I have posted a host of comments on this forum as well as a few others regarding the woes I experienced with my Rotel RMB-1095. Specifically, the humm/buzz issue that seems to be commonplace with this amp. I got the complete runaround from Rotel and my dealer that it simply HAD to be a ground loop problem and not the amp. Hmmm, all either of them would have to do is acknowledge there exists a preponderance of owners having this problem and despite their efforts to track down the source of the ground loop, the cause is simply the amp itself. The results are right smack-dab in their face with the comments given on the Club Rotel forum. I could go on and on about this so I'll stop.
The purpose of this thread though is that I dumped this amp and replaced it with a Bryston 7B SST for my center channel and an Earthquake CineNova Grande 5 for my surrounds; I currently have a Bryston 14B SST powering my front speakers. All I can say is --- WOW! I received my CineNova yesterday and my 7B today and I hooked them up late Friday afternoon. First, no humm/buzz --- WITHOUT CHEATER PLUGS!!! (what a surprise!) Second, I cannot wipe the smile off my face. The 7B simply rocks for my center channel --- I knew it would from my experience with my front speaker's response to the 14B. But my surrounds totally came alive with the CineNova. They are deep, quick, honest, clear, and concise. Now I will need to find a way to charge admission to my ht and figure out why I want to go to work --- I could easily see myself spending my every waking moment in my ht.
I deliberated for weeks as to what multi-channel amp I should select to replace the 1095. I considered the Krell TAS, Classe CAV-500, Chord, Sunfire Grand Cinema Signature, Anthem P5 (soon to be released), and Bryston 7B/9B. And finally, the Earthquake CineNova Grande 5. I want to thank those of you that provided your experiences/insights to me. And I would be remiss if I didn't give a big 'ole thanks to John Casler of Summit Audio & Video. John knows his stuff and he really explained all this to me in a very neat package. Plus, he put up with my impatience in wanting to get everything --- YESTERDAY.
Finally, a lot of folks do not know about the CineNova. It is one awesome amp. It perhaps doesn't rank as high as a higher-end Bryston but it is top-flight nonetheless. I'll bet that if I did and a/b, blindfolded, I wouldn't be able to tell it apart from a Bryston, Krell, etc. It is a great value too.
Thanks again to all and I am looking forward to spending some quality time in my ht listening to multi-channel music and movies.
Jim
