Rotel or Parasound for my LSi9's?

cstpeter

A local store has two used amps that I'm interested in: a Rotel RB991 THX (200x2, $500) and a Parasound HCA2003 (200x3, $800). Any thoughts or recommendations between the two? Can anyone explain the respective company's sound characteristics?

I am thinking the extra channel on the Parasound would be nice for down the road when I get a LSiC, but I'm actually more concerned with good two-channel sound. Is one amp more musical than the other?

I'm not sure I will be able to audition both at home, so I would appreciate your thoughts.

By the way, I will be using a Denon 3806 as a pre/pro and a Martin Logan Dynamo for the bottom end, if that makes a difference.

Thanks.

EricT43

How are they rated into 4 ohms?

cstpeter

Both are 300 watts at 4 ohms.

dorokusai

They are both good choices....Parasound.

AsSiMiLaTeD

agreed with Doro, both great choices, but parasound gets my vote, especially with the LSi...

cstpeter

Any particular reason the Parasound gets the slight edge?

Ferres

Parasound built a very good reputation with these older models.

If it were more current models being compared, then it would be a toss-up.

cfrizz

Hi Cstpeter. I have had amps by both companies. Both are top rate companies. Everyone is telling you to get the Parasound because it has 3 channels! So you can run your 3 front channels & let the Denon handle the back!

cstpeter

Thanks everybody. I talked to the shop and they will let me audition the Parasound.

Cfrizz, it looks like you have similar stuff (Denon 3802 and Parasound amp). They make a good pair? Big difference between the Denon's amps and the Parasound?

cfrizz

HUGE difference. And I'm not even running 4ohm speakers! The Denon & Parasound make one sweet combo! Get it, you won't be disappointed!

Early B.

Having owned both of them, the Parasound will have better sound quality than the Rotel, IMO.

halo

Early B. wrote:

Having owned both of them, the Parasound will have better sound quality than the Rotel, IMO.

Ditto. +1 for the Parasound

cstpeter

Man, I'm excited. I'm gonna take it home tomorrow and will report back.

Thanks again everybody.

Mike Reeter

Very happy with our Parasound amp.and other equipment...Good build quality and stellar sound,should drive your LSi's and never break a sweat...

mantis

I don't like parasound. I find there stuff to be on the bright side. Maybe a good choice for Lsi's but where terrible on the B&W N803 I listened to.

Rotel makes solid good affordable products. I think Rotel and Lsi go together very well. I felt the sound quality to be very good. If your runing a Denon reveiver now, your in for a treat.

Good luck. I suggest you bring your speakers to the store and hear them both there. Then choose the right one.

Dan

disneyjoe7

Well I'll give Parasound a vote, using Parasound / Halo with Onkyo AVR. The Parasounds / Halo power my Rti150's nicely.

halo

mantis wrote:

I don't like parasound. I find there stuff to be on the bright side.

I don't mean to offend Dan but you and I must have different definitions of "bright". I found it to be the exact opposit: Rotel = bright & Parasound = warm

mantis wrote:

I suggest you bring your speakers to the store and hear them both there. Then choose the right one.

Dan

Good advice that is

Ferres

Perhaps you could mention which parasound model was too bright. Some early models did go through revisions to fix some issues.

ND13

My PSound is anything BUT bright. I'd say it's neutral with a slight list to the warm side.:) As a matter of fact...it along with the tubed pre has gotten rid of most of what people complain about with the SL2000 tweeters in my SRS 2s. I'll still be getting the silks sometime in the future, but until then......

*Seby*-Polk-

Naaaahhh...I Vote for Rotel. Good affordable products, great sound quality, very good reputation....I LIKE IT !!!

ND13

*Seby*-Polk- wrote:

Naaaahhh...I Vote for Rotel. Good affordable products, great sound quality, very good reputation....I LIKE IT !!!

:rolleyes: Do you have ANY personal experience with either brand or are you just going by what you've heard of??? No offense intended, SEBY.
It's just that you seem to comment or give opinions without experience sometimes.

cfrizz

You nailed it Noel, it's what Seby always does!:rolleyes:

Both companies have outstanding reputations & outstanding products. Cstpeter can't lose no matter which amp he picks.

But as I stated before, the biggest advantage to the Parasound is that he will have 3 channels instead of just 2.

If I had known what a difference having separate amplification was going to make when I got my Parasound, I would have saved up & purchased a 5 channel amp instead & been done with it!

ND13 wrote:

:rolleyes: Do you have ANY personal experience with either brand or are you just going by what you've heard of??? No offense intended, SEBY.
It's just that you seem to comment or give opinions without experience sometimes.

ND13

Don't get me wrong, I like Seby and he probably has limited experience due to where he lives. I'm assuming here, but I doubt that there are outlets for him to go to so he can demo a lot of the brands that we can.

steveinaz

Both are fine amps, pick whichever gives you better wood.

audiobliss

Ok, cstpeter, I can't stand the suspense...whadya think?!

*Seby*-Polk-

ND13 wrote:

Don't get me wrong, I like Seby and he probably has limited experience due to where he lives. I'm assuming here, but I doubt that there are outlets for him to go to so he can demo a lot of the brands that we can.

ND13...You know me more than my own mother !!!!

Haha..ok. It's true. I don't have an amp (maybe in the future) but i can listen Rotel amps. This brand have more "market" here than Parasound. I tried some models of this amp with Boston Acoustics and Polk RTi speakers and sounds great. I mean OUTSTANDING !!!!
Parasound is more difficult to find (same as HK in comparisson with Yamaha or Denon). That's the reason i'm going to Rotel .... obviously here...for the customer service think. In USA, both brands are "top level", so you can choose only for your ears (and quality).

Bye bye !!!!!!!!

cstpeter

Again, thanks everybody for input (you too Seby). It's appreciated.

Today's the big day. After work I'm gonna take home one of the two amps to demo--at this point, I'm not sure which one. It may come down to which one is more attractive (as Steveinaz alluded to).

Space/size may be a concern, and the Parasound will be a tight fit. But if it sounds good enough, I'll make it work and/or get a new rack.

This hobby kicks ****.

cstpeter

I picked up the Rotel RB-991 over the weekend (as I suspected, the Parasound was too big). It is used but in good condition--looks pretty cool with the other gear. Hooked it up and...WOW. It needs to hit a certain volume, but when it does I note big improvements in all aspects of music: bass, detail, dynamics, soundstage, imaging, etc.

I'm very glad I demoed this amp and will not be returning it. I encourage anyone debating whether they should get an amp (like I was) to consider this: I had my LSi9's bi-amped with a Denon 3806. If you believe the specs (that is another thread altogether), that should be 240 watts of AVR power to each speaker. This setup sounded good and never went into protection mode, but I always felt something was lacking. The Rotel (200 watts) has made a big improvement. Now I can't wait to get another one sometime in the future for even more improvement!

Can't wait to get home and listen to more music. I'm kinda pissed that I have Clap Your Hands Say Yeah tickets tonight--I'd rather just listen to them at home! Oh well.

Thanks again for everyone's help and knowledge.

Airplay355

Parasound

EricT43

Yeah, shoulda got the Parasound.

Just kidding, enjoy the Rotel, I'm sure it sounds great.

cfrizz

Congrats enjoy!