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Rotel RA-1592 MK II or something else to deliver around 200W to B&W towers around $3000?

So I just purchased a pair of B&W CDM-9NT and am now going deep down the rabbit hole trying to find an amp that’s going to let these speakers sing to their fullest. I keep coming back to Rotel as the consensus appears to be that these amps pair very well with B&Ws. I was trying to keep the budget to $1000...then $1500...now I’m looking at $3000 options...I’m not willing to go up to the McIntosh prices at the moment so I’m capping myself at $3k new or used.

I was thinking that going integrated was the best option when looking at the $1500ish options. Now maybe separates would make sense at $3000?

Goals in sound are excellent imaging and separation. Strong and tight bass is a must. Music selection is mainly very bass forward genres like hip hop & EDM. I also enjoy jazz, rock and sometimes classical as the mood strikes. A must have is digital connectivity for hi-res streaming. The room is 14x18 if that matters.

Any help is appreciated.
yukispier
headphonedreams
523 posts
 
+1 @kennyc 

I also think an integrated is the best bang for the buck in this price range. Either take one with a dac and buy a better dac later or buy a dac now.
petar3
61 posts
 
i had different B&W speakers paired with a Rotel integrated. Was very happy. Now, 805s with a Hegel. I discovered detail I did not hear before.
I recommend Hegel integrated. Worth every penny makes choices eaiser. You should be able to find H390 when this craziness with supply stops for under 4k. I know it is more than you want to pay but, hey, the price of happiness is a bit higher. Hegel also has a great resale value. Until that time, get a used Rotel and enjoy it. 
danvignau's avatar
danvignau
935 posts
 
There are three used/demo, probably trades,  Rotel amps for sale on the West Palm Beach Audio Advisors website.   There is a lot of other stuff, too, from Audio Research, Mark Levinson, as well as a few of which are unfamiliar to to me.  200 watts or 100 with huge power supplies would work well for your apparent needs.  Chris is a great guy, and an older fellow seems to know a lot of history of audiophilia, according to Chris.
kennyc
1,205 posts
 
@yukispier
I thought that is the direction I am headed getting a proper amp with a midish level pre/dac combo.
Ummm, there’s not really a “midish” level pre/dac. It’s sonically better to get a separate DAC but good a audiophile (above box store sonic quality) starts around $2k like Mytek and Yggy - YMMV. Including a dac w a preamp is an economic way to save $ on casework (less boxes) and cables which would be beneficial considering your limited 3k budget
I think that the system will still be enjoyable to listen to without a $4000 preamp while I’m saving up for the upgrade.
$4k preamp? - I’m confused. I thought your entire budget was $3k now so I was trying to stretch it to get you the best sonics per $ so you can enjoy your system “now” w flexibility for future upgrades. If your budget is more then that’s a different strategy. 

+1 Hegel - consistent positive reviews

Odyssey Audio amplifiers $1-3k - one of the best bang for buck amplifiers. Alon Wolf of Magico (one of the top technologically advanced speaker designers/manufacturers today) likes and sometimes uses them.
soix
8,822 posts
 
There’s a Hegel H300 here now for $3k that’d be very worth considering.  It’ll likely sound excellent with your speakers, and it also has a decent DAC that’ll suffice until you have the budget for a better one.  I’d offer $2500 since the unit lacks a remote, which is easily solved with a simple aftermarket universal remote.  FWIW.  
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