RB-1090 overkilling Klipsh RF-7's?

[Kevin Allan]

In reference to Kathy Mason's review, in which a RB-1090 (385watts) is running a pair of Klipsch RF-7's (200watts), there was some discussion as to wether this was overkill, or as Kathy said, was nice to have the "overhead" to run the speakers.

My question would be is this,by wattage ratings, is this overkill of unuseable power, or good way to go if money is no object?

I am now convinced that a two channel amp is the way to go, and the speakers I will go with are rated at 200watts (B&W 703's or the RF-7's).
The amp would likely be the RB1080 (200/side). The use of the 1090 in Kathy's review is intriging. Anyone have an opinion to share?

Kevin

[Elvis]

If money is not the concern I'd go 1090,this amp will have more everything we all want,massive power is never overkill if you got the beans,even for 7's.

[DrJRapp]

I'm not sure that a blanket statement saying that massive power is never overkill is necessarily valid. A lot depends on the amp. Oftimes a large amp is excellent handling dynamics, but at the cost of inner detail and delicacy. One of the reasons I chose an RB 1080 to power my RF 7s is the fact that the 1080 is known for it's detail and delicacy in spite of it's heavy power delivery capability. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but the 1080 when properly biased runs class A all the way up to about 18 wpc. This takes in MOST of the normal operating range of the RF7. I don't know if this is necessarily true of the 1090.

[Kevin97225]

The reviews on the RB-1090 state that Rotel got the 1watt right with the advantages of the lower watt amps. Test show that the RB-1090 have all the advantages of lower power watt amps but with the added advantages of a higher power watt amp. Rotel did their home work well with this model. The RB-1080 is a fine amp, however it's a shared transformer stereo where the RB-1090 is separate mono design. Some people here who have gone from the RB-1080 to the RB-1090 have listed out what nice differences the RB-1090 added for them. I compared the RB-1080 and the RB-1090 and came to the conclusion that I wanted to go ahead and pay the extra for the advantage the RB-1090 gave me, but others may feel differently or what their budget permits, both are very good. On another note, I do run the Rotel RB-1090 with my two sets of Klipsch RF-7 speakers and I'm still in awe every time I hear them. I have two RB-1090, that's how much I like them, even among some of the best amps I compared it with for many more times the cost of what the RB-1090 cost, a real steal for it's performance and audio quality! If anyone is interested in the RB-1090 and thinking about getting one, you better hurry and do so before Rotel stops making it, I hear they won't be making it much longer or until supply has sold out. They will make the RB-1080 for a while longer.

No, the RB-1090 is not an over-kill for the RF-7!!

[Elvis]

I guess you're "technically"right Jerry,the 1090 could be overkill for $19.99 klh from best buy,I stand corrected.

[soundhound]

Makes sense to me, like the guy driving the F350 4x4 super duty, Big Block gas engine, to haul his golf clubs

[Kevin97225]

The power handling on the Klipsch RF-7 are:

POWER HANDLING:
250 w max continuous (1000 w peak)

Info on the Klipsch RF-7 can be found here:

http://www.klipsch.com/product/product.aspx?cid=362

Info on the Rotel RB-1090 can be found here:

http://www.rotel.com/products/specs/rb1090.htm

[Dmantis]

The Klipsch speakers are very high in db rating and I know them well as I used to Install them. Klipsch doesn't need all that power. I believe it's overkill. The rb1070 and rb1080 should be more then plenty of power if the sound quality is there for what your system is.

I would try them out and hear what sounds good. The rb1090 is a fantastic amp as I have listened to it many times and left with a huge smile on my face. But that also goes for teh 1070 and 1080.

Dan

[mmpeak]

Gotta Listen to yourself and no one else!

Well, that is why it's always important for one to listen and decide for him/her self. I have the RB-1090 and I don't think it's overkill at all. I heard more detail, separation, dynamics, and sound quality than the RB-1080. You might feel differently. Don't listen to anyone, go out and listen to them both and decide for yourself, it's the only way.

Just because Klipsch is highly efficient doesn't mean that it doesn't benefit from higher wattage, there is a certain sound quality it gives that you just don't get with a less wattage amps. The Klipsch RF-7 is also known to take dips down to 2.8ohms very quickly, this is where the higher wattage is a very good choice because it has the headroom to handle the RF-7's dips. It's well worth it to give this to the RF-7's with the awsome sound the RF-7's give back to you. I've installed many systems and the Klipsch RF-7 is a whole different beast than Klipsch previous products. The RF-7 benefits greatly with the higher watt amps to meet the on the demand dips that is well known with the RF-7. On the Klipsch forums, many think the minimum amp for the RF-7 is 200watts per channel for Solid State, and much lower watt for tubes.
So yes, the RB-1080 will work just fine, but if you want Dual Mono Design the RB-1090 is the way to go.

Listen and decided for yourself, the only real answer! No one else can answer that but you! :T :B :W Good Luck.

[Kevin Allan]

Thanks everyone!

I have lots of input now and will undertake the listening of these above combos.

Kevin