4 speaker posts on my new RB1080

[phillipk]

I just added the RB1080 to my RSX1056 and it looks like I can hook up 4 speakers (I only want 2 naturally). Are the extra posts for bi-wiring? My cables are only bi on the speaker end. So... I don't hook up jumpers to the amp do I? Do the second set (left unused) just not draw power?
Thanks

[Aussie Geoff]

Philip,

The second set of posts are for bi-wiring.

If not used they draw no power - they are connected in parallel to the same amplifier stage.

You can use them with your bi-wired speakers simply by running two cables OR with special bi-wie cables

Geoff

[markmaple]

Is this a recent change to the RB-1080? I bought one off of Augiogon recently and don't remember 4 sets of speaker hook-ups. The back panel drawing currently on Rotel's website shows on hook-ups for 2 speakers.

[Andrew Pratt]

Yes its a recent change.

[Kevin P]

Just hook your existing "bi-on-one-end" cables to one set of binding posts on the back of the amp, and leave the other set of posts unconnected, like you would on an amp that has only one set of posts per channel. It'll work fine.

The second set of posts allows you to bi-wire with two sets of wires instead of the split set you have now.

[Eiffel]

There seem to be quite a few variants of the 1080 around based on this post and a few others...

Mine has the 8 binding post as yours (flashy transparent ones), but it runs fairly cool -cooler than my RSX-1055 anyways), and has no grounding plug on its IEC connector... The good thing is that I have absolutely no hum issue... but I'm suffering from the trigger/fuse issue once in a while (because of it, I leave the amp on all the time... and it's barely lukewarm when idleing)... I hope they all sound the same, but the differences make me wonder...

[phillipk]

Thanks Geoff.

I wonder a few things: would it be stupid to hook another set of speakers to the extra posts? I am trying to figure out how to drive a second set of speakers in my office and all the options look less than ideal. I'm only doing 2 channel from a digital source plugged into my RSX1056.

1--I can connect the second speakers to the front speaker posts on the RSX 1056 but I believe there's no way to turn them off or vary the volume (right?)

2--I can do the zone2 out to a second receiver I have (but the quality of that receiver is not very good). I think this is the most ideal because I can control the volume independently... but, I can only redirect an analog source to the second zone.

3--I might be able to hook the second speaker set to the RB1080 but my sense is this is a bad idea... and, besides, suffers the same disadvantages as option 1.

Any ideas I'm overlooking?

Regarding the temperature... mine is slightly warm... but the same as when it's powering speakers or just idle. I'd say it's not hot. No hum, but my RSX1056 puts out a very low hiss. This was the case before I hooked up the RB1080.

I have the older fuse but have a promise from rotel and my dealer that if it goes out they'll upgrade it. I'm betting the issue has to do with RF on poorer speaker wires.