|
|
Post by red71rum on Oct 25, 2016 16:31:47 GMT -5
I have a friend who would sell me a XPA 3 for $500, is that too much? I was thinking of replacing my Rotel RMB-1075 that is only able to do 4 channels(it is old and not worth repairing) and getting the XPA-3 to power my Acoustic Research 312HO's(4ohm) and Acoustic Research AR2C center. I might move the Rotel to power my surrounds.
|
|
|
|
Post by Gary Cook on Oct 26, 2016 15:04:26 GMT -5
Do it, you'll love it, the front 3 will come alive.
Cheers
Gary
|
|
|
|
Post by esquire on Oct 26, 2016 17:36:54 GMT -5
I've owned that amp for quite a while. It's quite a workhorse with zero issues. I believe you would be hard pressed to find an amp with like qualities and performance for that price.
|
|
|
|
Post by Loop 7 on Oct 26, 2016 19:52:37 GMT -5
Offer him $450.
|
|
|
|
Post by red71rum on Oct 27, 2016 7:57:25 GMT -5
Do it, you'll love it, the front 3 will come alive. Cheers Gary So you think this would be a big difference from the Rotel RMB 1075 that I already have? |
|
|
|
Post by red71rum on Oct 27, 2016 8:04:47 GMT -5
He would sell it for $420. |
|
|
|
Post by repeetavx on Oct 27, 2016 10:49:02 GMT -5
So you think this would be a big difference from the Rotel RMB 1075 that I already have? The Rotel has a 1500 V/A Transformer compared to the the XPA-3s 850 V/A. Also the Rotel has 80,000uf of capacitance compared to the XPA-3s 60,000uf. So the Rotel should be able to sustain bass output for a longer period of time than the XPA-3. On the other hand the Rotel only has four output devices per channel compared to the six output devices in the XPA-3. This will offer a lower output impedance to the speakers for better control. Which could result in a quicker response time, as well as a better current return for stronger bass. The Emotiva offers a balanced input for each channel, if that is even an issue. So, unfortunately, because of the way different manufactures implement similar hardware, you really won't be able to discern any differences with out actually listening to them. But, I don't think you'll hear "a big difference". The differences will be in nuances of sound as the amps wrangle the speakers slightly differently. Your Tekton Lores are going to sound great with either amp. What the differences would be, until heard, can only be guessed at. |
|
|
|
Post by red71rum on Oct 27, 2016 11:59:16 GMT -5
So you think this would be a big difference from the Rotel RMB 1075 that I already have? The Rotel has a 1500 V/A Transformer compared to the the XPA-3s 850 V/A. Also the Rotel has 80,000uf of capacitance compared to the XPA-3s 60,000uf. So the Rotel should be able to sustain bass output for a longer period of time than the XPA-3. On the other hand the Rotel only has four output devices per channel compared to the six output devices in the XPA-3. This will offer a lower output impedance to the speakers for better control. Which could result in a quicker response time, as well as a better current return for stronger bass. The Emotiva offers a balanced input for each channel, if that is even an issue. So, unfortunately, because of the way different manufactures implement similar hardware, you really won't be able to discern any differences with out actually listening to them. But, I don't think you'll hear "a big difference". The differences will be in nuances of sound as the amps wrangle the speakers slightly differently. Your Tekton Lores are going to sound great with either amp. What the differences would be, until heard, can only be guessed at. I appreciate the reply although I have Acoustic Research speakers, not Tekton Lores(I looked them up). The Rotel is damaged, I bought it on CL. It blows a fuse when I try to use the left surround. I have taken it apart and replaced the fuse twice. It is an old amp and it not worth repairing, I only use it as a 3 channel amp. I have always wanted to try an Emotiva amp, just don't know if I will hear a difference. I listen to mostly movies and games, my wife does not like my music: ) |
|
|
|
Post by repeetavx on Oct 27, 2016 12:07:38 GMT -5
The Emotiva will like the ARs too. I say try the Emotiva amp and be impressed. I believe that it will sound at least as good, and probably better than the Rotel.
|
|
|
|
Post by leonski on Oct 30, 2016 14:22:32 GMT -5
My BRIEF run-in with ROTEL left me cold. I should have known. Amp NOT rated at 4ohms and the bridged power @8ohms told me only a minor bump over the 8ohm rating. I have VERY low-sensitvity panel speakers. How do you KNOW the Rotel is Not Worth Repairing? Do you have an estimate? Would you pay for an estimate? Would you get an estimate IF the cost of the estimate were deducted from the final bill? www.soundandvision.com/content/rotel-rmb-1075-5-channel-power-amplifier-measurments#vAUmdElv3QHRPjWb.972001 'road test' of the amp showed reasonable power, even into 4 ohms. Though ROTEL does NOT rate the amp that way and says '4 ohm minimum'. My OPINION is to check out the 'fix' before committing to another amp. Include NEW 105c rated PS Caps in the estimate. Get GOOD computer-grade caps and you'll be good for another 20 years. Unless the previous owner simply trashed it, I really doubt anything that can't be fixed is really 'wrong'. I'd be REAL surprised if you couldn't get the ROTEL fixed for a FRACTION the 'ask' for your buddies XPA-3. Maybe half? That'd be 2 hours on the bench and parts. |
|
|
|
Post by red71rum on Nov 2, 2016 9:27:15 GMT -5
My BRIEF run-in with ROTEL left me cold. I should have known. Amp NOT rated at 4ohms and the bridged power @8ohms told me only a minor bump over the 8ohm rating. I have VERY low-sensitvity panel speakers. How do you KNOW the Rotel is Not Worth Repairing? Do you have an estimate? Would you pay for an estimate? Would you get an estimate IF the cost of the estimate were deducted from the final bill? www.soundandvision.com/content/rotel-rmb-1075-5-channel-power-amplifier-measurments#vAUmdElv3QHRPjWb.972001 'road test' of the amp showed reasonable power, even into 4 ohms. Though ROTEL does NOT rate the amp that way and says '4 ohm minimum'. My OPINION is to check out the 'fix' before committing to another amp. Include NEW 105c rated PS Caps in the estimate. Get GOOD computer-grade caps and you'll be good for another 20 years. Unless the previous owner simply trashed it, I really doubt anything that can't be fixed is really 'wrong'. I'd be REAL surprised if you couldn't get the ROTEL fixed for a FRACTION the 'ask' for your buddies XPA-3. Maybe half? That'd be 2 hours on the bench and parts. I had called around here and was told that the Rotel was cheap Chinese junk and not worth it when I last looked into it. I had also spoken with Rotel and had received a schematic of all the fuses and replaced the one that was supposedly gone, but it just burned out again. I don't know if it is really worth spending $200 on it when I could just get the XPA-3(I can never find an XPA-5 around here, although I only live an hour away from Emotiva). Rotel had wanted me to send it in and did not know how much it would cost to fix without having it in front of them. I am just a sys admin, not an electrical engineer and would never attempt to change anything out other than a fuse: ) |
|
|
|
Post by leonski on Nov 2, 2016 16:01:06 GMT -5
You can't find a local AND qualified Tech to have a look at the amp? I'd look online and I'll bet you can get the schematic. No need to send it to Rotel.
|
|
|
|
Post by red71rum on Nov 2, 2016 16:08:27 GMT -5
You can't find a local AND qualified Tech to have a look at the amp? I'd look online and I'll bet you can get the schematic. No need to send it to Rotel. There was one place in Nashville that said that they could look at it, the only problem is that they could not give a time frame on repair and also said that they could give my amp preference for a fee, but I do not like paying for stuff like that. I have the schematic with the fuses, but the problem is deeper than a fuse. |
|
|
|
Post by leonski on Nov 2, 2016 17:23:19 GMT -5
What you have is parts location guide, NOT the schematic, which will probably be online SOMEWHERE and for free, at that. Since you've done the fuse without help you rightly stopped screwing around. Ask the repair shop is price of diagnosis is waived IF you go ahead with repair? I'd look HERE: www.hifi-manuals.com/Rotel/RMB-1075/downloads |
|
|
|
Post by red71rum on Nov 3, 2016 11:13:53 GMT -5
What you have is parts location guide, NOT the schematic, which will probably be online SOMEWHERE and for free, at that. Since you've done the fuse without help you rightly stopped screwing around. Ask the repair shop is price of diagnosis is waived IF you go ahead with repair? I'd look HERE: www.hifi-manuals.com/Rotel/RMB-1075/downloadsI appreciate you pointing me to the real schematic. The problem is that the one place here has a 3 star rating and has mostly really bad reviews. It reminds me of the lone tech place here in my town, that does all of the manufacturer warranty work, but takes months. I think I will cut my losses with the Rotel, get the used XPA-3 for my L/C/R, and have the rotel running my surrounds and Bi-amping, who knows. |
|
|
|
Post by leonski on Nov 3, 2016 14:05:01 GMT -5
Depending on Where you are, it might be worthwhile to check out service in nearby towns. The bigger the better, in this case.
Even here where I live, far south of L.A., I've got choices. And all within a 30 or 40 mile one-way trip.
|
|
|
|
Post by red71rum on Nov 3, 2016 14:17:51 GMT -5
Depending on Where you are, it might be worthwhile to check out service in nearby towns. The bigger the better, in this case. Even here where I live, far south of L.A., I've got choices. And all within a 30 or 40 mile one-way trip. That is where I was looking at a 50 mile radius so that would be Nashville for me and there was only that one company, the company with the bad reputation. I had called other places in Nashville and they worked on guitar amps, not HT amps. It is interesting because you would think there would be more. I guess people generally throw things away instead of repairing them. |
|
|
|
Post by leonski on Nov 3, 2016 14:31:31 GMT -5
I get it. Too bad. Just looking at a map shows you are actually closer to Atlanta than Chicago. It appears so.
It'd be pretty cheap to draw a circle on a map and make a few long distance calls. Maybe take an hour.
Have a couple questions written down so you don't get side-tracked. Find out of diagnosis fees are WAIVED if the repair is completed with them.
I'd also post in places like Audio Asylum where OTHERS might have had stuff fixed and can make real recommendations.
Follow the money, maybe. The wealthier the market, the more high end. The more high end, the better the possibility of
finding someplace to get it fixed.
I just HATE throwing out otherwise good stuff.
|
|
|
|
Post by red71rum on Nov 3, 2016 15:47:53 GMT -5
I get it. Too bad. Just looking at a map shows you are actually closer to Atlanta than Chicago. It appears so. It'd be pretty cheap to draw a circle on a map and make a few long distance calls. Maybe take an hour. Have a couple questions written down so you don't get side-tracked. Find out of diagnosis fees are WAIVED if the repair is completed with them. I'd also post in places like Audio Asylum where OTHERS might have had stuff fixed and can make real recommendations. Follow the money, maybe. The wealthier the market, the more high end. The more high end, the better the possibility of finding someplace to get it fixed. I just HATE throwing out otherwise good stuff. I wont throw it out, it will still get used. I mentioned to my wife that I was thinking of getting it repaired and she said, "Why?" I tried explaining to her that it is a 4 channel amp that is really a five channel and because of that I am utilizing two other amps(AudioSource Amp3 for Bi-amping my Acoustic Research 312HO's) and the Onkyo M-282 for the surrounds. I could use the XPA- 3 for the LCR, and the Rotel for the other bi-amping and surrounds. Since I am married, my wife could care less about the home theater, she is happy wit the lame soundbar that I bought for her to use with the other tv. |
|
