help me choose amplifier solved

**Kevin D** · 21 January 2008, 19:26 Monday

Throw the paper away. Just looking at specs is getting you in trouble.

Bridging an amp does provide more wattage, but it also increases distortion. Plus you're using a amp designed for multi-room audio for theater speakers. It's really not going to have the current to drive your speakers.

The RB-1080 would be a night and day difference over the 976. The 1077 should perform equally as well. The digital amp technology might be spec'ed at a lower wattage, but the amount of control it has over any speaker (especially in the bass region) more then makes up for it. I replaced a RMB-1095 with a RMB-1077 and haven't looked back.

The new digital amps are cheaper per channel. You might be able to get a RMB-1085 and an RB-1072 cheaper then a 1077.

Kevin D.

**asimov66** · 22 January 2008, 05:20 Tuesday

Thank you for the answer.
It helped me to make a hard call.
Im going with the 1080 now and a 1077 later when it is time to retire the 976.

Now i have to figureout if there is any way to see if the upgrade has been made to the 1080 so i get the 8 fuse.

But all new 1080s should have this right?
Any way of checking if the upgrade is made?

**PewterTA** · 22 January 2008, 08:37 Tuesday

Yes all new 1080s have the upgrades to them. Mine is over 2 years old now and it had the upgrade on it when I bought it brand new. You won't have any problems. I've been using the trigger the entire time with it too and never had a single problem.

**asimov66** · 22 January 2008, 08:39 Tuesday

sweet, a new 1080 it is then

Thanks for the help.

**wkhanna** · 22 January 2008, 19:53 Tuesday

The 1080 is a 'good' amp with 'good' power and 'good' sound at a very 'good' price.
You will be very happy with it, I think. :T

**asimov66** · 23 January 2008, 03:19 Wednesday

The order is going this weeend. Can't wait for it.

**asimov66** · 30 January 2008, 04:46 Wednesday

The rotel 1080 arrived yesterday and it drives my speakers with ease.
Now it's time to start playing it in.
I think about a 300 hours before everything is well burned in.

**PewterTA** · 30 January 2008, 15:56 Wednesday

Yep and do yourself a favor and just listen to music the entire time... there's no 'real' need to play it while your at work to help speed up the process. Just enjoy.

Though I did find that with both my 1095 and 1080 after about 200 hours on mine they sounded good. Both didn't really open up until after that amount of time and one day I decided to crank it up pretty loud (talking close to what I could stand loud wise). I only did that for maybe 20 seconds max, but afterwards the amps sound much better I thought. It took me a day or so to really realize any difference, but it was definitely there.

**asimov66** · 30 January 2008, 17:17 Wednesday

I've played it for 2 straight days. Im lucky so i worked at home. I remember how great difference the 976 sounded when I got it. It was cold in the tweeter and cold and numb in the bass region. After a few days it opened up and WOW, what a difference.

Even now I am happy with the rotels sound so I can hardly wait for the burn in time to be completed. I figured about 300 Hours. Seems I was not so wrong off.

It is an amazing machine. So alive and kicking. But it puts out quite alot of heat (i've read the threads so its normal i know) at first I was worried. The 976 never was more than lukewarm. The 1080 is about 40 degrees celcius warm at the wents. Must be about 55 celsius at the cooling flanges. Its quite normal.

Here I am mumbling, but to the point.

PewterTA: im playing music all the time since I got the 1080. I went straight down to the record shop and bought 12 records just for the fun of it.

Regards

//Asimov66

**Aussie Geoff** · 30 January 2008, 17:30 Wednesday

Hey,

Great choice. One of my all time fravourite musical amps... You need to spend a lot more to beat it. And most of all, enjoy that music, because that is what it is for!

Geoff

**asimov66** · 30 January 2008, 17:50 Wednesday

All I can say is that i I am totally happy with this choice.
I've wanted one since 2002 and now many years later I have one.
And of course Black on color.
And on a separate place besides the other gear so plenty of air will pass it and so I can look at it cleary from the sofa from the sweetspot...

**Hi-5** · 30 January 2008, 18:20 Wednesday

hi , asimov66. what pre amp you use for the RB-1080? i have ordered 1080 too, but not here yet. but, i am going to use it to drive my cheap BW685. i suspect that they waste my 1080.

i know there is a warm up time. but what is the life time of an amp(i mean it still works within its spec)?

**crowland** · 30 January 2008, 22:35 Wednesday

That's interesting that your amp runs on the warm side. I am using a 1095 with a Yamaha receiver as a pre and the Yamaha runs way hotter than the amp even thought it's not driving any speakers. Can anyone tell me if this is normal?

**Hi-5** · 30 January 2008, 22:48 Wednesday

crowland, i think your Yamaha receiver is class A/B (most are), and this kind of amp waste power, because the transistors in the amp are biased such that they are half "on" when the amp is idling (this is the point at which the semiconductor devices are most linear in behavior). As a result of being half on at idle, a lot of power is dissipated in the devices even when the amp has no music playing!
correct me guys if i am wrong.

**chrispy35** · 31 January 2008, 02:11 Thursday

I don't think that could be the reason as the 1095 is also class A/B.

What other reasons there could be for the Yamaha to run hotter than the 1095 while both are idling?
- could the line-level portions be generating the heat (esp. DSPs)?
- higher heat coupling to the case top in the Yamaha vs. the 1095...is the 1095 hotter than the Yamaha on the sides?
- ???

Chris P.

**mike c** · 31 January 2008, 04:05 Thursday

Originally posted by crowland

That's interesting that your amp runs on the warm side. I am using a 1095 with a Yamaha receiver as a pre and the Yamaha runs way hotter than the amp even thought it's not driving any speakers. Can anyone tell me if this is normal?

thats normal. make sure there's space all around your receiver to prevent your yamaha receiver from overheating.

i personally use PC fans on top of my receivers ... use an AC to 12v DC adapter (similar to the ones used by your wireless phones) and splice that to the 12v PC fans and plug it into the receiver's switched outlet.

**crowland** · 31 January 2008, 21:15 Thursday

That’s a good idea mike c.; I also love the avitar. Looks like a happy kid

In addition to providing more space I am thinking that I might try one fan to the receiver and other one to the dish network HD DVR cable box which also runs pretty hot. My cab is diy and could probably use better ventilation. While I don’t think that the components are critically hot, it just kind of struck me as odd that the 1095 was so much cooler. It could be a testament to the Rotel quality (must get more).

ANy ways, sorry to hijack someone else’s thread and thanks for all the input.

**asimov66** · 01 February 2008, 03:59 Friday

Hi-5: I use a Densen B-200 preamp to my Rotel RB 1080. Is is a lovely match.
Paired with Acoustic Energy AElite 3 speakers.
Interconnects are Supra EFF-ISL.

For pictures goto:
http://www.minhembio.com/asimov66

(I haven't put the 1080 in the pictures yet, too busy playing music instead)

**asimov66** · 01 February 2008, 04:04 Friday

By the way, I was conserned of the heat too but the 1080 is to be class A up to 10-15 watts then class AB also the break in time it is said to be quite hot before stabilizing itself.

So im chilling out for 14 days or so to let time take its told.

**asimov66** · 01 February 2008, 05:47 Friday

I thought I could offer you a result picture since I've gotten help.

Here it is my 1080:

The rest of the pictures will be posted in "Pictures of my Rotel setup"

**wkhanna** · 02 February 2008, 08:50 Saturday

Very Nice, I am especially envious of that P25 with the Benz!

Are those true acoustic panels next to your main speakers?

**asimov66** · 02 February 2008, 11:25 Saturday

Thank you, yes the panels are next to my main speakers.
I had a proffesional acoustic measurement done last week and today I changed the acoustic panels in the other end of the room. It sounds completely different but really good. Now I can crank up the rotel gear without the "boomy" bass..
The Rega and Benz is a match made in heaven.

help me choose amplifier solved