How do I know my amp is doing everything it's supposed to?

drummer86
drummer86 Posts: 441
edited October 2013 in Electronics
This may sound like an odd question. I purchased my Rotel RB-990 used a while back and have never felt anything was missing. However, my curiosity has me wondering if this 15+ year old amp is doing everything it's supposed to. I love the way it images with my Totems, has what seems to be plenty of power for those little speakers. I'll admit I was expecting slightly better dynamics at lower volumes but nothing to sneeze about there.

Without going through and replacing a bunch of guts are there any easy ways for me to know if I'm getting everything that's on the spec sheet? Any telltale signs that something hasn't aged very well? I know that when I replaced a few caps inside one of my Marantz MA-500s that the bass was a bit better and the sound a tad cleaner overall. Might this be the case with the Rotel?
Display: LG 47" LCD | AVR: Marantz SR5005 | BD: Panasonic BDT-210 | CD/SACD: Oppo 980 |
Amps: Rotel RB-990bx | Marantz MA-500 | Speakers: Totem Mite : Totem Mite-C : RC60i | Sub: HSU VTF-2 MKIV

HK AVR635 | Polk R30 | Sony DVD/SACD Player
Post edited by drummer86 on
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Comments

  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,567
    edited October 2013
    That is an unimpressive amp, IMO. Even worse when bridged.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • drummer86
    drummer86 Posts: 441
    edited October 2013
    F1nut wrote: »
    That is an unimpressive amp, IMO. Even worse when bridged.

    Ouch. Anything in its value range ($200-300) that is "less unimpressive" in your opinion?
    Display: LG 47" LCD | AVR: Marantz SR5005 | BD: Panasonic BDT-210 | CD/SACD: Oppo 980 |
    Amps: Rotel RB-990bx | Marantz MA-500 | Speakers: Totem Mite : Totem Mite-C : RC60i | Sub: HSU VTF-2 MKIV

    HK AVR635 | Polk R30 | Sony DVD/SACD Player
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,567
    edited October 2013
    Sorry, just calling like I heard it. I had 2 of them in my shop rig for a very short time.

    Nothing comes to mind.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited October 2013
    drummer86 wrote: »
    Ouch. Anything in its value range ($200-300) that is "less unimpressive" in your opinion?

    I have an AMC CVT-2100as (hybrid tube amp) that would best the Rotel. The retail is $1,200 but I would sell for much less if you are interested (above the top end of your amounts listed though, but not by too much). The amp is like new and has less than 75 hours on it. PM me if interested.
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited October 2013
    Look for a used B&k...won't find a better used amp in that price range. Some can be had for 300 bones but normally 4-5 is the average for a 2 channel.

    I'm still rocking my Butler 2250, a hybrid tube/ss amp. It isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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