Rotel RB-1552 MKll

[mtrycrafts]

First of all I think that your view is a much more objective and reasonable one than previously given. Regarding my own system, I already have (for me at least) quite expensive speakers, bought for 1150$ on discount. I had these connected to the wonderful Pioneer A/V. If we would believe the dogma of "every amp sounds the same", I should instead have bought another pair of expensive speakers, when the problem was not the speakers, but the weak Pioneer A/V amp (as mtrycrafts himself stated previously).

In my case it would be silly to buy new speakers, when the amp was the weak link in the system. For me a good stereo Rotel amp was the right solution. It may be I could have bought an weaker Rotel amp, or a another more cheaper stereo amp, who knows. But in any case, the Rotel really made an great difference for me. The difference is not night and day, but more like the last 5-10% sound quality push that made the Boston Acoustic M340 really come alive.

Heck, it could be the last 1% sound improvement for all I know, but it still made the music come alive, and the bass to bloom to its fullest potential. I have an 12 inch subwoofer for movies, but for music I prefer to have clearly defined bass that the M340 gives out.

I understand that there is an sentiment that if many people here have bought an good amplifier to begin with, and then try to improve the sound by buying an even more expensive one, they get disappointed when they hear no audible difference. In this case it is of course a better solution to buy better speakers instead.

But if you already have good speakers, but a not so good ordinary a/v receiver, then I believe you will benefit from upgrading the amp. At least I did.

Thanks for the great reply btw Peng!

Well, I didn't really state that the weak Pioneer is at fault, just a possibility. Hence, without proper comparisons, one will never know, you won't.
Also, I doubt you will find a post that claims "every amp sounds the same". But some will distort what has been stated.
Enjoy your speakers and the new amp.

 

[sonicgoose]

Enjoy your speakers and the new amp.

Thanks!

 

[Dan Madden]

As it so happens I just very recently bought an Rotel rb-1572, class d 250w per channel amp.

I have Boston acoustic M340 frontspeakers, with an Pioneer sc-1223 a/v receiver. The speakers have an maximum 350w output. The m340 have 4 4 1/2 bass woofers each. So they are really capable of putting out some great bass!

I was really unsure if the Rotel would make any difference. But after I listened for 5 seconds it became obvious what a major difference the Rotel made! The bass was now much more precise, quick and punchy. Such an difference!

The overall sound also got larger, as in a more dynamic and "open" sound. Everything just opened up. The speakers really went alive! I have been enjoying my music library as never before these last days.

As an example, I have listened everything from Radiohead, Pink Floyd, classical to jazz and rock. The Rotel just made everything so much better.

I believe that those who say that an amp makes no difference in sound must be using speakers which don't need this much power as the m340 or b&w.

The Rotel is not only for listening to loud music, but really does give the speakers some "legroom".

Or maybe it is just cool to say that electronics is electronics, 100$ or 1000$, there is no difference. But listen for your self and try it if you can, for me at least it has made my music come "alive", and is worth every penny.

Hey Goose.......that was exactly my reaction when I hooked up my Rotel. The difference was immediate and undeniable. To put it bluntly, the Rotel destroyed my Yamaha amp in every way.

 

[herbu]

Heck, it could be the last 1% sound improvement for all I know, but it still made the music come alive, and the bass to bloom to its fullest potential. I have an 12 inch subwoofer for movies...

I think this is pretty revealing. I think what you're really saying is, "My system sounds a lot better to me with the amp".

Here is my evidence. You have a single 12" subwoofer. You say the amp allows the bass to bloom to its fullest potential. I would suggest with your system, you may have never experienced the "fullest potential" of bass in music or movies.

My point is that when you offer generalities, you'll often get poked on this forum. We are not amp haters. Indeed most of us have at least one amp. 4 x 4 1/2" woofers are not capable of putting out what many of us would call "great bass". There are literally thousands of threads here that disprove the notion of electronics is electronics, $100-$1000 all sound the same.

No one here would argue that you believe your Rotel was a significant improvement to your system. It is likely not what all of us would have done in your shoes, but is just as likely it is what some of us would have done. Not sure why you seem to have a small chip on your shoulder.

I can guarantee that every one here hopes you enjoy your system as much as we each enjoy ours!

 

[herbu]

Hey Goose.......that was exactly my reaction when I hooked up my Rotel. The difference was immediate and undeniable. To put it bluntly, the Rotel destroyed my Yamaha amp in every way.

Dan,
What took you so long?

 

[sonicgoose]

Hey Goose.......that was exactly my reaction when I hooked up my Rotel. The difference was immediate and undeniable. To put it bluntly, the Rotel destroyed my Yamaha amp in every way.

Cheers to you too mate! And yeah, basically that's the point. With the pioneer I did get the music, but with Rotel I got hifi...

I think this is pretty revealing. I think what you're really saying is, "My system sounds a lot better to me with the amp".

Yes, I did write that my system sounds a lot better with the amp. If I was unclear on that I apologize.

Here is my evidence. You have a single 12" subwoofer. You say the amp allows the bass to bloom to its fullest potential. I would suggest with your system, you may have never experienced the "fullest potential" of bass in music or movies.

I don´t fully understand what you mean here. I meant the subwoofer sound from my front speakers, not the subwoofer itself, I apologize again if I was unclear on that. What I meant was that the bass from the frontspeakers got better in every way with the Rotel. The XTZ 12.18 Ice subwoofer always had more bass than I ever could fit in my appartment...

No one here would argue that you believe your Rotel was a significant improvement to your system. It is likely not what all of us would have done in your shoes, but is just as likely it is what some of us would have done. Not sure why you seem to have a small chip on your shoulder.

I can guarantee that every one here hopes you enjoy your system as much as we each enjoy ours!

Thanks for your kind words! Well, if you read the first page of this thread you can see many examples of folks saying just that, amp is amp, only salespeople try to say otherwise etc... But I think that yours and other recent responses are much more nuanced.

I´ll try to less chip on my shoulders next time! Cheers!

 

[Dan Madden]

Well said Goose !! I liken my switch to Rotel somewhat the same as when I bought my first CD player back in the early 80's. I of course bought a CD to take home with it. In this case, it was Supertramp's "Breakfast in America". I had listened to my LP of that album 10 thousand times on my trusty Technics turntable with my system. After hooking up the new CD player to that same system and popping in the CD, I was literally blown away at how much better the CD sounded!! Did I need a blind a/b comparison to know what I was hearing was better.........NO !

It was just better.