Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Which amp would you go with?

I finally broke down and ordered. After much thought and your guys help I decided on M60's, 2 QS8's and 1 QS4 to complement the VP150 that I picked up to try out a couple months ago. I am currently using a Sony 2ES receiver and I am going to turn it into a pre pro and buy a separate amp. I had a deal locked up on a Rotel RB1070 and RMB1075 but the seller backed out when I went to send him the money, so I am in search again. I am wondering what amps you recommend to compliment axioms sound. This system is going to be used primarily for HT. Would you recommend a 3 channel amp for the front and a 2 channel for the back, or would a 5 channel work just as well (I am going to run the rear surround off the receiver)? The main contenders are the Marantz MM9000 and the Rotel RMB1075. My price point is 1k or less. I am willing to go new or used. OK, lets hear it.

I have the Rotel RSP-1066 paired with the RMB-1075 and LOVE it.

If you haven't already check Ebay and Audiogon for the Rotel amps...they show up fairly often. (That's how I got mine.)

Board regular mhorgel really likes his Marantz amp; they often have really good deals on them at Accessories4less. They have the MM9000 for $749 right now.

Yup, I sure do. Free shipping with that, too. Original MSRP was over $2k. Don't know why they didn't sell...nobody has anything bad to say about them. 170w X 5 at 8 ohms. I use my receiver to power my side surrounds, and the MM9000 to power my fronts, center, and rear surrounds. I have it set up this way because I listen to a lot of multichannel audio, and use my rear surrounds for that.

Mark

I have never heard anything bad about the Marantz either. The 749 shipped was the reason I was considering it. If it was 1299 I would definitely go with the Rotel. What connectors would you recommend using with it. I was thinking of picking up a set of bluejeans cable 5.1 audio connectors.

Blue Jeans is great. You can't go wrong with them.

Take a look on ecosts.com and crutchfield.com for refurbished Denon and Harman Kardon amplifiers, they have very good prices

If I were going to stay with the receiver route I would either pick up the HK7200 (great value for the money) or the new Denon 3805 which boasts IIX for a better 7.1 surround experience. I just don't feel a receiver can compete with a seperate amp when it comes to driving 5 speakers in a HT experience. Down the road a little ways I'd like to pick up a used Lexicon DC1 or something of the like to replace the Sony.

That's what I get for opening my big mouth. I call accessories for less and get ready to order a marantz and they tell me it's going to be about 5 days to ship. I ask them if I can pay the difference between normal ground and 3 day select. She says sure and tells me it will be 80.00 extra. OUCH! I thank her and call my local Vann's to see if they happen to carry or can get Marantz. I talk to one of the managers who I've known for a long time and he says why don't you just go with a receiver. I tell him I would benefit more from a separate amp and unless I could find a good receiver for around 750 (the same price as the Marantz) I was going to go that route. He tells me he'll sell me the new Denon 3805 for 780 OTD. For that price I can't pass it up. I just got off the phone making an emergency call to Axiom to see if they could add one more Qs4 to the order. 7.1 here I come.

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I just don't feel a receiver can compete with a seperate amp when it comes to driving 5 speakers in a HT experience.

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Umm.. did you have reasoning behind this?

Bren R.