Better for Separates Newbie: Rotel or Adcom?

I strongly suggest you purchase a higher quality integrated amplifier. Both are average components at best. I would look at products from Jolida, Prima Luna, Cary, Electrocompaniet, Portal Panache, and Creek. There is SO much better out there than Rotel and Adcom. So Much Better.

Chris

Hi, all!

Thanks for your responses thus far!

Elizabeth: thanks for letting me know your experience.

Unsound: I appreciate the nature of what you're saying, however, I have sold all of my equipment, so I'm experiencing a little "chicken and the egg" conundrum! This wasn't my first choice, but since someone was willing to pay top dollar for my kit, I had to sell in order to spend that amount plus a few extra dollars on new equipment.

Jsujo: Yes, I am only considering new products.

The_kid: I have heard what some tube enthusiast friends of mine consider some great kit: Synthesis (www.synthsis.co.it). I thought the integrated amp sounded okay, as it was powering speakers I was auditioning (Spendor 3/1). The problem is - for better or for worse - nearly every other speaker I've auditioned (B&W, Gallo, Paradigm, Faber, and Dynaudio) was attached to the stores' Rotel amplifiers/preamplifiers. So, when I heard the Spendors, I didn't know how much of the sound I was hearing was the tube integrated, and how much was the speakers! All I know is that this combination was the only one where at least some of the sound actually sounded colored or "warm". I audition with a tremendous amount of material, some of which is symphonic with solos I performed at the concerts.

In any case, I'm coming from home theater receivers. In my price range, it sounds like "average" to most people will be much better than what I've previously experienced!

Ivyinvestor, Rotel has a good track record over many years for making solidly constructed gear that is well engineered, with substantial power supplies and of good above average sound quality. There are other products that on a case-by-case may sound better for this unit or that, but in the price range you're describing for new only, Rotel is a very safe bet and materially better than the mass market electronic gear.
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Thanks, Rushton: I really appreciate your comments, especially with respect to my current funding allocations.

I would also recommend Rotel. I have owned a Rotel CD player (RCD 970 BX), and an integrated amp (RA 970). Both were very well designed and built, and sounded exceptional (CD player in particular). I would argue that this is right around where the point of diminishing returns begins in hi-fi.