I need to very much pipe in here....
...as an audiophile with "an ear", I would dissagree that the Acurus amps are bright in general! I owned the superb little ACT 3(only a bit higher noise floor than some if not careful with system matching speakers), and sonically (agreeing with above posts), it's better than any B&K pre/pro ever made! It's very clear, detailed, dynamic, and neutral sounding. Again, 90db sig/noise only, but otherwise, excellent! I also had the 100x5, which was probably the prettiest sounding, most detailed(not bright, sorry), clear, extended(again, not bright, or shrill, thx), neutral, and musical little amp I've owned in 5 ch! It's not warm as the the overly borring and soft B&K and Bryston junketh(IMO), and is rather special sounding. The Parasounds are warmer in boddied, if a little rolled on top, which works excellent with some set ups. Still, that 100x5 was sweet!!!!!! With the right speakers, "rolled off at 80hz" or "small", it was a DEFINITE WINNER! I say this, and I've owned, Classe, Threshold, Pass, Aragon(didn't like the 8004 or 8008bb at all!!!!...plain a bit, and rolled on top a tad), Coda and others. Naw, I think that 100x5 was extremely good, and underated. The 200x5 was a tad brighter, I'll conceed that...can't speak for the othe rAcurus amps.
Actually, I only liked the still slightly warmish Aragon Soundstage and Paladiums ok. Everything else, in amps/pre's, etc, was just descent. Classe was better, if less powered, but similar.
Still, for what the Act 3 and 100x5 offered, there's nothing that can touch that sound for that money! For under $1k, you can get a gorgeous sounding separates system, run everything as "small" on the pre/pro, and use the sub! That is audiphile budget surround at it's best...IMO.
As for the Rotel and Adcom, they can't compete at that price for multi channel, sorry! I've sold all the above lines extensively. Parasounds amps used stomp all that, and the lesser powered Acurus as well as described. The Used B&K's are just not that special either(IMO ofcourse)
...as an audiophile with "an ear", I would dissagree that the Acurus amps are bright in general! I owned the superb little ACT 3(only a bit higher noise floor than some if not careful with system matching speakers), and sonically (agreeing with above posts), it's better than any B&K pre/pro ever made! It's very clear, detailed, dynamic, and neutral sounding. Again, 90db sig/noise only, but otherwise, excellent! I also had the 100x5, which was probably the prettiest sounding, most detailed(not bright, sorry), clear, extended(again, not bright, or shrill, thx), neutral, and musical little amp I've owned in 5 ch! It's not warm as the the overly borring and soft B&K and Bryston junketh(IMO), and is rather special sounding. The Parasounds are warmer in boddied, if a little rolled on top, which works excellent with some set ups. Still, that 100x5 was sweet!!!!!! With the right speakers, "rolled off at 80hz" or "small", it was a DEFINITE WINNER! I say this, and I've owned, Classe, Threshold, Pass, Aragon(didn't like the 8004 or 8008bb at all!!!!...plain a bit, and rolled on top a tad), Coda and others. Naw, I think that 100x5 was extremely good, and underated. The 200x5 was a tad brighter, I'll conceed that...can't speak for the othe rAcurus amps.
Actually, I only liked the still slightly warmish Aragon Soundstage and Paladiums ok. Everything else, in amps/pre's, etc, was just descent. Classe was better, if less powered, but similar.
Still, for what the Act 3 and 100x5 offered, there's nothing that can touch that sound for that money! For under $1k, you can get a gorgeous sounding separates system, run everything as "small" on the pre/pro, and use the sub! That is audiphile budget surround at it's best...IMO.
As for the Rotel and Adcom, they can't compete at that price for multi channel, sorry! I've sold all the above lines extensively. Parasounds amps used stomp all that, and the lesser powered Acurus as well as described. The Used B&K's are just not that special either(IMO ofcourse)