Rotel Amp overkill for speakers?

[N2siast]

Wondering if powering the B&W 685 speakers with the Rotel RMB-1077 Amp is overkill?

[hifiguymi]

Not at all! You would be amazed at what a speaker like the 685 will do with an amp like that.

Eric

[alive&amplified]

That is a great combination. Go for it. :T

[wettou]

Wondering if powering the B&W 685 speakers with the Rotel RMB-1077 Amp is overkill?

If you are think of upgrading later I would go for Classé CA-2100

[Nolan B]

If you are think of upgrading later I would go for Classé CA-2100

The OP is considering a 7 channel amp and you recomend a 2 channel amp? :huh:

[joetama]

IMO you really can't go too overkill with an amplifier. (Can if you are going to put a couple of 2kw monoblocks on a 10 Watt Speaker but anyway.)

[cug]

IMO you really can't go too overkill with an amplifier. (Can if you are going to put a couple of 2kw monoblocks on a 10 Watt Speaker but anyway.)

IMHO: Amplifiers are the most over-estimated component in the whole chain ...

[mjb]

IMHO: Amplifiers are the most over-estimated component in the whole chain ...

Agreed.

To the original poster, the 1077 should sound great with b&w 685's.

[joetama]

IMHO: Amplifiers are the most over-estimated component in the whole chain ...

I guess that is where opinion differs.

I've always been of the opinion that it might not make a HUGE difference. But, the amplifier does make a difference, in my opinion of course. :T

[cug]

I guess that is where opinion differs.

I've always been of the opinion that it might not make a HUGE difference. But, the amplifier does make a difference, in my opinion of course. :T

As different amplifiers have different frequency response behaviour and different impedance behaviour and different power resources, they sure make a difference. But this difference is normally so small that you won't notice it without doing direct AB/X. And even then the results are often challenging.

Most people can't hear a difference between a 50W Denon integrated and a 600W Electrocompaniet Nemo as long as the Denon is not in clipping. And even hearing a difference is far away from deciding which one is actually "better sounding" as this is totally a matter of taste.

So, it is still my opinion (and always was): as long as your amplifier is electrically sufficient for your speakers and listening levels, AND it has a frequency response within the "normal" for up-to-date solid state amplifiers, you can't go really wrong with any amp.

The most challenging might be the "electrically sufficient" part if you want to drive some crazy JBL arrays or 802D, but for most speakers, there is no issue at all. And no, B&W are normally NOT hard to drive - with some exceptions. That's only the audiophile excuse to buy more expensive gear.