Ive gone thru the same basic issue, as I have a 1066 and 1075 combo. I have added or changed out eveything, IC's, power cords, power conditioner, etc. The biggest thing I did was to add a two channel amp for the front mains. First I had a 991, 200 X 2, and that helped out with what your looking for quite a bit. More punch and better bass, no doubt. Then I came across a 1090 amp, and that was it. I have to take out the sub when listening to two channel music.
As for the power cord issue, when i brought the 1090 home, I had the dreaded ground loop hum. I did eveything you were supposed to do to get rid of it, and it was still there, albeit to kind of a minimum. My buddy told me to clip the ground plug. I did, and that was all she wrote, it was gone forever.
As for the classe preamp, its better for sure, I did a borrow / sound check against my Rotel, but I have since made upgrades to compensate. Doubled up my main speaker wires.
Its been a long road, and Im not quite in two channel heaven just yet, but I am totally happy with the HT aspect, as I can shake a little plaster off the wall if I want to.
Try adding another amp for the front mains, you wont believe the difference.
As for the power cord issue, when i brought the 1090 home, I had the dreaded ground loop hum. I did eveything you were supposed to do to get rid of it, and it was still there, albeit to kind of a minimum. My buddy told me to clip the ground plug. I did, and that was all she wrote, it was gone forever.
As for the classe preamp, its better for sure, I did a borrow / sound check against my Rotel, but I have since made upgrades to compensate. Doubled up my main speaker wires.
Its been a long road, and Im not quite in two channel heaven just yet, but I am totally happy with the HT aspect, as I can shake a little plaster off the wall if I want to.
Try adding another amp for the front mains, you wont believe the difference.