I have to send my carver TFM55 out for service..so I need an interim OR an upgrade amp, I think there was a real synergy going on with the Carver and the Logans, I am looking at an Anthem MCA 20 or the Rotel RB 1080 or Rotel RB1090, all around the same $$, the only one that is close to output power of the carver is the RB1090, but would any of these really be an "upgrade" or pretty much just a useless lateral move? I would consider used but I prefer to remain tuneless as short as possible
Amp Decisions...
- Thread starter wrat
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Horchem1972
Well-known member
Try Sunfire
Why not try a used Sunfire?You will notice a vast improvement over the Carver line.I now use the Sunfire line but still have a trusty Carver AV-705X that I use for center and subs.It will be in use untill I can find another great deal on a used Sunfire.If you were in Illinois,I would swing by and hook one up for you to listen.Hopefully someone close to you will offer the same option.:rocker:
Why not try a used Sunfire?You will notice a vast improvement over the Carver line.I now use the Sunfire line but still have a trusty Carver AV-705X that I use for center and subs.It will be in use untill I can find another great deal on a used Sunfire.If you were in Illinois,I would swing by and hook one up for you to listen.Hopefully someone close to you will offer the same option.:rocker:
amey01
Well-known member
What 'Logans have you got? I wouldn't touch a 1080, but I've heard many good reports about the 1090 (although I've not experienced it).
I'd go for something used and higher-end.
I'd go for something used and higher-end.
I have the Vantage...and if I were to go used I will have to wait till something comes along hence being tuneless not cool
I have owned the Rotel 1075 and 1080. I sold both and moved on to the Sunfire Cinema Grand (200W x 5 channels). I loved how the current source of the Sunfire sounded on the panels but the slam of the Rotel (and voltage source of the Sunfire). The cool thing about Sunfire is that they have current and voltage sources so you can mess around with what sound you like. I ended up passively bi-amping using the current source for the panels and the rear channel voltage source for the woofer. That combination blew anything I heard from Rotel out of the water. I would recommend looking at audiogon because the used market is pretty fair right now.
Sunfire 2 channel 300W - $700 to $800
Rotel 1080 - $600 to $800
Rotel 1090 - $1200 to $1500
Sunfire 5 channel (I used to bi-amp) - $900 to $1000
I would take Sunfire's 300W over Rotel's 380W (for quite a lower price) anyday. Good power amplifiers are really designed to handle the impedance swings of ESLs to deliver loads of current when needed. Look for something that doubles the wattage as the impedance halves and you will most likely have a pretty solid amplifier.
Sunfire 2 channel 300W - $700 to $800
Rotel 1080 - $600 to $800
Rotel 1090 - $1200 to $1500
Sunfire 5 channel (I used to bi-amp) - $900 to $1000
I would take Sunfire's 300W over Rotel's 380W (for quite a lower price) anyday. Good power amplifiers are really designed to handle the impedance swings of ESLs to deliver loads of current when needed. Look for something that doubles the wattage as the impedance halves and you will most likely have a pretty solid amplifier.
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I directly compared a sunfire sig grand to a rotel.... the sunfire was much better - the comparison was with paradigm studio 100s ... I own a sunfire - but I have also heard the rotel w/ML ascents and it sounded very nice.
Welllllll
As I was ampless hence tuneless and devoid of any multimedia functions in our living room I had to get an amp, It needed to be local,returnable and not to state the obvious it needed to sound good.
Round One Rotel RB1080
Impressions on first unboxing its reasonably heavy and looks decent (as in better than say an adcom).
Hook it up run some white noise for about an hour or so than run some Guns N Roses thru it for about a 1/2 hour.
I sit down to listen and about had to cry, what the hell happened it was just not good at all, my wife said it best when she came home from work she walked in and said "what the hell happened it sounds like SH*T". The mids were congested, the highs grainy, the low end was boomy and ill defined, bah humbug how can this be I gave it the benefit of the doubt. Left it on all evening, although with no desire to turn it up any louder than below background music (whereas usually I am goosing the volume up all night) then I left it on all night and most of the next morning with more white noise. When I checked in again nothing was improved, its boxed up and going back.
Round Two
As I hang out quite a bit over at another forum where there was much talk of "Pro Amps" I decided to try one a Crown xti 1000
First impression its light has no "feet" so I place some cones under it it looks kinda "cool" in an odd sort of way. I basically do the same thing as I did with the Rotel.
Wow the low end is just amazing better than my Carver, hmm the mids are ok not liquid or lush or any "audiophilisms" maybe just accurate? Now the high end seems to be tipped up and/or sharp/etched. Oh well not a keeper either, I think with less revealing speakers I could have maybe lived with it and saved a ton of dough.
Round Three
Anthem MCA20
Unboxing it,it did not seem as heavy as the Rotel, nor did it look as good as either the Crown or the Rotel basically just another black box. Same routine as previous. Hey cool its not offensive.the low end is good, not as good as the crown but good, seems well defined timbre seems right, the mids are nice nothing offensive, I detect no sins of omission or commission, the high end not etched sharp or grainy, yet nicely detailed....... This one warrants further audition and it figures its the most expensive of the three oh well
All listening was done at roughly the same level with the trusty rat shack meter
As I was ampless hence tuneless and devoid of any multimedia functions in our living room I had to get an amp, It needed to be local,returnable and not to state the obvious it needed to sound good.
Round One Rotel RB1080
Impressions on first unboxing its reasonably heavy and looks decent (as in better than say an adcom).
Hook it up run some white noise for about an hour or so than run some Guns N Roses thru it for about a 1/2 hour.
I sit down to listen and about had to cry, what the hell happened it was just not good at all, my wife said it best when she came home from work she walked in and said "what the hell happened it sounds like SH*T". The mids were congested, the highs grainy, the low end was boomy and ill defined, bah humbug how can this be I gave it the benefit of the doubt. Left it on all evening, although with no desire to turn it up any louder than below background music (whereas usually I am goosing the volume up all night) then I left it on all night and most of the next morning with more white noise. When I checked in again nothing was improved, its boxed up and going back.
Round Two
As I hang out quite a bit over at another forum where there was much talk of "Pro Amps" I decided to try one a Crown xti 1000
First impression its light has no "feet" so I place some cones under it it looks kinda "cool" in an odd sort of way. I basically do the same thing as I did with the Rotel.
Wow the low end is just amazing better than my Carver, hmm the mids are ok not liquid or lush or any "audiophilisms" maybe just accurate? Now the high end seems to be tipped up and/or sharp/etched. Oh well not a keeper either, I think with less revealing speakers I could have maybe lived with it and saved a ton of dough.
Round Three
Anthem MCA20
Unboxing it,it did not seem as heavy as the Rotel, nor did it look as good as either the Crown or the Rotel basically just another black box. Same routine as previous. Hey cool its not offensive.the low end is good, not as good as the crown but good, seems well defined timbre seems right, the mids are nice nothing offensive, I detect no sins of omission or commission, the high end not etched sharp or grainy, yet nicely detailed....... This one warrants further audition and it figures its the most expensive of the three oh well
All listening was done at roughly the same level with the trusty rat shack meter
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