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I don't know why but we don't see much talk about this pre-pro anymore, so I've decide to post a "mini-review", because it's a direct comparaison between an almost top of the line receiver and a dedicated pre-pro. I see alot of post on this "hot subject": good receiver or real pre-pro, is there a difference?? For me, it's a firm YES... My RX-V3200 cost me 500$ more then the Rotel when it came out around 6 months ago. So I think it's a fair comparison.
I've just replace a Yamaha RX-V3200 that I was using for pre-amp with a Rotel RSP-1066, 2 days ago. I'm using this with a Rotel RMB-1095 (5X200) + Rotel RB-1050 (2x70) + 4x Paradigm Studio-40 + Studio-CC + 2x Studio-20 + Servo-15.
I was having a problem with a bad white noise from all speakers when using the Yammie in this configuration. Swithching to the RSP-1066 solve my problem. Silence bliss in quiet part. Case closed. Maybe only a question of internal grounding, but even my RMB-1095 is dead quiet now.
The first BIG difference, an in your face difference, is the resolution of details that I got now with the Rotel. Listening to LOTR again (like the 10th time!!), a film that I know everything about, is revealing so much little details I was not aware of before, it's almost frightening. The sound is clearer, cleaner, and really crisp. The Yammie was hidding a lot of details.
The other improvement is the sound-stage. After 10 minutes of listening, I tought I did'nt plug my center channel to the Rotel...but the fronts are now blending so well with the center that I can't tell where the sound is coming from!! With the Yammie, I was always trying to "blend" to front stage, moving the speakers, etc, but everything coming from the center was always really directionnal and distracting. With the Rotel, I finally got this perfect blending of the 3 front speaker!!
Listening to DVD-Audio is a totally different experience with the Rotel. Again, the resolution of details is really better. I was not that impress with DVD-Audio, and not "attracted" to it (I own 25 DVD-Audio) and wasn't coming back to it. But now, I will go back to my collection, because, NOW, it's quite an experience!! You want a concrete fact? I gave the bottle to my newborn (10 days old) listening to Mozart Piano Concerto 21, and she fell asleep after 2 onces only, and usually she drinks 5 onces non-stop!! That's a testimony!!
I know that people talk alot of problems with bass management with the Rotel RSP-1066 on different forum. But I don't see any difference in the bass from what the Yammie was giving me. I'm using a Denon DVD-3800 that is doing BM in multi-channel, so I think it's canceling this issue, or helping it so much that it's impossible for me to spot. My DVD-Audio experience is full of bass, like with the Yammie, not to much, not less. The only place I see something strange (after listening to my 21 DVD-Audio) is with the Emerson LAke & Palmer DVD. In the song Lucky Man, there is really too much bass, even with the sub set at MIN. My wife tooth brush was moving almost 30 feets upstairs!! I think the problem is for people using full range speakers, and it's not my case. But I don't ear any difference in almost all my DVD and DVD-Audio
The only "drawback", a minor one, is that I don't find the settings and the remote really intuitive. I had to read the manual closely with the Rotel, and even do some "trial and error" to set everything, compare to the Yammie, that is a lot easier to set for first use. The Yammie remote is easier to use to. But for me it's not a real problem, but for Joe-six-pack trying to make everything works with both will probably have an easier time with the Yammie then the Rotel. The Yammie is a bit more "user friendly"...
Sorry for the long post. Everything here is my humble opinion.
I'm now a firm believer that a receiver, almost a top of the line for Yamaha, cannot compare to a real pre-pro. Maybe Denon or another company would be different, but Yamaha can't compete with the Rotel RSP-1066 IN MY SYSTEM. Maybe with different speakers it would be different to. But IN MY SYSTEM, I'm now in complete ecstacy withy the Rotel, and I WAS NOT with the Yammie. The sound I was researching was just not there.
For people out there that dream of a Anthem AVM20 but can't afford it, do yourself a favor, and go buy a RSP-1066. it's the best price/value on the market right now, and at this price it's a steal!! Don't tell Rotel they could sell this unit for double this price! Shut!!!
BTW, my firmware version (holding mute button) is 2,2,2,020905. I tought they were at 1,46??!! :?:
I've just replace a Yamaha RX-V3200 that I was using for pre-amp with a Rotel RSP-1066, 2 days ago. I'm using this with a Rotel RMB-1095 (5X200) + Rotel RB-1050 (2x70) + 4x Paradigm Studio-40 + Studio-CC + 2x Studio-20 + Servo-15.
I was having a problem with a bad white noise from all speakers when using the Yammie in this configuration. Swithching to the RSP-1066 solve my problem. Silence bliss in quiet part. Case closed. Maybe only a question of internal grounding, but even my RMB-1095 is dead quiet now.
The first BIG difference, an in your face difference, is the resolution of details that I got now with the Rotel. Listening to LOTR again (like the 10th time!!), a film that I know everything about, is revealing so much little details I was not aware of before, it's almost frightening. The sound is clearer, cleaner, and really crisp. The Yammie was hidding a lot of details.
The other improvement is the sound-stage. After 10 minutes of listening, I tought I did'nt plug my center channel to the Rotel...but the fronts are now blending so well with the center that I can't tell where the sound is coming from!! With the Yammie, I was always trying to "blend" to front stage, moving the speakers, etc, but everything coming from the center was always really directionnal and distracting. With the Rotel, I finally got this perfect blending of the 3 front speaker!!
Listening to DVD-Audio is a totally different experience with the Rotel. Again, the resolution of details is really better. I was not that impress with DVD-Audio, and not "attracted" to it (I own 25 DVD-Audio) and wasn't coming back to it. But now, I will go back to my collection, because, NOW, it's quite an experience!! You want a concrete fact? I gave the bottle to my newborn (10 days old) listening to Mozart Piano Concerto 21, and she fell asleep after 2 onces only, and usually she drinks 5 onces non-stop!! That's a testimony!!
I know that people talk alot of problems with bass management with the Rotel RSP-1066 on different forum. But I don't see any difference in the bass from what the Yammie was giving me. I'm using a Denon DVD-3800 that is doing BM in multi-channel, so I think it's canceling this issue, or helping it so much that it's impossible for me to spot. My DVD-Audio experience is full of bass, like with the Yammie, not to much, not less. The only place I see something strange (after listening to my 21 DVD-Audio) is with the Emerson LAke & Palmer DVD. In the song Lucky Man, there is really too much bass, even with the sub set at MIN. My wife tooth brush was moving almost 30 feets upstairs!! I think the problem is for people using full range speakers, and it's not my case. But I don't ear any difference in almost all my DVD and DVD-Audio
The only "drawback", a minor one, is that I don't find the settings and the remote really intuitive. I had to read the manual closely with the Rotel, and even do some "trial and error" to set everything, compare to the Yammie, that is a lot easier to set for first use. The Yammie remote is easier to use to. But for me it's not a real problem, but for Joe-six-pack trying to make everything works with both will probably have an easier time with the Yammie then the Rotel. The Yammie is a bit more "user friendly"...
Sorry for the long post. Everything here is my humble opinion.
I'm now a firm believer that a receiver, almost a top of the line for Yamaha, cannot compare to a real pre-pro. Maybe Denon or another company would be different, but Yamaha can't compete with the Rotel RSP-1066 IN MY SYSTEM. Maybe with different speakers it would be different to. But IN MY SYSTEM, I'm now in complete ecstacy withy the Rotel, and I WAS NOT with the Yammie. The sound I was researching was just not there.
For people out there that dream of a Anthem AVM20 but can't afford it, do yourself a favor, and go buy a RSP-1066. it's the best price/value on the market right now, and at this price it's a steal!! Don't tell Rotel they could sell this unit for double this price! Shut!!!
BTW, my firmware version (holding mute button) is 2,2,2,020905. I tought they were at 1,46??!! :?:
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