Power amps..

Right, I'm planning a move to a big power amp at some point. I like the sound of my Rotel integrated (RA-971mkII) in terms of balance, but would like a bit more separation and keeping track of things when they get complicated a little better.

I plan to build a passive pre-amp (or even semi-passive, but the audio circuit will remain passive), so I'm just after a power amp. Since I can't realistically afford the bel canto I'd like, I'm looking a little cheaper.

Presently I'm looking at the rotel power amps. Perhaps an RB-1070 and later add a second (bridge them to 360W), or an RB-1080/RB-991. The latter doesn't offer the bridging option, but at 200W it doesn't lack for power (given that this is a rotel power rating, and a norwegian magazine got 200A from a -991).

However, the -991 and 1080 have a higher damping factor than the 1070, which could perhaps be critical as the Meadowlark speakers rely on the amplifier for this more than many speakers do.

Of course, other people make good power amps too, so what suggestions for something musical, powerful and dynamic, solid-state. Budget is going to be about £300-£400 or so second-hand, perhaps stretchable a little.

 

if you're interested, i have an old (but still slimline design and black)Rotel RC870bx preamp which will work active as well as passive thats not doing anything at the moment...

hths

 

Get one of these:

http://www.soundslive.co.uk/common/moreinfo.asp?ID=507

then take it to Rory's place in Oct and we'll see how many speakers we can fry