Final Choice: SYSTEMS A, G or H ? (placing order very soon)

**babar** · 14 August 2006, 09:08 Monday

Comments on your choice in the poll are welcome

**norpus** · 14 August 2006, 09:42 Monday

Originally posted by babar

Comments on your choice in the poll are welcome

I think you have a typo on the 1075 (the 1077 would get my vote if it were the option)

**Fraise** · 15 August 2006, 17:52 Tuesday

What about system G but with 803D's and a classe preamp instead. I dont think the 5200 is the right amp for 802D's and i dont think any system consisting of 802D's or 803D's should contain any Rotel components.

**WI Rotel** · 15 August 2006, 18:55 Tuesday

Originally posted by Fraise

What about system G but with 803D's and a classe preamp instead. I dont think the 5200 is the right amp for 802D's and i dont think any system consisting of 802D's or 803D's should contain any Rotel components.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

**Fraise** · 16 August 2006, 16:10 Wednesday

Originally posted by WI Rotel

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Thanks for your contribution.

**babar** · 23 August 2006, 13:00 Wednesday

saving some $$

What about the following:

If you have been following this, you are aware I am purchasing the system on store credit. Keeping in mind a desire not to go over the credit I got thinking of the following:

i assume I will be using HT 80%-90% of the time.
therefore classe ssp less useful
classe amps will drive the speakers which was the main problem earlier

Electricals:
Rotel RSP-1098 $2000
Classe CA-3200 $6000

Speakers:
BW 802D $12000
BW HTM2D + Stand $5000

= $24,000

That just about uses up the store creidt and I don't have to fork out $4k.
Also, I can upgrade the system later on with the money saved instead of shelling out right now.
The dealer suggested that I will not see much of a difference in HT between using a Rotel and Classe. Recocmended buying the Classe CDP-300 but that's very expensive and I can probably do without it for now as my video (plasma) is not good enough to take advantage of it.

I have already ordered the speakers

Would really appreciate your help on the above. thanks.

This adds up to

**norpus** · 24 August 2006, 04:20 Thursday

Babar
I voted G before in your poll for 27K, so I guess this is similar at 25K but without the extra 2ch and PS to boot. My reasoning was to have 2 extra quality/identical power channels to be able to passively biamp the 802d at a later stage upgrade, but some others here eg Kal may not agree that is worthy

**sikoniko** · 24 August 2006, 09:07 Thursday

I think you can do better than the rotel 1098 at the same or lower price. It is an older pre and from my friends who have had them, the price doesnt justify the quality.

**babar** · 24 August 2006, 13:14 Thursday

Corpus: What do you mean by PS? I see the change of the CA5200 --> CA3200.

Sikoniki: You probably forgot that my choices lie within Theta Digitas, Classe and Rotel. Therefore please advise within those brands.

Alternatively, I can go with a Subwoofer or surrounds (DS8 or SCM1S or 805's)

OR I can go with System H and drop the amplifier for the rear speakers to make the budget meet for now?

Keep in mind I have the minipods which I plan on currently using for surrounds.

I am really perplexed on this and need to order it by this weekend to make sure everything arrives at the same time...

Can someone please help clear this muddle I find myself in. The dealer told me that I will not benefit from teh Classe much because of the 'musical' quality it has and my preference being for HT and very rarely will I listen to music.

What is confirmed so far is:

802D
HTM2D + Stand
CA-3200

Can go with a CA-5200 but seems too much when I don't have the rears to support it's power...

**sikoniko** · 24 August 2006, 15:30 Thursday

the ssp300 is a surround processor. the ssp600 has the 2 channel pre amp added to the ssp 300 along with balanced connection. I dont see how the ssp300 would be beneficial for music.

I would honestly look into something like the sherwood newcastle p965, or a denon with audessy eq and use it as a preamp over the rotel. either that, or get the 1068, 1057 or whatever the newest flavor is. you dont need the 1098.

**babar** · 25 August 2006, 10:06 Friday

ANY IDEA ON THE PRICING OF THE DENON with AUDESSY EQ?

What is wrong with the 1098?

thanks.

**WI Rotel** · 25 August 2006, 10:14 Friday

Originally posted by babar

ANY IDEA ON THE PRICING OF THE DENON with AUDESSY EQ?

What is wrong with the 1098?

thanks.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the 1098. It lacks HDMI but personally I wouldnt care one little bit. It's without any qualms among the finest HT pre/pros in the market.

**sikoniko** · 25 August 2006, 11:45 Friday

Originally posted by WI Rotel

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the 1098. It lacks HDMI but personally I wouldnt care one little bit. It's without any qualms among the finest HT pre/pros in the market.

your paying for the lcd screen on the 1098. how often are you going to really use it?

The 2807 costs 1099$ and the 3806 costs 1299$ from denon, and both with audessy eq.

the other option is go the nuforce route with their avp16. (www.nuforce.com)

Im not rotel bashing, but everyone I know that had the 1098 (Andrew Pratt, Jimmy P, gostan) all switched out of the 1098 for less money and were happier.

**babar** · 26 August 2006, 07:33 Saturday

The Denon looks nice. However it includes an amplifier. Isn't that a negative for it because of intereference it might generate, lessening the quality of the signal to the CA-3200?

I looked at the top of the line Denon's and can afford buy it, however will the amplifier go to waste if I use the CA-3200 to drive the Nautilus?

I am quite interested in knowing foremorstly if:

1. The Rotel will not the best buy at the price $2k, being a 3 year old model.

2. What among the following should I spend the remaining 3k in store credit on?
i. Nevo SL remote? w/h wifi extender?
ii. SMC1's
iii. 805's
iv. DS8
iv. BW subwoofer

**sikoniko** · 26 August 2006, 10:09 Saturday

Originally posted by babar

The Denon looks nice. However it includes an amplifier. Isn't that a negative for it because of intereference it might generate, lessening the quality of the signal to the CA-3200?

I looked at the top of the line Denon's and can afford buy it, however will the amplifier go to waste if I use the CA-3200 to drive the Nautilus?

I am quite interested in knowing foremorstly if:

1. The Rotel will not the best buy at the price $2k, being a 3 year old model.

2. What among the following should I spend the remaining 3k in store credit on?
i. Nevo SL remote? w/h wifi extender?
ii. SMC1's
iii. 805's
iv. DS8
iv. BW subwoofer

I have not actually heard the denon, but the audessy eq is an awesome feature, and that seems to be the only place to get it. Audessy is supposed to release an external unit to offer audessy like velodyne does with the sms1.

the other alternative would be to get the rotel 1057. I used the 1055 as a preamp for almost a year with an external amp it I had no problems.

I have 2 pairs of SCM1's and highly recommend them. Id imagine the SCMs are just as good, but you can tilt them, as the wall mount is not fixed.

If you want to get the most out of the classe amp, you would get a classe preamp, as they are designed and tuned together. Otherwise, you are going to get tonal characteristics of whatever preamp you go with.

**babar** · 26 August 2006, 11:26 Saturday

Say Rotel everything:
RSP-1098
RB-1092
RMP1095 or 1077
RDV-1092
&
BW 802D
HTM2D
BW 805

The dealer suggests not mixing and matching, either CA-3200 & SSP-300 or the Rotel mentioned above.

I will be using the system for HT 80% of the time. The advantage here is a complete system with surrounds, etc and a DVD player.
It's 1k over but that's with a pre-programmed Nevo.

When I listen to music it's with headphones. The HT room is on the ground floor and my wife and we rarely use that portion of the house. We will move in 2-3 years and want a system to enjoy movies.

This will be my first proper HT and haven't previously had anything as expensive as this. My systems include the minipods with B&K and BW center & sub, B&O basic.

Any thoughts...

**Race Car Driver** · 26 August 2006, 12:32 Saturday

Its been more then 24-48 hours. Place your order already and just enjoy the system.

Why let others decide how your gonna spend the big bucks? Were not gonna be listening to it.

**babar** · 26 August 2006, 23:29 Saturday

I ordered the speakers 802D and HTM2D + Stand. have a little more time to confirm the rest and wanted to run the dealer's comments by on the components.
The advantage is that I wil not have to upgrade or do anything for a while to the system which is nice, + I get a good DVD player as well.
Same time I don't get the classe. Essentially he is saying that because I listen to HT much more I would not be able to see the difference between the 2.

**sikoniko** · 27 August 2006, 08:47 Sunday

my last comment on the subject...

With Rotel, you'll never maximize the capabilities of your 802ds.

**Eliav** · 27 August 2006, 08:51 Sunday

I think you should choose your electronics based on YOUR ears, not on someone's elses. My own experience with classe and rotel ( I have both) is that for HT rotel are fine, however for two channel, there is no comparison, classe to my ears have much more detail and clear sweet sound, rotel sounds more harsh and metalic and definitely lacks detail.

regards
Eliav

**babar** · 27 August 2006, 09:58 Sunday

Thanks for your help so far. I will likely upgrade from the Rotel after 2 years. I have never purchased a component as expensive as the cheapest I am getting, so imagine everything will sound great- let me know your thoughts on whether this assumption carries much weight. I will be spending $20k on the speakers and that is the long term investment which I won’t change for a while.

I am hesitant because Rotel might not be able to run the system and give a harsh sound as many point out. As I am not used to the great sound produced by the Classe, how much will I be missing with Rotel?

**Eliav** · 27 August 2006, 10:11 Sunday

Originally posted by babar

Thanks for your help so far. I will likely upgrade from the Rotel after 2 years. I have never purchased a component as expensive as the cheapest I am getting, so imagine everything will sound great- let me know your thoughts on whether this assumption carries much weight. I will be spending $20k on the speakers and that is the long term investment which I won’t change for a while.

I am hesitant because Rotel might not be able to run the system and give a harsh sound as many point out. As I am not used to the great sound produced by the Classe, how much will I be missing with Rotel?

I guess you will not be missing nothing with rotel, until you actually listen to classe... :W , seriously now, rotel are not bad, they are fine for an entry level , I have had them for a year before upgrading to Classe, though not as refind, the rotel are musical and you will definitely enjoy them. many of us here started at a certain level and took it higher as they could afford. bottom line is that YOU enjoy what you buy be happy with it. "upgraditis bug" will hit you anyhow..... :W
enjoy
Eliav

**Race Car Driver** · 27 August 2006, 11:38 Sunday

It will, save the aggravation and get classe to begin with.

**babar** · 27 August 2006, 22:43 Sunday

Thanks for your help. I think that for my needs being HT largely the Rotels will work because the added advantage of having the surrounds (BW805) makign it a complete system along with a DVD player give the Rotels a price preference.

Even if I were to get the Classe, my input would be an ordinary mass market DVD player and for music MP3's from iTunes would be the weak link in my system. Do you agree on this?

I do really like the Classe and was compeltely sold on it. Nevertheless, in buying the Classe, I will have to purchase the surrounds, amp for rear speakers, dvd player in the future which I do not see myself doing for a while as it is not currently my primary indulgence.

Over the next year I still have to buy a projector and screen with either system. Lastly, there is some value to having a completel HT experience which buying the Rotels would give me.

If I do go with Rotels, will the RB-1095 (200w x 5) and RSP 1098 do the job or should I invest in the RB-1090 (375w x 2) in addition to drive the 802D's?

Thanks for your continued help...

**Eliav** · 28 August 2006, 00:28 Monday

the 1095 can definitelly drive the 802d. the 802d is said to be an easy speaker to drive, that said, the more quality power you put behind it - the better is sings, if Rotel is what you're going with, go with the bigger power amp.
regards
Eliav

**babar** · 29 August 2006, 11:00 Tuesday

how about the denon AVC-A1XVA or lesser model?

Wondering if it can drive the 802d's and how it compares to the Rotel 1098 / 1095 combo. I like the versatility it offers... (would probably pair with a CA3200) and run surrounds with the denon

Any thoughts on the sounds versus the 1098?