Multichannel AMP for Stereo

cdn5003
cdn5003 Posts: 144
in 2 Channel Audio
I was wondering if there is a performance difference between using a 2-channel amp vs. multichannel amp for just stereo.

Amplifiers of the same series or similar spec: Say Rotel RB-1080 vs. Rotel RB-1075 only using 2-channels Right and Left.

Intuitively I would guess the 1080 is better than 1075. If so, why?

Is the circuitry/signal path better? Lets assume easy to drive speakers and both have plenty of power for desired volume levels.
HT Setup: Onkyo 706; Rotel RB-1075; Rti A3; Csi A6; Fxi3's

2 CH: Squeezebox Touch; Dared SL-2000a; GoldenEar Triton 5 or Lsi9's; Parasound 2125; SVS SB12-NSD; Music Hall DAC 25.2
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Comments

  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    A plus to using a multichannel amplifier with only 2 channels operating is the power supply transformer and capacitors are seriously beefy as they must have plenty of power for all of the channels operating. A down side is a multiple channel amplifier design may not be optimized for audiophile use as a 2 channel amp may be. Of course there are really good and really bad designs of both 2 channel and multichannel amps out there.
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    Don't get too caught up in over analyzing things. The 1080 is rated at more power than the 1075 but not a big concern. You will never hear the difference in actual operation. Go with the best buy but don't forget about down the road, the 1075 has 5 channels covered where the 1080 only has 2 channels covered.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • RamZet
    RamZet Posts: 792
    edited March 2016
    Well try to use 4 out of the 5 channels if you go with that amp. If your speakers can be Bi-wired go for it.
    I use two Rotel RB-1070s and I use both channels on each amp for each speaker.
    ( I know they can be bridged into 360w mono blocks but it was too much power.)

    BTW the 1080 can become a 390w mono block.
    B&W CM9Classé Sigma
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