2. amps-preamps
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Can I bridge Rotel RB 1080

Hey everybody, just bought a pair of B&W 800D and am really looking forward to them. A little problem, though..my existing amp, a Rotel RB1080 (200w 8ohm), will not bring out the best in the 800D. I'm fairly confident it just does not have the grunt for the 800D. I do like the sound of the Rotel, so am thinking of finding another one and running a pair in bridged mode. If I understand things right, this would give 400w per channel and should provide enough power to make them sing. But I've also heard this would cause the Rotel to overheat. Can anyone shed light pls.
toddmorr

Showing 2 responses by jeffreybehr

jeffreybehr's avatar
jeffreybehr
805 posts
 
Toddmore, I also feel that your speakers need and 'deserve' MUCH-higher-quality amps. I have a pair of Vandersteen 5As, also rather power hungry, and I would have never believed the overall improvements in SQ by going with a higher-quality, much-higher-power amp. In my case I bought McCormack DNA-750 monoamps rated at 650 into 8 and 900 into 4.
[IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/jeffreybehr/McCormack/19March2012_amps_1280w.jpg[/IMG]

My experiences with these amps are detailed here...
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=104073.0

Here...
http://www.iar-80.com/page5.html
...is a review of the predecessor DNA-500 stereo amp.

These are available (new) for $4995/pr. delivered in the US. Buy a pair; you won't be sorry. I'm so pleased with mine, I just bought a McC DNA-HT5, a 125Watts-times-5-channel amp to replace a bunch of Marantz MA500s driving center and surround channels.
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jeffreybehr's avatar
jeffreybehr
805 posts
 
Toddmorr, FWIW, I do not hear the slight softening of treble energy that Moncrieff wrote about, but probably he has better hearing than I.

The sound thru the '750s has a natural, musical bloom that I've never heard before except from Monarchy SE160s. Conrad-johnson design, which makes the McC products, is in Merilee (sp?), Virgina; maybe they can help. Start with Ed Deitemieir; he's a really good guy.
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