5 channel HT amp

EndersShadow

So I am looking to consolidate my setup to use a single high powered amp. I dont see myself going 7.1 or even 5.1 + heights anytime soon. So I figured I would sell my current amps and invest in a really really nice 5 channel one. I am not interested in buying multiple amps, just means a bit more of a headache honestly.

My setup consists of LSi 15 fronts, LSiC center and LSi F/X surrounds.

I am wanting this to be an amp that is of a newer vintage so any refresh will be years off, baring some catastrophe. I am looking at used amps, and more of the stuff built in the 2000's to keep my costs low.

The location I would PREFER to locate the amp is about 18 3/8" wide.

I plan on using the whole middle section of my rack (which looks like this) for the amp, and also plan on putting some spacers below it, and nothing above it. I also have the back of that entire section removed for easier cable mounting so it will not be constricted on the top and bottom, but will be on the sides.






My budget is going to be around ~800 - 900.

For now a couple of the models that have intrigued me that I would love some thoughts on are the following:

Rotel RMB-1095

I am aware there is one FS in the flea market, so dont need to post that.

This amp is 300+ wpc @ 4 ohms, has 2 beefy transformers and weighs in at 72lbs.

It also has a 12v trigger which is quite nice so its not on all the time.....


Parasound HCA-2205AT, HCA-2205A, Model 5250

These amps are also beasts, but less wattage than the Rotel. They have a high amperage rating and I have enjoyed the 750a I had as well as the 1200ii.

They run hotter than the other options which could be an issue given my daughter may touch the amp on accident. Dont think hot enough for her to be burned, but its definately not cool to the touch.

No 12v trigger

The ONLY issue that is actually a problem is their size (expect for the 5250), they likely wont fit in the middle section which means I lose a cabinet with a door to house them and I'd prefer to not have that issue.

B&K 7250

This amp is rated for 400 wpc @ 4 ohms and are a bit of a beast. Company went under so not sure how easy repair work is if it were to be required.

Has 12v triggers, and gain knobs as well which I am not a huge fan of, but just set em at the max and be done.

Dont know much more about them than that. Info isnt out there as much on it compared to the Parasounds and Rotel. Runs cooler than the Parasound as well.


Honorable mention goes to:

Emotiva

I am hesitant to go with them mostly because they are going to be a bit outside what I am wanting to spend. I know they have a transferable warranty, but I think I just get a bigger bang for my buck with the models listed above.

Sunfire 200x5

I am hesitant to go with these amps because they are getting a bit long in the tooth, they will likely be above my budget and will be due for a recap in short order. That and there are not nearly as many placed to get that work done that are not going to cost an arm and a leg to ship to have me not sure if I would want to buy one of these.

I know their reputation well, but again these amps normally run for more than my budget in their stock condition.

Adcom:

Just not a fan on the whole, no particular reason except the advice of a couple people whose opinions I value


Would love thoughts on these amps, or other models I should be looking at.

tonyb

5 channel....I'd hit the B&K....easy on the budget, sounds good, nothing proprietary in their amps that others couldn't fix if the case arises. For the coin, hard to do better. Other options exist but at more coinage. Parasound would be my 2nd choice obviously.

Mikey081057

If you are going to go A/B amp in that cab you will need to consider cooling. I have seen 7 channel sunfire amps tga 7401 refurbed for $1800... They are BEASTS for HT @800 wpc and they run cool. you dont have to use all 7 channels.

Nevermind just saw your budget... something that runs cool and is stable at 4 ohms is important.

EndersShadow

Yeah, 1800 is more than double what I have to spend, that simply isnt going to happen.

And w/ the exception of the 2205AT and 2205A the rest will all be in the middle section which is open in the front and the back and has tons of space at the top for air to move.

If I put it in the cabinet I would not put anything above it and again the back is open.

The bottom of each section has 3 slots in it as well for cool air to come in.

And if in a cabinet I would put some 120mm fans to draw air out of the amp and circulate it.

voltz

I have a Adcom 5503, its 200 x3 and that leaves my Nad T-758 to run the back two channels so I don't need a 5 channel amp and I really like this adcom, but its running my RTiA7 setup and I think its perfect! I know several others here using it and I got this from Glendog and I think he loved it too. but I do not have anything to compare it to except my Vincent 2 channel amp. not using it for much music except some Blu-ray concert's.

Mikey081057

Check to see if you have enough working room for an AMP and the cables

mufsoman

Enders - all three of those Parasound amps have a 12v trigger.....

EndersShadow

Mikey081057 wrote: »

Check to see if you have enough working room for an AMP and the cables

Again it's the width not the height that's the problem with the 2205 parasounds.....

I have like 24" of height and the Rotel, Parasound 5250 and B&K will all fit in the middle w room to spare as they are 17" amps like the 5 channel Carver I am using now. Those also have similar depth so that's not an issue either.

Their weight will require me to put some 2x4 under that shelf so it doesn't sag but otherwise they will work fine w more than enough airflow.

It's only the 2205AT and 2205A that would be an issue and those are not my top picks right now.

EndersShadow

mufsoman wrote: »

Enders - all three of those Parasound amps have a 12v trigger.....

Weird I didn't see them in the pics but I also just briefly glanced at them.

WLDock

Have you seen these posts? Would love to pick up that ATI myself.

ATI AT1505 - http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/ele/4628749441.html
http://www.wwsp.com/ati/stereophileguidetohometheater.htm
great pictures in this thread: http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/classifieds-audio-equipment/45898-ati-amplifier-1505-5-channels-mint-condition.html

XPA-5 - http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/ele/4615183726.html

EndersShadow

WLDock wrote: »

Have you seen these posts? Would love to pick up that ATI myself.

ATI AT1505 - http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/ele/4628749441.html
http://www.wwsp.com/ati/stereophileguidetohometheater.htm
great pictures in this thread: http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/classifieds-audio-equipment/45898-ati-amplifier-1505-5-channels-mint-condition.html

XPA-5 - http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/ele/4615183726.html

That ATI looks nice, but I'm looking to buy something with a bit higher wattage rating than its got. The Emotiva is nice and the warranty makes it even nicer, but again I'm thinking of shooting for something a bit higher wattage wise.

However thank you VERY much for posting those. If you stumble across something else feel free to let me know.

polkfarmboy

Those amps are all kinda warm for sparkling HT, bar that other amp that will shatter the wine glasses in the kitchen. Anthem is awesome for movies or late 90's Krell or find an old brute like a proceed. I have a Krell kav 500 for $1200 that I'm getting rid off to make way for my Theta.

mrbiron

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/multi-ch-anthem-mca-5-series-ii-5-channel-amplifier-2014-08-31-amplifiers-95618-el-macero-ca

*cough cough*

EndersShadow

mrbiron wrote: »

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/multi-ch-anthem-mca-5-series-ii-5-channel-amplifier-2014-08-31-amplifiers-95618-el-macero-ca

*cough cough*

Damn sexy, but over 100 over my budget NOT including shipping from CA...

jeremymarcinko

Look for a used Outlaw 7005. 200wpc built by ATI. $1600 new.

EndersShadow

jeremymarcinko wrote: »

Look for a used Outlaw 7005. 200wpc built by ATI. $1600 new.

You mean 7500 right?

http://outlawaudio.com/products/7500.html

Looks decent, thanks for the suggestion. If I stumble across one for the right price I may bite....

Hoping that its a moot point as if my sub and Carver amp sell I can buy the Rotel in the Flea Market here....

jeremymarcinko

EndersShadow wrote: »

jeremymarcinko wrote: »

Look for a used Outlaw 7005. 200wpc built by ATI. $1600 new.

You mean 7500 right?

http://outlawaudio.com/products/7500.html

Looks decent, thanks for the suggestion. If I stumble across one for the right price I may bite....

Hoping that its a moot point as if my sub and Carver amp sell I can buy the Rotel in the Flea Market here....

Yes, excuse me. I am getting the model number confused with it's ATI counterpart ATI 2005.

polkfarmboy

I sold my mca 5 ii for$550, thats way overpriced

EndersShadow

Looking harder at a B&K 200.7.

Found one that might be available and I "might" have a buyer for my Carver amp...... Hopefully my amp will sell and then I may be able to snag it....

Only concern is at max draw it pulls more wattage than my APC H15 can provide, but I dont have 7 channels yet, so I should be ok if I just watch the gauge on the APC to see how much I would actually pull in normal usage with my 5 LSi speakers....

Any other thoughts on that particular amp? Spec's look beefy!

Power Rating @ 8 - 200 W
Power Rating @ 4 - 375 W
Number of Channels - 7
Amperage Peak to Peak - 75
Dynamic Head Room - 1.2 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) - 0.09%
Signal to Noise (S/N) - 95 dB
Input Impedance - 33.2 k
Damping Factor (50 Hz) - 450
Frequency Response - 5 Hz to 45 kHz
Slew Rate - 14 V / µsec
Input Sensitivity (RCA) - 1.4 V
Input Sensitivity (XLR) - 2.8 V
Gain - 28.3AV or 28dB
Line Voltage - 120/220/240 VAC
Level Controls - No
Binding Post Maximum Wire Gauge - 4 AWG
Balanced Inputs - Yes
Control Input - 5 - 24 VDC
Control Output - 10 - 12VDC 200mA
(Width/Height/Depth) - 17 (17.12) W, 7.50 (7.62) H, 19.5 (20.62) D
Shipping Weight - 76 lbs.
Max Power Consumption - 1830 Watts
Max Current Draw - 17.5 Amps
Power Consumption at No Input - 130 Watts

pitdogg2

Get that Rotel 1095 excellent price and highly underrated in power. The night we played pool that guy has had one since new and I have yet to hear it run out of juice.

when it was tested by one of the rags it beat the spec's by a mile.

hochpt21

I don't know about that model of Rotel, but the Rotel RMB - 1066 that I just picked up on the forum, 150 wpc into 3 channels bridged mode, so far I like it better than the Outlaw 200 mono and the BK Reference 200.2 that I had in that setup.

It's the first piece of Rotel gear that I've heard and it was an eye opener. For HT I definitely like it. Not sure how I would like it for music.

EndersShadow

pitdogg2 wrote: »

Get that Rotel 1095 excellent price and highly underrated in power. The night we played pool that guy has had one since new and I have yet to hear it run out of juice.

when it was tested by one of the rags it beat the spec's by a mile.

Ivan, I would but I've been in contact with him for a couple weeks and he now has 2 local buyers interested and as of now I cant commit as I dont have the full funding and dont know when I really will.

But he advised me he planned to move forward and pursue those lead's and I agreed that is the best course of action. I would do the same in his position so there are no hard feelings on my part.

If those buyers fall through, he is aware I am interested and prefer to buy that amp off him.

pitdogg2

Fair enough Dan
Good luck

WLDock

The B&K seems like a nice choice. If the 7 ch falls through the 5 channels seem to go for much cheaper. Saw on for $699

EndersShadow

Yeah, I found a couple here or there.

There is also the 7270 and 7250 which are basically older versions of the 200.7 and the 200.5 models....

The main thing is to try and find it where local pickup is an option, or where cost + shipping isnt insane.

These high quality amps are heavy and as such cost a ton to ship right.

WLDock

Yeah, tell me about it....shipping is a tough one. Myself, I was thinking of taking a trip back to my home state last week. There was a nice 3 channel Parasound for sale for $300. its was gone by the time a took it serious. I think a 5 ch B&K is what I might keep and eye out for....or if that ATI in Chi is still around in time I might make an offer.

EndersShadow

Well my Carver is off to the races. It should be in Sea's hands early next week....

So this is no longer a theoretical exercise.

Current budget is 600 on the nose, but if my sub sells it should go up to at least 800....

I've got my eye on a B&K 200.7 and also a Sunfire Cinema Grand 200x5 (not local so have to ship). Beyond that we will see..

There is a B&K 7250 out there but it requires shipping but unlike the sunfire its a HOSS of an amp to ship and super expensive.

dpowell

I've personally owned, Adcom 7500, Parasound 1200's and Halo and Sunfire. The Adcom is way to bright for my taste. IMO, the Halo and Sunfire are right on par with each other when it comes to sound and detail with a little extra bass giving the edge to the Sunfire. One thing to consider is that most amps you are looking at will run hot, especially in a tight space like you are considering. The Sunfire runs cool to the touch even when the volume is cranked for extended periods. One other thing to consider is an amp that can work with a 12v trigger or has an auto power off feature. The Sunfire shuts off after 20 or 30 minutes. It'll save you a lot of electricity if you aren't one to manually power off an amp after each use.

EndersShadow

Thanks Doug. I ended up with a B&K 200.5 amp.

It will be a bit hot but it will have a 18 3/8" wide x 20 deep x 15" tall space to sit in with an open front and back and the bottom of the rack has cooling slots. I am sure it will stay cool enough.

It also has a 12v trigger I will be using off my Integra so it wont run 24/7.

Same w the Dayton SA-1000 sub amp

vmaxer

EndersShadow wrote: »

Thanks Doug. I ended up with a B&K 200.5 amp.

It will be a bit hot but it will have a 18 3/8" wide x 20 deep x 15" tall space to sit in with an open front and back and the bottom of the rack has cooling slots. I am sure it will stay cool enough.

It also has a 12v trigger I will be using off my Integra so it wont run 24/7.

Same w the Dayton SA-1000 sub amp

Let us know how it works ou for you.