp

 

[Davemcc]

I think if they had the 1095 in stock, I might not have been able to resist. But the 1075 was there and sounded great hooked to those 803's. I demoed with Grover Washington Jr's "Just the Two of Us" quite loud and the system maintained tight, punchy bass and clean detailed highs with excellent voice definition as loud as I cared to play it. I found it hard to fault the 1075 in performance, plus I saved a grand by getting what I need (a relative term indeed), instead of giving in to overkill.

 

[Warpdrv]

Well I for one, couldn't fight the Testosterone... but I went to the used market for it... and bought the Rotel 1095 to drive my large fronts.

I love my Rotel, they make a spectacular amp.

What speakers are you driving with this amp ...? Monitor Audios?

 

[Davemcc]

I'm driving the Era D5 bookshelves and center w/MA Bronze BFX surrounds crossed over to the SVS/Hsu subs. It's a system with a range of impedences (4, 6 and 8 Ohm), but I'm confident that this amp will drive all five channels adequately. The room is only 11 x 14, how much do I really need? Don't answer that.

 

[AVRat]

Good buy, Dave. It's good to see someone using common sense in their buying decisions.

 

[UFObuster]

Here's how this played out. I bought a Rotel RMB 1075. I went back and forth between this and the 1095. I was convinced to get the 1075 after hearing it drive a pair of B&W 803's full range to quite loud levels while still sounding powerfull, balanced and precise. Common sense took over and I finally decided a) that 120x5 should meet my requirements in my small room, and b) that the 1095 would just be very expensive testosterone induced overkill. If I find I need more power, I can always revisit the issue of a larger two channel amp later, but I don't think I'll need to.

Excellent choice. I came from the other direction. Put in a Rotel RB-1080 (2x200wpc) with a great reputation to help my front mains along with a competent AVR to drive the rest. I liked the improvement so much, I went back for the 1075 like you got to do center, surrounds, and center/back. All of my speakers are full-range. Like you, I thought the 5x200 1095 might be overkill...esp since I've got the 1080 at the same rating. Another point: if you really like two-channel stereo listening, the dedicated 2 channel amp is really nice to have....then you have the other 5 channels for HT...works great and if you find a dealer who is "co-operative" you've got the whole package easily under $2k.

 

[Davemcc]

Strange as this may seem, I picked up the Rotel on June 6 and I have not even hooked it up yet.

 

[UFObuster]

Strange as this may seem, I picked up the Rotel on June 6 and I have not even hooked it up yet.

So, I'm gonna be sorry about that while you're sitting there with that MC-2107? ....well, go ahead and try this out: keep the 2107 on your mains...put the 1075 to work on everything else...and then report back. You may not get over it!! (The Denon will do fine as pre/pro).

 

[Davemcc]

The MC-2105 is on sort of Lend-Lease Act from a family member and has to go back at some point. I only have a 5.1 so the Rotel will power the whole shebang.

I just brought my new rack into the house moments ago, so now all the components need to come out of the old rack, assemble the new rack and install the whole kit and kaboodle before I can report back.

Then I have to cover my corner traps and make them pretty so I can take some snapshots, then learn how to upload photos to post in the member's systems gallery. It's going to be a fun couple of days