Rotel RMB-1075 or Emotiva LPA-1?

[pr50]

I'm in the market for a 5 channel power amplifier. After researching for a month, it came down to these two-Rotel RMB-1075 or Emotiva LPA-1.
I could use some help in my decision.

Thanks,

pr50

 

[mike c]

hmm, that's a tough decision ...

half the price, same wattage, more channels ...

if I were in your place, I'd still get the rotel.
my reasons: brand name recognition, nicer face plate, the 1075 has been tried and tested for years.

 

[Davemcc]

I'm in the market for a 5 channel power amplifier. After researching for a month, it came down to these two-Rotel RMB-1075 or Emotiva LPA-1.
I could use some help in my decision.

Thanks,

pr50

If I may be so bold as to ask, what speakers are you driving with the amp? If your speakers present an easy load to the amplifier, either of these will do fine.

With a more difficult load, you may find both coming up a little short.
I've had the RMB-1075 for a while now driving not so easy speakers, and I find that I'm wishing I had more clean, distortion free power. I wish I had gotten the RMB-1095 the first time.

 

[mike c]

... I wish I had gotten the RMB-1095 the first time.

or you could do what he said!

i just don't know your budget.

 

[rnatalli]

Both amps are excellent. I own an LPA-1 and it sounds every bit as good as the 1075 to my ears. It has a 5-year warranty and dealing with Emotiva is great. You could also consider the IPS-1 which is closer to the 1075 in price. Emotiva may be newer to the market, but their stuff is solid. My only complaint about the LPA-1 is that it's a beast weighing in at 63lbs, but that's a good thing in my eyes and it tells you something about the build quality. Bottom line, the 1075 isn't twice as good as the LPA-1 so why pay twice the price?

 

[pr50]

If I may be so bold as to ask, what speakers are you driving with the amp? If your speakers present an easy load to the amplifier, either of these will do fine.

With a more difficult load, you may find both coming up a little short.
I've had the RMB-1075 for a while now driving not so easy speakers, and I find that I'm wishing I had more clean, distortion free power. I wish I had gotten the RMB-1095 the first time.

fronts-Mirage OM-9, center-Mirage OMC2, surrounds-Mirage M-490.
I believe they're all nominal 8 ohms.

 

[nick1000000]

I have owned the LPA-1 for about 4 months now and love every minute of listening to it.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

If you get a Rotel you can tell everyone you have a Rotel which is cool all by itself. If you want to save some money and get an amp that is likley every bit as good as a Rotel then EMO all the way.

 

[pr50]

Both amps are excellent. I own an LPA-1 and it sounds every bit as good as the 1075 to my ears. It has a 5-year warranty and dealing with Emotiva is great. You could also consider the IPS-1 which is closer to the 1075 in price. Emotiva may be newer to the market, but their stuff is solid. My only complaint about the LPA-1 is that it's a beast weighing in at 63lbs, but that's a good thing in my eyes and it tells you something about the build quality. Bottom line, the 1075 isn't twice as good as the LPA-1 so why pay twice the price?

yeah, the LPA-1 is a beast. it's the depht that worries me. i think the front will stick out about two inches from my TV stand. that wouldn't fly with a wife who pratices feng-shui.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I just cut the rear out of my credenza so it would fit.

yeah, the LPA-1 is a beast. it's the depht that worries me. i think the front will stick out about two inches from my TV stand. that wouldn't fly with a wife who pratices feng-shui.

 

[pr50]

just got off the phone with dan from emotiva. unfortunately i live in hawaii and there is no road to the islands, the 2nd day shipping cost for the LMC-1 and LPA-1 combo is $300. and if they ever need servicing...$$$ just for shipment.
whew, i'll be eating a lot of spam and rice just to satisfy my ears!
s - super
p- prime
a- alternative
m- meat

you know hawaii love ther S-P-A-M.....aloha

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Well the bad news is you live in Hawaii, the good news is...you live in HAWAII!!!!!!!!!!!

just got off the phone with dan from emotiva. unfortunately i live in hawaii and there is no road to the islands, the 2nd day shipping cost for the LMC-1 and LPA-1 combo is $300. and if they ever need servicing...$$$ just for shipment.
whew, i'll be eating a lot of spam and rice just to satisfy my ears!
s - super
p- prime
a- alternative
m- meat

you know hawaii love ther S-P-A-M.....aloha

 

[mtrycrafts]

that wouldn't fly with a wife who pratices feng-shui.

You are in big trouble now.
You may want to ask her first what will not fly.

 

[mtrycrafts]

fronts-Mirage OM-9, center-Mirage OMC2, surrounds-Mirage M-490.
I believe they're all nominal 8 ohms.

What is your current component to drive the speakers? And, what is its shortcoming?

 

[pr50]

What is your current component to drive the speakers? And, what is its shortcoming?

my receiver is HKAVR500 which is driving my center & surrounds. onkyo integra m-504 amp is driving the fronts. recently the center channel kept cutting in & out. after numerous test my conclusion was the center amp section of the AVR500. now, i have a good reason to get what i really wanted for a long time-
seperate amp/equal power to all 5 channels.
so my shortcoming is the high cost of living in paradise and no money left to play with decent toys.

 

[PENG]

my receiver is HKAVR500 which is driving my center & surrounds. onkyo integra m-504 amp is driving the fronts. recently the center channel kept cutting in & out. after numerous test my conclusion was the center amp section of the AVR500. now, i have a good reason to get what i really wanted for a long time-
seperate amp/equal power to all 5 channels.
so my shortcoming is the high cost of living in paradise and no money left to play with decent toys.

The OM9 are nice speakers. I suggest if you are willing to go for the 1095 (200WX5) then go for it. If not, you may want to spend your money on a 2 or 3 channel 200WPC amp to drive the front speakers and let the Integra take care of the surrounds. This way you can at least enjoy your music listening without second guessing whether the 1075's 120W can do justice to those 6 ohms OM9 speakers.

I don't understand why many people promote the idea of having equal power for all 5 or 7 channels. As far as I know, even multi channel SACD, DVD-A etc. do not have much going on at the surround channels that justify having the same power to just standby and never get used.

 

[pr50]

The OM9 are nice speakers. I suggest if you are willing to go for the 1095 (200WX5) then go for it. If not, you may want to spend your money on a 2 or 3 channel 200WPC amp to drive the front speakers and let the Integra take care of the surrounds. This way you can at least enjoy your music listening without second guessing whether the 1075's 120W can doing justice to those 6 ohms OM9 speakers.

I don't understand why many people promote the idea of having equal power for all 5 or 7 channels. As far as I know, even multi channel SACD, DVD-A etc. do not have much going on at the surround channels that justify having the same power to just standby and never get used.

that was a thought. however, i don't have that kind of space on my TV stand.
replace the onkyo amp with a 5 channel amp would be the most functional.
yeah, the 1095 is a beautiful option.

 

[mtrycrafts]

my receiver is HKAVR500 which is driving my center & surrounds. onkyo integra m-504 amp is driving the fronts. recently the center channel kept cutting in & out. after numerous test my conclusion was the center amp section of the AVR500. now, i have a good reason to get what i really wanted for a long time-
seperate amp/equal power to all 5 channels.
so my shortcoming is the high cost of living in paradise and no money left to play with decent toys.

If that is the way, have you considered the Behringer A500, either bridged or not, very reasonable. With those 8 ohms, bridged, will drive them to destruction But, you need some space. At about $200 each, it is most affordable.