Best amp out of these 3 ?

polkseller
polkseller Posts: 184
edited October 2007 in Electronics
Looking at the Acurus 150, adcom 555 mkII or Rotel 981

Wich one is better suited with polk speakers ?

I have rti6 for the moment, and maybe I will upgrade to lsi in the future.

My Yamaha htr-5960 will serve as a pre-amp. wich amp will be a good match for the speakers and receiver pre ?

thanks
Post edited by polkseller on
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,665
    edited October 2007
    I like the Adcom 555II 200 watts a channel best.
    Rotel 981 130 watts a channel
    Acurus 150 150 watts a channel.
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited October 2007
    What Engtaz said.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited October 2007
    What Cfrizz replied about engtaz.
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  • shadowofnight
    shadowofnight Posts: 2,735
    edited October 2007
    Never owned the other 2...but I can vouch for the Adcom....great amp
    The first rule of Fight Club is you don't talk about Fight Club
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  • MSALLA
    MSALLA Posts: 1,602
    edited October 2007
    I love my Adcom. The 555 seems to be a great bargin.
    Michael


    Samsung 50" HD DLP
    Yamaha RX-V2500
    (2) Outlaw 200
    Adcom GFA 555
    Sony BDP300
    Denon 2900 DVD
    Lsi9's mains
    Lsi7's rear
    Lsic center
    12.1 SVS driver in 4.53 cuft. tube
    Harmony 880
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,259
    edited October 2007
    Be different go with the Acurus. Adcom is always a great choice. The Rotel is well liked. Hell, get all 3.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited October 2007
    I have had 5 Adcoms, and the Bang for buck is unbeatable. Tight bass, clear mids, and very nice highs. I think the adcom will play nice with the RTI's.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited October 2007
    Acurus.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • polkseller
    polkseller Posts: 184
    edited October 2007
    How much should I pay for a used Adcom 555 mkII ? I've missed one acurus on ebay because the seller didnt want to ship it to canada.. I read only good things about Acurus amps, beeing one of the best ever made amp in USA. But adcom users sold to adcom so... I really dont know if the Rotel( made in china) will keep up in sound quality with those 2 nice amps

    thanks
    Pier
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,147
    edited October 2007
    I personally feel the Adcom 555 series sell for more than they are worth on Ebay as do many Rotels. All of the amps mentioned are nice products, but maybe you should also consider some of the choices that Parasound and/or B&K have out there in the used market. I am definitely a believer in the John Curl designed Parasounds. B&K often sell for a little lower price (comparing similar wattages) and they are no slouches either.
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  • MSALLA
    MSALLA Posts: 1,602
    edited October 2007
    polkseller wrote: »
    How much should I pay for a used Adcom 555 mkII ? I've missed one acurus on ebay because the seller didnt want to ship it to canada.. I read only good things about Acurus amps, beeing one of the best ever made amp in USA. But adcom users sold to adcom so... I really dont know if the Rotel( made in china) will keep up in sound quality with those 2 nice amps

    thanks
    Pier

    You should have no problem finding a 555 in exellent condition in the $350.00 range. I don't think you would be disapointed in a Rotel. They are highly thought of on this fourm.
    Michael


    Samsung 50" HD DLP
    Yamaha RX-V2500
    (2) Outlaw 200
    Adcom GFA 555
    Sony BDP300
    Denon 2900 DVD
    Lsi9's mains
    Lsi7's rear
    Lsic center
    12.1 SVS driver in 4.53 cuft. tube
    Harmony 880
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  • Lowell_M
    Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
    edited October 2007
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Be different go with the Acurus. Adcom is always a great choice. The Rotel is well liked. Hell, get all 3.

    H9

    +1 on All Three. Then sell the ones you don't like. I'm happier than hell with my Adcom, but who knows, that may only be because I've only compared it to a couple other amps. (outlaw and parasound) You should be able to get a GFA-555 for $300 to $350. Just be patient on Audiogon.
    HT
    RTi70 mains
    CSi30 center
    RTi28 Rears
    Velodyne CHT-12
    H/K AVR-247
    ADCOM GFA-7000
    Samsung PN58B860
    Playstation 3
    2-Channel
    Polk Audio LSi15's
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Nakamichi CA-5 Pre
    ADCOM GFA-555
    Signal Cable Analog II IC's
    Signal Ultra Bi-Wire Speaker Cables
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  • polkseller
    polkseller Posts: 184
    edited October 2007
    ok guys I'm not a pro in the stereo world so I need some explanation on how to control the volume of the power amp with my yamaha htr-5960. I know how to hook it but dont know how to control the volume ?

    do I need to verify the output voltage of the yamaha for pre out to match the maximum output of the power amp ? someone to help me find the best sounding power amps to go with this receiver without using preamps ?

    thanks
    by the way, there is a nice cheap parasound hca 1000 on ebay
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,147
    edited October 2007
    Most AV receivers have adjustable 'trim' levels on each channel. This is used to match output for multichannel listening. Once you start using a separate amp, you use the same channel trim levels to match volume to other speakers and the main volume controls everything else. I doubt you need to verify anything else (as long as your receiver has pre-outs).
    polkseller wrote: »
    ok guys I'm not a pro in the stereo world so I need

    some explanation on how to control the volume of the power amp with my yamaha htr-5960. I know how to do it but dont know how to control the volume ?

    do I need to verify the output voltage of the yamaha for pre out to match the maximum output of the power amp ? someone to help me find the best sounding power amps to go with this receiver without using preamps ?

    thanks
    by the way, there is a nice cheap parasound hca 1000 on ebay
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited October 2007
    polkseller wrote: »
    ok guys I'm not a pro in the stereo world so I need some explanation on how to control the volume of the power amp with my yamaha htr-5960. I know how to do it but dont know how to control the volume ?

    do I need to verify the output voltage of the yamaha for pre out to match the maximum output of the power amp ? someone to help me find the best sounding power amps to go with this receiver without using preamps ?

    thanks
    by the way, there is a nice cheap parasound hca 1000 on ebay

    you would control the volume from your receiver.. the Yamaha one. ;)
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • polkseller
    polkseller Posts: 184
    edited October 2007
    I dont want to add hum noise or to have the front not playing loud enough because the voltage signal too low.. some rotel users said they used rotel preamp to remove humming..

    so using the trim level for fronts speaekrs will match the power linearity of the rear channel ? I mean , every speaker will be at the same power at all volume level ?
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,147
    edited October 2007
    polkseller wrote: »
    I dont want to add hum noise or to have the front not playing loud enough because the voltage signal too low.. some rotel users said they used rotel preamp to remove humming..

    so using the trim level for fronts speaekrs will match the power linearity of the rear channel ? I mean , every speaker will be at the same power at all volume level ?

    Yes, but the front speakers (with the amp) may be more dynamic and sound louder in certain situations. It shouldn't be distracting though. Just match all the channels using pink noise at 85db and you should be fine when watching movies or listening to multichannel music.

    You shouldn't have a problem with hum/noise unless you somehow add a ground-loop.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited October 2007
    if you're using a amp only for your fronts, and the receiver for your center and surrounds.. from your surrounds, it really won't make a difference, but your center would suffer because of lower power.

    if you had a 5 channel amp, your worries would be gone. :)
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • polkseller
    polkseller Posts: 184
    edited October 2007
    my worries is that the output impedance or signal voltage of the yamaha doesnt match the stereo amps and thus resulting in a loss of performance, sound quality or sound imbalance.
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,147
    edited October 2007
    Adding the external amp will only improve your sound. Pre-outs on mainstream receivers and inputs on mainstream amps are pretty much standardized, so I highly doubt you will have a problem like that.
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  • polkseller
    polkseller Posts: 184
    edited October 2007
    input and output maximum voltage and impedance is a difficult task to find for many receivers on the market.

    how to set the maximum volume( voltage to be sure I dont get clipping )?
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