Author Topic: B & W + Rotel Myth (Read 10020 times)

blowrey · « **on:** Apr 24, 2012 at 11:15 PM »

Guys, what is with Rotels that they are always recommended for B & W speakers? I need someone to strongly convince me?
My current set up is B & W 703, with a ASW 750 sub, driven by a Sakura amp. (Please don't laugh)

Julia · « **Reply #1 on:** Apr 25, 2012 at 11:37 AM »

hahahah......opps napalakas!!!!

Yeah, I am also interested on this myth.

ricky · « **Reply #2 on:** Apr 25, 2012 at 11:39 AM »

Quote from: blowrey on Apr 24, 2012 at 11:15 PM

Guys, what is with Rotels that they are always recommended for B & W speakers? I need someone to strongly convince me?
My current set up is B & W 703, with a ASW 750 sub, driven by a Sakura amp. (Please don't laugh)

Hi sir, B&W are awesome speakers and/but they need a lot of power to bring out those awesomeness

. And that is where rotel comes in, for a decent price(not so expensive) it can drive B&Ws to their fullest. Although recent avrs such as the onkyo 5009 will do the same trick at fraction of the cost compared to rotel

Stagea · « **Reply #3 on:** Apr 25, 2012 at 12:07 PM »

Rotel and Classe are often recommended for B&W speakers because the they are from the same group. Equity International (now called B&W Group, I think) controls B&W and Classe. They also distribute Rotel in the North American market, as a lower cost alternative to Classe.

panzer · « **Reply #4 on:** Apr 25, 2012 at 12:10 PM »

sir blowrey . if you really want to know if its a myth or not why not bring your b&w 703 to a store who sells rotel amp and audition it or go to stores who sells both .this way you can judge the sound whether its for your liking or not. to start contact the sellers here .

blowrey · « **Reply #5 on:** Apr 25, 2012 at 12:52 PM »

very enlightening...

i'll start auditioning for these amps.

@panzer, these speakers are so heavy, especially the 750. i wish it's that practical though

Stagea · « **Reply #6 on:** Apr 25, 2012 at 01:00 PM »

It probably won't be very hard to improve on your current amplifier, and the differences should be quite obvious if you already have an appropriate source.

Don't limit yourself to these brands though, if you have the time to roam around and listen. If you can home-audition a component, that'd be even better. I suggest cross-shopping them with comparable options so that you're fully aware of what you can get at your desired price point.

synchro_01 · « **Reply #7 on:** Apr 25, 2012 at 02:47 PM »

For me it's YMMV on the B&W + Classe combo. I didn't like the combination at all. I prefer the Rotel + B&W combo. Equipment tested would be the ff:

Nautilus 805 on original 805 stands
RCD1072 front end
RA1062 integrated amp to power the tweeters @ 100wrms x 2
RB1080 power amp to power the midbass/woofer @ 200wrms x 2
ASW600 sealed sub to augment the bass.

The Classe CA100 is paired to Dyn Contour 1.8MKII powering it with 200wrms x 2. Different flavor than the B&W plus Classe combi.

Again...YMMV.

muypogi · « **Reply #8 on:** Apr 27, 2012 at 01:37 PM »

Quote from: blowrey on Apr 24, 2012 at 11:15 PM

Guys, what is with Rotels that they are always recommended for B & W speakers? I need someone to strongly convince me?
My current set up is B & W 703, with a ASW 750 sub, driven by a Sakura amp. (Please don't laugh)

I think, given your Sakura amplification, you may not need strong convincing to do a rotel + b&w combo. . . . no offense on your setup, but it would definitely be better. Only thing to decide now is if you like the sound of the rotel + B&w combo.

lithium_deuteride · « **Reply #9 on:** Apr 27, 2012 at 01:57 PM »

I've heard B&W 800 series driven by top Classe pre-power and honestly I wasn't attracted to the sound - no magic. I've always heard or read that the more affordable 600 series excelled with lots of SS power so on the day a buyer came to pick-up my old 602S3's, I drove them with a 180-wpc solid state amp and the resulting sound made me regret selling them. I guess those Kevlar cones need plenty of power to come alive.

synchro_01 · « **Reply #10 on:** Apr 27, 2012 at 03:18 PM »

Quote from: lithium_deuteride on Apr 27, 2012 at 01:57 PM

I've heard B&W 800 series driven by top Classe pre-power and honestly I wasn't attracted to the sound - no magic.

Same here. PRAT was off for my taste. The Rotel + Nseries sounds just right for my ears.

Conan · « **Reply #11 on:** Apr 27, 2012 at 03:43 PM »

Try listening to a B&W 685 matched with a NAD (326BEE or higher model) integrated amp, then after that listen to it paired with a Rotel (RA 06) integrated amp.

jakeadriano · « **Reply #12 on:** May 05, 2012 at 07:14 PM »

Rotel + b&w = bright

at_sunset_blvd · « **Reply #13 on:** May 05, 2012 at 07:32 PM »

I think they're in the same team like distributorship, so the two has to be paired all the time. But the important thing is whether you own each brand & pair it it up w/ a different one w/ a result to your liking then you're good to go. Our ears are the best judge for it

haboky · « **Reply #14 on:** May 10, 2012 at 09:02 PM »

i find rotel ra-06 se paired with b&w 685 warm.

blowrey · « **Reply #15 on:** Jun 12, 2013 at 11:56 PM »

someday

Hammerheart · « **Reply #16 on:** Jun 13, 2013 at 06:06 AM »

Quote from: jakeadriano on May 05, 2012 at 07:14 PM

Rotel + b&w = bright

Not for me. Ra04se+b&w 685 is almost unbeatable at their price range. Very musical.

Rotel rc1550, rb1080, rcd06se, b&w684 extremely musical. Plays loud with very low distorsion.

Rotel+B&W rocks!

sound garden · « **Reply #17 on:** Jun 13, 2013 at 09:25 AM »

Quote from: tormentor on Jun 13, 2013 at 06:06 AM

Not for me. Ra04se+b&w 685 is almost unbeatable at their price range. Very musical.

Rotel rc1550, rb1080, rcd06se, b&w684 extremely musical. Plays loud with very low distorsion.

Rotel+B&W rocks!

Quote from: tormentor on Jun 13, 2013 at 06:06 AM

Not for me. Ra04se+b&w 685 is almost unbeatable at their price range. Very musical.

Rotel rc1550, rb1080, rcd06se, b&w684 extremely musical. Plays loud with very low distorsion.

Rotel+B&W rocks!

Brader Tormentor is a true believer of Rotel and B&W combo. Very Musical......

stevesonk · « **Reply #18 on:** Jun 15, 2013 at 02:52 PM »

try KRELL pre-power combo, Mark Levinson, Bryston or McIntosh combo...im sure you will not go wrong with them

Hammerheart · « **Reply #19 on:** Jun 15, 2013 at 05:07 PM »

Quote from: stevesonk on Jun 15, 2013 at 02:52 PM

try KRELL pre-power combo, Mark Levinson, Bryston or McIntosh combo...im sure you will not go wrong with them

Absolutely sir, but rotel components are just a fraction of their price tag

Most here knows that.

And this is the b&w-rotel thread

they don't belong to the same price point. So it is not fair to compare them.

sientobente · « **Reply #20 on:** Jun 15, 2013 at 07:16 PM »

I don't think this is a myth. The Rotel RA04SE and RA06SE matches the B&W 6-series properly. I find these Rotel models a bit clinical and the 6-series a bit dark but if you combine them, my impressions on each equipment were gone. It's a nice, detailed sounding set with a large soundstage. I find the combination awesome

Hammerheart · « **Reply #21 on:** Jun 16, 2013 at 12:43 PM »

Quote from: sientobente on Jun 15, 2013 at 07:16 PM

I don't think this is a myth. The Rotel RA04SE and RA06SE matches the B&W 6-series properly. I find these Rotel models a bit clinical and the 6-series a bit dark but if you combine them, my impressions on each equipment were gone. It's a nice, detailed sounding set with a large soundstage. I find the combination awesome

I completely agree

Conan · « **Reply #22 on:** Jun 16, 2013 at 02:40 PM »

Quote from: sientobente on Jun 15, 2013 at 07:16 PM

I don't think this is a myth. The Rotel RA04SE and RA06SE matches the B&W 6-series properly. I find these Rotel models a bit clinical and the 6-series a bit dark but if you combine them, my impressions on each equipment were gone. It's a nice, detailed sounding set with a large soundstage. I find the combination awesome

Me too!

Hammerheart · « **Reply #23 on:** Jun 16, 2013 at 04:56 PM »

I find the 04se musical, so as the 06se but with more bass and less detailed than the 04se.

n o l · « **Reply #24 on:** Jun 19, 2013 at 11:50 AM »

Quote from: tormentor on Jun 16, 2013 at 04:56 PM

I find the 04se musical, so as the 06se but with more bass and less detailed than the 04se.

How is the RA 1520 compared with the 04se & 06se sir? Thanks.

Lynn · « **Reply #25 on:** Jun 30, 2013 at 04:10 AM »

Quote from: nolax on Jun 19, 2013 at 11:50 AM

How is the RA 1520 compared with the 04se & 06se sir? Thanks.

Higher end si RA1520, aesthetic, brush steel ang mga nobs while the RA06SA plastics, pure copper brush binding post while RA06SE plastic yun labas. Sounds mas malaman at agile ang RA1520 kaysa sa RA06SE...

to think of it prang ang small bro ni RA1520 eh dapat si RA04SE...

Hammerheart · « **Reply #26 on:** Jun 30, 2013 at 10:05 AM »

I would love to hear the ra1520, i almost have one but decided to go separates kasi i need an amp to drive my flooorstanders, baka kasi mabitin