Opinions on sound quality between Rotel RB-1080 and RB-1070?

[jam200]

Hello all,

Any thoughts on sound quality differences between a Rotel RB-1080 and a RB-1070?

I will use the amp to drive a pair of B&W 703s.

[bigburner]

Hi jam200,

I'm an RB-1080 owner, but as I've never listened to an RB-1070 I can't comment on sound quality differences.

However, if you occasionally listen to music at high volume then I would recommend the 1080 because of the extra headroom that the 1080 provides. It will lessen the possibility of your 703s clipping, particularly on bass-heavy tracks.

Nigel.

[ray5]

Hi jam200,

I'm an RB-1080 owner, but as I've never listened to an RB-1070 I can't comment on sound quality differences.

However, if you occasionally listen to music at high volume then I would recommend the 1080 because of the extra headroom that the 1080 provides. It will lessen the possibility of your 703s clipping, particularly on bass-heavy tracks.

Nigel.

WHat does clipping mean?

[DrJRapp]

First off, let me say that an amp clips not a speaker. An amp clips when it is unable to deliver the amount of current that the speaker demands at a given voltage input. In lay terms that means "isn't powerful enough".

The term is called clipping since the tops and bottoms of the sine waves being generated appear to be clipped off ( flattened) when viewed on an osciliscope.

Clipping causes a speakers voice coil to become hot and it may eventually burn out after being exposed to extensive "clipping". This is why we say that a smaller amp may do more harm to a speaker than one that is rated beyond the speakers power rating.

In most cases clipping distorts the sound terribly so it becomes very obvious what is happening. If clipping is only momentary nothing may be heard. One can hear an amp that is approaching "clipping" because the sound becomes compressed.

Many people prefer the sound of tube amps because they clip more gracefully than SS amps...it is less audible.

Finally let me say...after having owned both that the 1070 is a very good amp, however, the 1080 is something special reaching well above the rest of the Rotel line in sound quality.

[Jovl]

Any thoughts on sound quality differences between a Rotel RB-1080 and a RB-1070?

I have owned the rb1070 and rb1090 ...................
Good (rb1070), better (rb1080) , best (rb1090)

Greeting Jovl

[jam200]

Thanks for the comments. Most appreciated.
JAM