1068 or Yam RXV2500 as processor??

[Nick T]

HI all,

What are your thoughts on the above topic? I have the opportunity to buy a 1068 near the price of a Yam 2500, and was wondering which way to go. I'll be using a RMB-1075 in this system. 5.1 is all that i can accommodate at the moment. I would consider using the 1075 to biamp front mains and the yam to power the rears. Features on the Yam 2500 (GUI, auto setup and EQ ability plus a couple of others) seem to make it better equipped than 1068 - or am i missing something? The heart is saying go with the 1068 for aesthetic reasons.

Is it getting to the point now where mid-priced all-in-one receivers (Yam 1500 and 2500, Denon 3805, Marantz SR7500 etc) have just as good processing ability as a dedicated stand-alone processor such as the 1068 or 1098? Anyone had the chance, or gone through the experience of choosing between the Yam 2500 and 1068? Any comments or suggestions would be much appreciated

I'll be running either paradigm monitor or paradigm studio speakers with this setup, - ie fairly efficient

Thanks

Nick

[JDH]

HI all,

What are your thoughts on the above topic? I have the opportunity to buy a 1068 near the price of a Yam 2500, and was wondering which way to go. I'll be using a RMB-1075 in this system. 5.1 is all that i can accommodate at the moment. I would consider using the 1075 to biamp front mains and the yam to power the rears. Features on the Yam 2500 (GUI, auto setup and EQ ability plus a couple of others) seem to make it better equipped than 1068 - or am i missing something? The heart is saying go with the 1068 for aesthetic reasons.

Is it getting to the point now where mid-priced all-in-one receivers (Yam 1500 and 2500, Denon 3805, Marantz SR7500 etc) have just as good processing ability as a dedicated stand-alone processor such as the 1068 or 1098? Anyone had the chance, or gone through the experience of choosing between the Yam 2500 and 1068? Any comments or suggestions would be much appreciated

I'll be running either paradigm monitor or paradigm studio speakers with this setup, - ie fairly efficient

Thanks

Nick

Nick,

I would recommend the RSP-1068 over any Yamaha receiver even the Z9 for overall pre/pro quality. I upgraded recently from my Yamaha RX-V3000 AV Receiver to a heavily discounted new RSP-1066 (under $1000 AUD) and haven't looked back. If your main focus is for better 2ch music then go with the RSP-1068, if HT then maybe the AV receiver as a pre/pro is a cost saving idea. The AV receiver path is a good option if you listern to radio alot or have a need for zone 2 amplification as the AV receiver will have these features without having to buy a dedicated tuner or zone 2 power amp. If you are concerned about the components matching then consider the Rotel RSX-1056 AV receiver.

I think you already work for a well known HiFi store in Sydney so I guess your price for a Yamaha AV reciever and Paradigm speakers would be the best around. To compare Rotel/Yamaha/Marantz you would have to travel to another HiFi store at Lane Cove. I would be interested in your feedback on how the Rotel power amp handles Studio 100s as I'm considering buying a pair with matching studio centre in January assuming I can get my local dealer to give me the discount I'm after. I also compared the Rotel Pre/Pro to similar priced Pre/Pros like the Sherwood and NAD and Yamaha RX-V1400/1500 and for me anyway the Rotel came out on top.

John.

[soundhound]

1 vote cast for the Rotel 1068, as I came to Rotel from Yamaha. The single biggest, lasting impression for me was the "soundstage". I like hearing sounds in the room that I am unsure of which speaker they come from, weather in 2 channel or surround. The Yamaha I had was also on the bright side, compared to the Rotel. The 1068 with 1075 combo would keep you content for some time to come. With Rotel's sound quality they could omit their bass/ treble controls, and have done away with the need for an eq. Ultimately give a listen to both and let your'e tastes guide you as it is your'e $$$$.

[Andrew Pratt]

If the 1068 is within reach cost wise I don't see this as much of a choice as the Rotel will easily sound MUCH better then the yamaha.

[Nick T]

Thanks JDH, soundhound and Andrew for your advice. Looks like the 1068 is the way to go hands down in terms of sound quality. Now i've just got to have a listen to it.....

Andrew - hope you don't mind a salesman/hifi/home theatre enthusiast snooping around your great rotel club If its for consumers only though i understand

John - yep, i work for a hifi/home theatre store here in sydney - i am reasonably new to this industry so i both appreciate and respect your and others comments and advice on this forum. Its going to be a little difficult to compare the 1068 and the yam 2500 at Lane Cove, because last time i was there they had both units in diffferent rooms, hooked up to different speakers. They probably wouldn't mind setting them up in the same room with the same speakers, but i think it would be a little low of me to go in and ask for a comparison between the 1068 and Yam 2500 when i have no intention of actually buying from them. But hopefully i'll get down to Canberra soon (thats where i'll be sourcing my kit) where i can at least listen to the 1068/1075 combo with some different paradigm speakers.

[JDH]

Thanks JDH, soundhound and Andrew for your advice. Looks like the 1068 is the way to go hands down in terms of sound quality. Now i've just got to have a listen to it.....

Andrew - hope you don't mind a salesman/hifi/home theatre enthusiast snooping around your great rotel club If its for consumers only though i understand

John - yep, i work for a hifi/home theatre store here in sydney - i am reasonably new to this industry so i both appreciate and respect your and others comments and advice on this forum. Its going to be a little difficult to compare the 1068 and the yam 2500 at Lane Cove, because last time i was there they had both units in diffferent rooms, hooked up to different speakers. They probably wouldn't mind setting them up in the same room with the same speakers, but i think it would be a little low of me to go in and ask for a comparison between the 1068 and Yam 2500 when i have no intention of actually buying from them. But hopefully i'll get down to Canberra soon (thats where i'll be sourcing my kit) where i can at least listen to the 1068/1075 combo with some different paradigm speakers.

Nick,

I agree the side by side comparison at another hifi store would be a bit slack. You can do a side by side comparison but there probably isn't much point as the Rotel will be far better than the budget priced Yamaha receiver especially if your focus is more 2ch music. What you really need to do is decide whether the features of either unit suits your needs. I'm surprized you can't order it in from your own hifi store, I assume you no longer have an account with the distributor.

John.

[Nick T]

JOhn,

Unfortunately the store no longer has an account with rotel But i can source the 1068 and 1075 from paradigm's distributor in canberra. There are some nice little features on the yam 2500 that the 1068 does not have, but then the 1068 has some unique features of its own. If the yam 2500 was close to the 1068 in sound quality then i would seriously consider it, but from reading about your (and others) experiences the 1068 is the obvious choice. I'm now happy to go with the 1068 (i think i would have anyway.....) as the sound is more important than useful, but ultimately unecessary, features. Thanks once again for your input

Nick

[JDH]

Nick,

Sent you a PM regarding the upgrade

John.

[Raphie]

Upgraded from a RX-V2400 to RSP-1068 as well, i can only concur with everything above.

[pdr711]

I went from a rxv1400 to a 1056/1080 combo. I picked up more of a detailed sound through hi's, mids and lows. Also the clarity of sound from the center channel got better with the 1056.