Amp analogy

PSOVLSK

Was hoping someone could give me a analogy between amps and ??? What I'm wanting is, for example, Rotel=Cadillac Adcom=Chevy Parasound= Hyundai. Unless I got very lucky, you can tell that I have no idea on the subject. Also, I know this can be very subjective, but I'd love to see what some of you have to say.

Thanks

Lsi9

As a Rotel user I would say Rotel= Toyota Avalon, excellent car for the money.
Same thing with
Outlaw=Honda, very good & reliable.:)

venomclan

LOL,
That is a tough analogy. Many brands of amps make "budget" models and flagship models alike. It is too subjective on an automotive side and on the amp side to compare. More important than the amp is the symetry between it and the other components and mainly the speakers requirements.

If you are in the market for an amp and would like some recommendations, the best thing would be to list your current system, music or HT use, etc... to better match an amp to those requirements. We would be glad to give you some pointers.
Venom

steveinaz

hey, hey, hey...my amp ain't no hyundai....LOL

reeltrouble1

There are so many levels in audio its just not that simple, alot depends on what you want the rig to do.

RT1

danger boy

my Marantz mono block amp is a unicycle

venomclan

I guess I have Honda Accord, Toyota Corolla and a Porsche 911 ?.

jakelm

I have classic cars.

AndyGwis

I shop in the junker section of the used car lot.

jakelm

AndyGwis wrote:

I shop in the junker section of the used car lot.

Sometimes you can find a jewel in a junkyard.

MillerLiteScott

I guess I have a Triumph TR7.:D

PSOVLSK

I hear you guys. I know it's all very subjective, I just thought it would be interesting to see your thoughts. How about relating it to other audio instead of cars? For example: Rotel=H/K, Parasound=Sony, Adcom=Pioneer. I think most would agree that H/K is better than Sony, etc. (This is of course assuming the same level. I know a top of the line SonyES is better than an entry level H/K). I know many brands will fall somewhere in the middle, but there also has to be a higher end brand and lower end brand.

I wouldn't say that I'm necessarily in the market for an amp right now. I was just fishing for knowledge so that when I read an "amp thread" I have an idea what type of equipment people are talking about. When someone mentions that they have Polk R50's driven by an H/K 625, I know what they're talking about. When talking amps, I have very limited knowledge.

When I do decide to buy, I will be looking in the used lot also:D

unc2701

I still don't think you're going to get quite the answer you want. I think we could probably do a rundown top to bottom of some more common brands & models, but the generalizations you're looking for just don't work.

Example: Most people would put Bryston as a brand ahead of Parasound, but in a matchup between a 4B SST vs a pair of JC-1 monoblocks, I'd give the nod to the parasounds... But someone else might have a totally different ordering in their list. I really don't like Sunfire amps, but other people here love them. It's largely personal taste.

Mike682

PSOVLSK wrote:

I was just fishing for knowledge so that when I read an "amp thread" I have an idea what type of equipment people are talking about. When someone mentions that they have Polk R50's driven by an H/K 625, I know what they're talking about. When talking amps, I have very limited knowledge.

Audio is a subjective hobby. Yes there are objective measures like watts, etc., that can be found at manufacturer's sites. However, listening to gear will give you the personal experience you want/need to compare and relate to what posters say here about their gear.

Head out to hifi shops and listen to everything to get a feel for different brands. Check out friend's systems also. Over time you will develop your own "database" in your mind which you can then relate to posters' comments.

danger boy

My other amp is a Corvair :rolleyes:

steveinaz

IMO, I would rate Rotel, Parasound, and ADCOM as pretty much all the same "tier." Though personally I'd choose a Parasound or Rotel of the 3. The Parasound JC-1 would be my "cost-no-object" choice.

PSOVLSK

thanks for the replies. Although I didn't get exactly the answers I was hoping for, I did gain some useful knowledge. I think I can make the assumption that Rotel, Parasound, Adcom are all pretty equal...just a matter of personal preference. Much like H/K, Onkyo, Denon??

PSOVLSK

My reasons for posting now are two-fold...to get help and to get my post count to 25. New post coming.

PSOVLSK

I noticed the Adcom GFA 535 in the classifieds. Would this amp drive my LSi 7's? I am currently driving them in a 7.1 system with an H/K 7300. Would I see any improvement? If not, would it be worth it just to take the strain off of the H/K?

Thanks.

hearingimpared

danger boy wrote:

my Marantz mono block amp is a unicycle

ROTFLMAO!

steveinaz

PSOVLSK wrote:

thanks for the replies. Although I didn't get exactly the answers I was hoping for, I did gain some useful knowledge. I think I can make the assumption that Rotel, Parasound, Adcom are all pretty equal...just a matter of personal preference. Much like H/K, Onkyo, Denon??

I personally wouldn't agree to that. I wouldn't trade my Parasound for any HK, Onkyo, or Denon on the planet. Different league in my opinion.

PSOVLSK

I didn't state what I meant very well. My point was that H/K, Onkyo, Denon are somewhat equivilant to each other, not that they are equal to Parasound, Rotel, Adcom.