excited by pending RSP-1098 arrival

[Linmuse]

Hi everyone,
I'm new to your site having stumbled upon it while researching a new pre/proc. I find it a great read and very informative so well done to all you contributors out there. I only wish I'd found htguide at the beginning of my search.

I was well overdue for a new pre/proc to replace my aged Adcom GTP-600(dolby prologic) and Denon AVD-2000(dolby digital). Wanting to have all the processing in the one box and get a unit with DTS amongst other formats.

So after reading some reviews and checking a few forums to see what Rotel owners thought I headed to my nearest Rotel agent, checked out the RSP-1098, had a good play and a serious listen followed by a little price hagling and the deposit was made. I just knew this was the one for me. Seriously good looks and sound, upgradability, reputation and within my budget, just .

This will be my first piece of Rotel gear And I'm sure not my last. From what I've seen and read I can see future component upgrades going Rotels way.

It should arrive by the end of this week. Then the fun begins. I dont pretend to be a serious tech head when it comes to setting up a unit like this so I may be bothering you guys that are. Hope you dont mind. But i will give it a go.

Will keep you informed and glad to be in the club.
Hope this doesn't sound too sucky but I'm just excited.

[PewterTA]

Congrats!

I bet you will absolutely love the unit! What amp will you be running with it? You will definitely have to let us know how you like it!

I definitely want to get the 1098, and hopefully will soon since I found another hook up for rotel gear (thanks orange peel)!

Just wished money grew on trees now.

[Bing Fung]

Way to jump in to the deepend! Congrats :T

[Azeke]

Congratulations on your new Rotel gear and Welcome to Club Rotel.

I would suggest that you download the manual from the Rotel site and read it prior to the 1098's arrival, Rotel manuals .

Regards,

Azeke

[Linmuse]

Thanks guys,

PewterTA- I'll be hooked up to my existing Adcom amps. A GFA-555 II 200w/ch looking after the front L & R and a GFA-2535 for the centre, 200w and rears 60w each.

Azeke- Good idea. Who wants to read manuals when you've got the beast sitting in front of you.

Hope to have it all sorted by the time the new sub arrives.
Gone for the Velodyne DD15. Jeez I feel spoilt right now.
Speaker wise there's B&W 580s at the front and 550s at the rear. Centre is a Krix Centrix. Speakers are aged but still luv em. One day I'll look at the B&W 700s unless something else takes my ear.

Stay posted for first impressions.

[Andrew Pratt]

Welcome to the Rotel fan club :T

[will1066]

I second Azeke's advice. Gaining some familiarity by reading the manual ahead of time will make the actual job of setting the machine up much easier and faster.

[Linmuse]

1 week with the 1098

OK its been a whole week with the 1098 and I couldn't be happier.

Connecting up was pretty straight forward, just a hiccup with the video switching due to the tv being so ancient and only taking a composite video lead while the dvd was connected with component cables. Not compatible I found. Had to change dvd to rca connection.

Without spending too much time on a precise setup I jumped straight into some music listening. WOW I'm impressed. Having only heard it through a new set of 700 series B&Ws at the shop I wasn't sure how it would sound on my old 500s at home. In a word GREAT. The music came alive like never before. So much clearer and intricate. I hurriedly fumbled for all of my fave dvds. Roger Waters " In The Flesh" , Pearl Jam " Live at the Garden", Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Mark Knopfler "A Night in London" and Evanescense just to name a few. It didn't mater which format was used stereo, dolby digital, dts or 5 channel stereo it all sounded great to me.

Next some movies went into the box. The car chase in "Ronin" was amazing. You actually feel drained after watching this. Being surrounded by crystal clear gun shots and explosions in "Black Hawk Down" and "We Were Soldiers" was scary stuff. The channel separation of the 1098 in dolby digital cinema is brilliant compared to my old Denon/Adcom setup.

Well thats 1st impressions. I know it will only get better with a few tweaks here and there. Still much to do and learn. Til later bye.

PS- the novelty of the LCD screen has worn off already.

[raider]

nice combo with the adcom linmuse

Congrats on the new rsp 1098 :T
I am running a similar setup except I am using (2)gfa 555 mk11 amps and biamping
my def tech bp 30 with (2) def tech reference subs :T
As the 1098 "burns in " you will most likely notice the sound will improve ,not that it doesn't sound great already.
Enjoy all this prepro has to has to offer and don't be afraid to tinker with this marvelous product :B thats one of the reasons for my purchase!!! :B

[PewterTA]

One thing I'm slightly sad about the 1098 is the lack of a GEQ or PEQ for all the speakers... I'm used to using the GEQ with my Yamaha Rx-v1400 (one setting per speakers -- like having 7 GEQs), and noticed that Rotel doesn't put that in the unit, I love adding just a little bit to the speakers...

Oh well I'll just have play around with it when I get the 1098!

[will1066]

Congratulations.

[raider]

Audio Control makes a really good constant"Q" 7 channel EQ for home theater set ups.
I have the Rialto and i'm pleased with its performance :B
I don't make radical adjustments to equalization as i don't think its needed but my listening room is some-what strange and having that extra adjustment
made all the difference in the world :T .
The key here is to not go crazy with an EQ :naughty:

[Linmuse]

Hi Raider,
I had a secondhand 555 II lined up to power the rears & use the spare 60W x 2 for a 2nd zone but couldn't agree on a price. He wanted $1800Aus, ridiculous. You can get a new 1095 for $3000Aus with 3 extra channels. Anyway it got me thinking. Maybe I should trade the Adcom amps on the 1095 or just trade the 3 channel and keep the 555 II for the 2nd zone.
Not sure how the sound quality compares. Does anyone out there have any ideas or done a comparison on Rotel & Adcom amps.
Adcom is no longer available in Oz & secondhand is rare.
Thanks Linmuse

[raider]

linmue
I don't know the value of your dollar compared to the us dollar, fyi i payed 500.00 "us" for a second hand model a few years back and thought i got a fair deal.
Adcom imho is real good hifi for not alot of money
Eventually i will upgrade my amps as funds permit but overall its a good combo :T
But the center piece is the rsp 1098 :B

[Linmuse]

Hi Raider, $500 US sounds like a good deal to me. Currently the exchange rate is $0.75 US to $1 Aus. That would make your secondhand 555 II around $750Aus. I would have been happy paying $1000 Aus taking into account their higher initial cost in Oz due to coming from the US with transport costs & taxes etc. Alas he wouldn't budge from $1800Aus /$1350US. Maybe if it sits for a few months on his shelf he might see the light of day.

But your right, have had great service from my Adcom Amps. 10 years old from new & not a single problem and still going strong.

You know what its like though. A simple case of the grass is always greener. Wondering if that new amp your local HIFI shop got in would make your system sound that much better. One thing I know for sure is upgrading to the RSP-1098 was definately a worthwhile upgrade.
Cheers Linmuse