Rotel RMB-1095 vs. B&K 200.5 vs. Parasound HCA-2205

[falconcry72]

Anybody have experience with these amps? I'm looking for a 5-channel amp for my LSiM's, and these three are on my short list. Prices seem comparable. Good reviews on all. Other suggestions? I know I like the Parasound HCA sound. I don't have any first hand experience with Rotel or B&K, but it would be nice to try something new, plus the HCA doesn't have balanced inputs. Thanks!

[falconcry72]

OK it's down to the B&K 200.5 vs. the Rotel RMB-1095. Thoughts?

[rdb2001]

I have experience with both. I owned the B&K 200.5 and have heard the Rotel 1095. They are both great amps and you can't go wrong with either. I think the B&K is a little warmer sounding than the Rotel. That rotel series was the last of the good rotel amps in my opinon. What speakers are you driving with them?

[rdb2001]

nevermind, saw you are driving LSIM's.

[Emlyn]

I have experience with both. I owned the B&K 200.5 and have heard the Rotel 1095. They are both great amps and you can't go wrong with either. I think the B&K is a little warmer sounding than the Rotel. That rotel series was the last of the good rotel amps in my opinon. What speakers are you driving with them?

Agree with all the above. B&K not only have a warmer sound, their big multichannel amps also tend to run physically hot. I had a 200.7 a few years ago until I switched to Parasound Halo. I found the Halo amps to be superior in every way, but they probably cost about 50 percent more than the Rotel or B&K in the used market for the same current output.

[pearsall001]

Both are great amps & will serve you well. B&K's do tend to run on the hot side so proper ventalation is needed more so than the Rotel. Which ever one is the better deal might be a swaying factor here.

[falconcry72]

Thanks for the responses, guys.

Ventilation is not an issue. I'm not sure if the warmth of the B&K is a good thing or a bad thing. The LSiM's are pretty neutral, but I'd say they're on the warmer side already.

I like the looks of the B&K better.

[Emlyn]

I still have a 200.2 that I use once in a while on my Focal/JMlabs speakers, which are known to be very revealing. It works great on those because they complement each other well. I did not like the B&K amp on LSi speakers very much. Too dark sounding for me. I understand the LSiM's are a bit different.

[tonyb]

I still have a 200.2 that I use once in a while on my Focal/JMlabs speakers, which are known to be very revealing. It works great on those because they complement each other well. I did not like the B&K amp on LSi speakers very much. Too dark sounding for me. I understand the LSiM's are a bit different.

That could have been contributed to the interconnects you used, B&K amps are just slightly on the warm side of nuetral and very musical. I would look at the B&k amp over the Rotel, but thats just my preference.

[MADGSF]

Not sure this helps as I only had the demo LSiM703 running off my B&K for all of two hours but I loved them while I had them.

[leroyjr1]

I'm in the same boat as you with my lsim's. Was looking at these same three amps but since its for HT only I'm not wanting a warm sounding amp. Thinking about a class D amp.

[polkfarmboy]

Put an Anthem mca5or 50 on that list as prices are comparable plus Anthem gives you a real sweet top end thats great for HT

[mantis]

Both are Awesome Amps , I might go with the B&K in this case.

[michael1947]

My HCA 2200 has balanced inputs which I really like.

[halenhoang]

OK it's down to the B&K 200.5 vs. the Rotel RMB-1095. Thoughts?

You know, it would have been really great if you were searching for an amp when you let go of your Usher's. ahem. I have the B&K 200.5 amp I would have used as layaway. Hahaha.

Currently, actually used to run that amp with my LSIM 705s. At the time, I listened to the LSIM paired with unison research, jolida, yaqin and some other amp, all tubes... Later I tried my B&K, and it fell terribly short of the very good sound of tubes. I have not touched my B&K since.

I feel the B&K does not work well with the polks. I would look for something not so warm sounding. But then again, I am an LSIM guy moving to Usher's and you, the reverse. Happy journey to you my man.

[falconcry72]

I'm in the same boat as you with my lsim's. Was looking at these same three amps but since its for HT only I'm not wanting a warm sounding amp. Thinking about a class D amp.

Yea I was thinking the same thing. Based on other people's listening impressions, I think the B&K sound would be great with the LSiM's for music, but for HT I'd probably want somethin' a little sparklier (sp?).

Let me know what you end up with!

[falconcry72]

You know, it would have been really great if you were searching for an amp when you let go of your Usher's. ahem. I have the B&K 200.5 amp I would have used as layaway. Hahaha.

Currently, actually used to run that amp with my LSIM 705s. At the time, I listened to the LSIM paired with unison research, jolida, yaqin and some other amp, all tubes... Later I tried my B&K, and it fell terribly short of the very good sound of tubes. I have not touched my B&K since.

I feel the B&K does not work well with the polks. I would look for something not so warm sounding. But then again, I am an LSIM guy moving to Usher's and you, the reverse. Happy journey to you my man.

haha that's funny. Well, I didn't really move from Ushers to LSiM's in this system.. i moved from LSi's to LSiM's. In the 2-channel system, I moved from Ushers to my new 3.7's.

[falconcry72]

Still on the hunt for a 5-channel amp in the 600-900 range. How would a sunfire cinema grand compare to the other models mentioned here??? I'm looking for something a little more forward sounding.

[ViperZ]

I have RMB-1075 (smaller brother to 1095) and definitely would not call it forward sounding. It's a very laid back and warm sounding (especially with my B&Ws).

[bobsauto49]

Forward sounding? Emotiva. Chit!! Did I just write that??????????? Seriously though,I thought the Emo was a powerful amp,just to forward/bright sounding for me. But I was running them with a set of Rt2000i's,and then my KEF's. So if forward is what ur looking for? YMMV!

[falconcry72]

Anybody have thoughts on the Sunfire vs. Rotel vs. B&K???

[deronb1]

Still on the hunt for a 5-channel amp in the 600-900 range. How would a sunfire cinema grand compare to the other models mentioned here??? I'm looking for something a little more forward sounding.

Not sure of the selection of Adcom 5 ch amps, but I would classify them as slightly forward of neurtral. Balsy, nonetheless.