Rotel 1090 or Class A

Saummisra
Saummisra Posts: 7
edited February 2009 in 2 Channel Audio
Hi
Need your help on :confused:this. Iam getting a slightly used Rotel 1090 for about $750 from a friend (special deal I think they go for about a 1000). I was wondering if I should go for this or I should go for a Class A pair (such as a Monarchy SM70 pro pair). Is Class A really that much better? I've never heard it so would like to hear your views.
Thanks
Post edited by Saummisra on
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  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited February 2009
    I can't really compare the two types, but that is a killer deal for the 1090. I've been watching them lately and they typically go for around 1000-1200 dollars. They're fairly hard to come by too.
    The nirvana inducer-
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited February 2009
    Try to give them a listen first. There are good and bad examples of each. I doubt you won't be satisfied with the Rotel. You're getting a great deal and a killer amp.
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  • Saummisra
    Saummisra Posts: 7
    edited February 2009
    Thanks guys
    I thought Monarchy would sound better but I have no idea what it sounds like ( i listen to rock mostly)..I can't drive the 1090 hard at all. The last time I pushed up my current Rotel RA 980 the guy from downstairs came up to introduce his dog.. but i could buy it and sell it later.. though I don't know if it is too much of a risk since I assume not many amps would be selling.
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  • Saummisra
    Saummisra Posts: 7
    edited February 2009
    Also is Class A really that different?
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  • Saummisra
    Saummisra Posts: 7
    edited February 2009
    Sorry I am connecting them to, believe it or not, B&W 602s tiny little speakers
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  • CRESCENDOPOWER
    CRESCENDOPOWER Posts: 153
    edited February 2009
    This is great thread! Whatever you decide keep in mind that Rotel, and B&W are famous for synergy. Depending on the rest of your system, and your philosophy of what you want to achieve overall within your setup think long and hard before spending one penny. If you are not setting your bookshelf speakers on good stands, seating yourself in the sweet spot at ear level, and looking right into the image I’m not for sure that an upgrade in an amplifier would, or could be your best choice.
    Overall, you have received excellent advice from everyone within this thread, and I got this one on subscribe.:D
    Buy Polk ****!:D

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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited February 2009
    I'd say give it a try. If your not satisfied with the 1090 in this case since your getting it so cheap you could sell it and make a profit .
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  • Music Joe
    Music Joe Posts: 459
    edited February 2009
    You said "slightly used" and "from a friend". If said friend bought new you may have the balance of a 5 year warranty. B&W and Rotel are said to have good synergy.
    "The Web is a monoblog"
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited February 2009
    Class A all the way............the Monarchy's are outstanding and would be a better choice musically than the Rotel.

    Here's a couple of great articles about class A (true single ended class A). Do yourself a favor and read them. The first one being the most informative

    http://passlabs.com/pdf/articles/seclassa.pdf

    http://passlabs.com/pdf/articles/leaving_class_a.pdf
    "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 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Saummisra
    Saummisra Posts: 7
    edited February 2009
    It seems that class A would be better.. though I've heard that many well designed Class A/B amps (such as Rotel) will be better than ordinary Class A amps.. also wouldn't the Rotel probably operate in Class A fr say the first 30 watts or so?
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,194
    edited February 2009
    Saummisra wrote: »
    Sorry I am connecting them to, believe it or not, B&W 602s tiny little speakers

    The rb1090 is more power then they will ever need. You can use the rb 1090 to power any speaker in the 800 series including the mighty 801's with no problems. For that price it's a no brainer, I would jump at that deal.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited February 2009
    Saummisra wrote: »
    It seems that class A would be better.. though I've heard that many well designed Class A/B amps (such as Rotel) will be better than ordinary Class A amps.. also wouldn't the Rotel probably operate in Class A fr say the first 30 watts or so?

    The Monarchy's are not ordinary class A; really there is no such thing as "ordinary" class A. Some older hi fi companies stretched the truth on class A operation and weren't true class A. They were all still push/pull type topologies.

    No, the Rotel doesn't run in single ended class A. It runs in push/pull A/B and may be biased to run a couple watts in the class A range. Single ended class A is a completely different animal.
    "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 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • phipiper10
    phipiper10 Posts: 955
    edited February 2009
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Class A all the way............the Monarchy's are outstanding and would be a better choice musically than the Rotel.

    Here's a couple of great articles about class A (true single ended class A). Do yourself a favor and read them. The first one being the most informative

    http://passlabs.com/pdf/articles/seclassa.pdf

    http://passlabs.com/pdf/articles/leaving_class_a.pdf

    Me read so many big words me still confused.

    You have to have a decent foundation already to understand a lot of what is written. I get some of the concepts but I can't understand the "why" so much. The words aren't foreign but the meaning on each individually is a little lost with me.

    The below are not words I throw around everyday.(Guess I'm still a noob)

    Single ended
    Pentodes/Triodes
    Real Life Bias
    Current/Amp (even current and amp)
    FET/FET/FET - J/MOS/T
    THD
    Push/Pull
    Bipolar power devices
    Gain
    transformer coupled single-ended triode
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