Got the Studios, now what.

[DelRay]

OK, I have really been doing my homework in the last few months. Listening and Reading about different speakers. Sorting out the ones I like from the others. Well I pulled the trigger on a pair of used Revel Ultima Studios.I wanted something that wouldn't overpower my 14X19X7.5 room. Although they will be used for HT purposes the main reason I'm getting them is 2 channel. Along with the Studios I got the Voice center and a pair of the Embraces. The center was important because timbre matching the front soundstage is a must.

With 87 db sensitivity my Rotel RB1070 isn't going to be able to do the Studios justice. I thought about using it to bi-amp the center. Was hoping to get some good advice on a good new/used 2 channel amp in the $2500 range that would work good with the fronts. I'm going to need a 2 channel pre and a source also, but one thing at a time. I'v had my Polks for about 6 years, and I am hoping to get that WOW factor when I hook up the Revels. Will I?

[Dmantis]

First off congrads on the new speakers. Revel makes some very nice speakers and I personally like em myself..

By your post I'm not 100% clear if you want to do home theater, 2 channel or both so I 'll give you some advise.

Home theater use.... With those speakers and your budget finding a nice B&K rev50 S2 and a Reference 200.5 or 7 if you want to go 7.1 would work well. You could also go with the ref200.5 and a ref200.2 which the 200.2 would power your fronts for when you want to just listen to 2 channel. This would give you the sorta best of both worlds. Also look into Rotel RSp1098 preamp and a rmb1095 5 channel amp. Add a rb1080 for more power for the fronts for 2 channel. They also have a rb1090 which is an awesome 2 channel amp but in my experience it also adds certain dynamic range to the mains in home theater mode that the rmb1095 will not keep up with. I can go into that further if you have questions on what that means.

For 2 channel only use I suggest looking into Krell Intergraded amps. they sound great , have plenty of power and are not overly expensive used. There is also Mark Levinston which used isn't that bad but they make a killer intergraded amp, I think it's called the 595 or something I forget off hand but it's killer. I used to install it alot when I worked for a company who carried Mark Levinston.

Good luck with your speakers, I think the rb1070 is a great amp but with those speakers getting more juice is a good idea. Not for louder but for clearer effortless sound at all volumes.

Dan

[DelRay]

Thanks Dan. I will be integrating the Ultima's into my HT. But they will also be used for 2 channel purposes. That's why I want a 2 channel pre with a HT bypass. I can use the Rotel 1070 bi-amped for the Voice center which should do the job. My rotel 1075 will be running a pair of Embraces and a pair of S30's. If I can get away with a 200wpc power amp for the Studios, that would be nice. There is alot of good amps in that power range. BTW, My speaker will be here tomorrow. :B

[Dmantis]

Cool man lets hear about it when you get them all hooked up.

[krellfan]

I have a similar Revel setup with Studios, Voice, two pairs of Embrace and B15 sub. I drive the front three channels with three Krell FPB 350MCX monoblocks. The two pairs of Embraces are driven with A Proceed Amp 5.

A few people have told me that Pass amps match well with the Studios.
I will be borrowing a friend's Pass lab amp to try in a few weeks and see how it compares tot he Krell. There are a few used Pass Labs X250 and X250.5 on Audiogon that are selling at very attaractive prices at $2000 to $3300.

I have the Pass Labs X1 preamp and it's a great unit.

[DelRay]

I would like to hear your thoughts on the Pass Labs. The X250 seems to be a pretty good amp. Should have plenty of power for the Studio's. After listening to them for a couple of weeks I have come to the conclusion that they do need more power than the RB1070 can put out. And the louder I play them the better they sound. I'm not used to speakers that sound better when pushed. My Polks would start to give out when they were really being driven. Man, I have some major upgraditis going on right now. :B

[Dmantis]

I would like to hear your thoughts on the Pass Labs. The X250 seems to be a pretty good amp. Should have plenty of power for the Studio's. After listening to them for a couple of weeks I have come to the conclusion that they do need more power than the RB1070 can put out. And the louder I play them the better they sound. I'm not used to speakers that sound better when pushed. My Polks would start to give out when they were really being driven. Man, I have some major upgraditis going on right now. :B

Polk LSi series like more power. The Rti series get harsh when played to loud. I used to own the Lsi 15's along with the entire HT package. Killer nice speakers .