Rotel or Outlaw

[PSWii60]

A USED Rotel 1095
OR
4 NEW Outlaw 2200 Monoblocks
(the reason I say four is because if you buy 4 you get the fifth one free)

Oh, I almost forgot....driving Paradigm Studio 100's and CC-690

 

[mike c]

personally, i'd get the rotel

one box solution, pretty much the same power

 

[Bugbitten]

Emotiva XPA-5?

 

[Adam]

I think that you should provide more constraints to help us help you. Either solution could be better or worse depending on your constraints.

Me? I like the one box solution, like Mike. I like those Outlaw monoblocks, but you need five available outlets, need to run five power cords, and need to run five triggers. They also take up more space. However, they are more flexible. If you decide in a year that you want to amp two channels in a different room instead of your rear speakers (or don't want to amp five channels and want to sell off some amps)...with the monoblocks, that's easy - but not with a single box with five internal amps.

There are other pros and cons to either choice.

 

[PSWii60]

Emotiva XPA-5?

Scared to buy an Emo, heard to many horror stories about em.

 

[PSWii60]

I think that you should provide more constraints to help us help you. Either solution could be better or worse depending on your constraints.

Me? I like the one box solution, like Mike. I like those Outlaw monoblocks, but you need five available outlets, need to run five power cords, and need to run five triggers. They also take up more space. However, they are more flexible. If you decide in a year that you want to amp two channels in a different room instead of your rear speakers (or don't want to amp five channels and want to sell off some amps)...with the monoblocks, that's easy - but not with a single box with five internal amps.

There are other pros and cons to either choice.

Outlets are not an issue. I'm mostly concerned about reliability, reputability, and which is the better match for Paradigm? I do like the idea of being able to shuffle the 2200's into a different system as needed, and I at least get a warranty for buying new, but then again I know there are allot of Rotel lovers out there that would have nothing but.....decisions,decisions. Starts to give me a headache after awhile. One minute I decide on one and then two minutes later I change my friggin mind. So I call upon you guys (the veterans) for help

 

[mike c]

the rotel is standard class AB, the outlaw monoblocks switch between two classes depending on the power usage.

 

[jamie2112]

I am goning to vote Rotel...oh wait this isn't a voting thread. I like Rotel single amp over the 5 outlaws myself IMO of course.....

 

[Highbar]

I've never been around an Outlaw but I love my Rotel. I vote Rotel just because I like the one box solution, just cleaner to me.

 

[Soundman]

Scared to buy an Emo, heard to many horror stories about em.

I'm sure the same could be said about any other company. There is alwas a one off situation and nay sayers abound, but honestly, I've never had a problem with Emo products. They are built rock-solid. As far as customer service goes, they are excellent people to work with. If you did have a problem, I have full confidence they would work it out.

 

[Adam]

I'm sure the same could be said about any other company. There is alwas a one off situation and nay sayers abound, but honestly, I've never had a problem with Emo products. They are built rock-solid. As far as customer service goes, they are excellent people to work with. If you did have a problem, I have full confidence they would work it out.

I'm happy for your experience with them, truly, but I suppose that I'd be called a nay sayer. I had full confidence that they'd have great customer service...I was wrong in my case. I won't bore people again with my story, but you could find it pretty easily by searching for "emotiva" under my posts.

 

[Jeepers]

A USED Rotel 1095
OR
4 NEW Outlaw 2200 Monoblocks
(the reason I say four is because if you buy 4 you get the fifth one free)

Oh, I almost forgot....driving Paradigm Studio 100's and CC-690

Have you considered the new Rotel 1575, 5ch class D ?

 

[Davemcc]

If Jamie can vote for Rotel, so can I. It's a much easier and cleaner solution.

 

[Soundman]

Originally Posted by Soundman
I'm sure the same could be said about any other company. There is alwas a one off situation and nay sayers abound, but honestly, I've never had a problem with Emo products. They are built rock-solid. As far as customer service goes, they are excellent people to work with. If you did have a problem, I have full confidence they would work it out.

I'm happy for your experience with them, truly, but I suppose that I'd be called a nay sayer. I had full confidence that they'd have great customer service...I was wrong in my case. I won't bore people again with my story, but you could find it pretty easily by searching for "emotiva" under my posts.

I'm sorry to hear that. Hopefully it was a rare situation. I do know I've never had a problem with their products or their service. But I suppose every customer interaction could be a unique one. I know everyone talks about the great customer service of Axiom Audio, but my experience with them was absolutely horrible so I sent everything back even though I had to pay for the shipping. So, I guess it just goes to show that your experience may vary no matter who you're dealing with.

 

[PSWii60]

Have you considered the new Rotel 1575, 5ch class D ?

Sure! But my marriage is more important

 

[talannar]

I would vote Rotel also. Though I may be a little biased as I have a 1075

 

[Steve.]

Rotel, much better quality IMHO.

 

[jostenmeat]

I'd be happy with both. I think that I would choose Rotel for me, but Outlaws for PSW (assuming they are comparable in performance). I would appreciate the all-in-one solution, that could easily fit in my Studio Tech rack. However, IIRC, PSW has a hidden rack that could hold them all, and he himself says outlets are not an issue.

I have had an amp channel on 7ch NAD do funny things on me. This amp channel has more residual noise at this point, and on one single movie provided a lot of popping (now, fortunately, thinking its a bad disc, no problems since, fingers crossed). Its going to suck to truck the entire thing in if it ever needs servicing. Monoblocks are separates galore. You can always sell 2, and have 3 for the fronts. Any time that any of the 5 are for sale, they are gone in a heartbeat, and the 5yr transferrable never hurts. One needs repair, you still get to hold on to the other 4.

Up to a year ago, I never heard one single complaint EVER with an Outlaw product. Since that time, I've heard one single complaint. I don't think you can really go wrong either way though.

 

[bigred7078]

is emotiva an option? lol

 

[cfrizz]

I have had both Rotel gear & an Outlaw monoblock.

If I had the money & could manage the weight of the Rotel amp, I would have had all Rotel gear at some point.

However, they don't update as often as other companies & won't do so at all for some stuff.

But saying all that, I too like a one box solution, so get the Rotel & enjoy.

I had the RMB 850 amp, RB 850 preamp, RCD 855 cd player for 15 years being used daily. I passed them onto my brother who got another 3 years out of them! They are made to last!