Amp for HTM2?

[hired goon]

G'day,

The consensus seems to be that a decent (around 200wpc) amp is required to drive the 805.

But I'm wondering what kind of amp is required to drive the HTM2. It seems (to me) to be an 805 on its side.

Does the HTM2 require similar amplification as the 805?

-- Geoff

[jlee]

HTM2 is indeed an 805 on it's side... same drivers, same crossover... almost the same speaker... the port on 1 side does change things a BIT, but it's essentially an 805.

[hired goon]

HTM2 is indeed an 805 on it's side... same drivers, same crossover... almost the same speaker... the port on 1 side does change things a BIT, but it's essentially an 805.

I've got a Rotel RMB-1075 5x120w amp, but I am now thinking about getting 4 x 805 and a HTM2. So I guess I need at least the Rotel RMB-1095 5x200w amp to power these.

But apparently the front speakers deserve better amps for stereo use, so I should use something like the Rotel RB-1080 2x200w amps for the fronts. So that's a 1095 5x200w and a 1080 2x200w at minimum, or 3 x 1080 2x200w, to run the whole thing.

Sigh.

-- Geoff

[jlee]

4 805 and an HTM2 will be $5000. I think the 1095 at $2000 would be a good match both performance wise and price wise with the speaker setup. I would not bother with the 1080 for just the fronts. The 1095 is very close to the 1080 in 2 channel.

I recently contemplated getting 3 1080's to replace my 1095, but found the differences a wash... the 1095 did some things better, the 1080 did other things better, but the only significant gain came by going with the 380W 1090... so in the end, I ended up going with Classe CAM-200's for the front and center and a 1080 in the rear.

1095 at $2000 is a great value... it's like getting 2.5 1080's for the price of 2.

[weijst]

4 805 and an HTM2 will be $5000. I think the 1095 at $2000 would be a good match both performance wise and price wise with the speaker setup

Are you guys lucky or what! Back here in the Netherlands, we have to come up with app. $6360 for 4 805s and a HTM2 and app. $3600 for a RMB-1095... :M

[hired goon]

Are you guys lucky or what! Back here in the Netherlands, we have to come up with app. $6360 for 4 805s and a HTM2 and app. $3600 for a RMB-1095... :M

Actually, here in Australia, the list price of the 805s are $4500, and the HTM2 is $2700, so that's $11,700 in total for 4x 805 + HTM2.

But an RMB-1095 is about AUD$3600. So our amps are relatively cheap, compared to B&W speakers.

-- Geoff

[hired goon]

I recently contemplated getting 3 1080's to replace my 1095, but found the differences a wash... the 1095 did some things better, the 1080 did other things better, but the only significant gain came by going with the 380W 1090

I'd be interested in hearing which aspects were better for the 1095 vs the 1080. I was talking to my Rotel dealer today about the 1095 vs 1080. I can get the 1095+1080 (or 7x200w) for the same price as 3 x 1080 (or 6x200w).

I'm currently thinking about getting the B&W 804 and HTM1. The HTM1 seems to be an 804 on its side, and I'd like the fronts and centre to be sonically matched. I'm assuming that 2 x 1080 would drive these speakers better than a 1095 for the centre and a 1080 for the fronts, right?

-- Geoff

[jlee]

1. The HTM1 is like an 804 on it's side from a driver perspective but because it's closed box, has 50W more power handling. I suspect the reason is because with a closed box design, it takes more force to move the bass drivers back and forth, and therefore it can "handle" more power before it moves too far and blows up or distorts. It is also 1dB more efficient, something I cannot explain (anybody care to jump in and explain how a speaker with the same drivers but with different layout can be more efficient than another?)

2. If you're going 5.1, just get the 1095... if you're going 6.1 then the 3 1080's are a nobrainer. 7.1, then 1095 + 1080 is no brainer as well. You may even opt to go 1090 and 2 1080's or 1095 + 1090.

3. Ok, here are the main differences:
A) 1095 in 2 channel has more power... therefore, you can play a BIT louder without distortion. Dynamics is also a bit better due to the higher headroom. Try Dire Straights Private Investigations... when the drum hits suddenly near the end of the song, it will be reproduced at the proper loudness (ie. a lot louder) relative to the other instruments. With the 1080, the drums will sound louder than the other instruments, but not as much louder as they should. As you go down in quality (say the 1070), this affect is even more pronounced.

The 1095 when hooked up properly, you can connect the channels so that each channel draws from it's own transformer. The 2 channels of the 1080 have only 1 transformer.

This is 1 area I can tell the difference relatively easily, even blindfolded.

B) 1080 seems to be a BIT more refined in the highs, but only the 1090 made an obvious improvement with more crisp and detailed treble. 1090 also had a slightly smoother midrange and lower noise floor. With a blindfold on, I can tell if the 1090 is playing... with the 1080 and 1095, it would take careful A/B comparisons, which is why I think it's pretty much a wash.
C) Noise was about the same... as the specs would seem to indicate.
D) The midrange seemed a bit DIFFERENT, but I could not say for sure if one sounded better than the other, which is why I said it was a wash. I THOUGHT the 1095 had a bit more bite/attack with strings, but I didn't do enough A/B'ing to be sure... which is why I said once again it's pretty even.

Bottom line: If I was getting a 5 channel system and wanted good 2 channel performance, I would not hesitate to get a 1095 only... If I had a 1075, then I think the 1080 is worthwhile for the improved 2 channel performance.

1080 about equal to 1095 for 2 channel
1080 better than 1075 for 2 channel
only 1090 is significantly better than 1080 and 1095 in 2 channel

Cheers.

[hired goon]

G'day,

If you're going 5.1, just get the 1095... if you're going 6.1 then the 3 1080's are a nobrainer. 7.1, then 1095 + 1080 is no brainer as well. You may even opt to go 1090 and 2 1080's or 1095 + 1090

Thanks for the detailed information.

I'm only interested in 5.1 at this stage, so I'll upgrade my 1075 to a 1095. I'll pick up a 1080 a bit later (although the 1080's are such a sweet deal at the moment, and it seems a shame to pass on them).

-- Geoff

[weijst]

....although the 1080's are such a sweet deal at the moment, and it seems a shame to pass on them...

Maybe I misunderstood, has something been announced...? Please explain...

[hired goon]

Maybe I misunderstood, has something been announced...? Please explain...

One of the local dealers is having a sale and has reduced the price of his old stock of 1080s.

Also, the retail price of new 1080s in Australia has just increased by $100 because of exchange rate fluctuations (other Rotel products have also increased lately).

So now is the time to jump in and get a 1080, but I'm not really ready for one yet.

-- Geoff

[hired goon]

The 1095 when hooked up properly, you can connect the channels so that each channel draws from it's own transformer.

I overlooked this point before, but some further detail here would be most welcome. What do you mean by "hooked up properly"?

[we should probably move this discussion to Club Rotel]

-- Geoff

[jlee]

There was a thread in the forum about connecting the left front to the left surround and the right front as normal ... essentially switching one of the fronts with surrounds... so that when playing in straight 2 channel, each channel gets it's own transformer.