Advice for good integrated

[stevo238]

I'm new to the forum today. I started auditioning integrated amps in January of this year. The usual suspects, NAD, Cambridge Audio, Marantz, Jolida, Arcam, and finally Rotel, the RA-1062 to be exact. What I liked about the Rotel was that it had a gutsy, full bodied sound compared to the NAD and CA to start. The Marantz was way to warm, it sounded a little too smooth. I liked the arcam but it wasn't powerful enough. I think the Jolida is the equal of the 1062 but it's a hybrid and more expensive.
I'd be pairing this amp with Monitor Audio's RS1 bookshelf speakers, a very accurate and airy speaker. It's a real sparkler.
My question...finally. I frankly don't want to spend the $699 for the Rotel, but I like it's rather forward sound enough to consider a used Rotel integrated. Do you have any suggestions for one up to 7 years old that might fit the bill. Regards and thanks.

Steve

[gd]

FWIW, my 10-yr old RA-985 still works and sounds great.

The 900-series Rotel integrateds leave little to be desired.

Check Audiogon... more likely than not you'll find a used 1062, among others.

[lovepianos]

I Highly Recommend the Rotel RA-1070... if you can find one

Hi Steve -
I've owned an RA-1070 integrated amp for 3 years, that Rotel unfortunately no longer makes. It's a beefy 100 watts RMS per channel, and the preamp of it is identical to the RC-1090 (not as perfect spec-wise, but close), so it's an awesome unit. It has the toroidal ransformers, and PLENTY of power for an integrated.
I saw one on eBay that got snatched up quickly - you might want to just try a Google search to see if you luck out finding one
- hope this helps.
- Ted..