Hey all!
I'm a first time Rotel owner, been eyeing the RSX since the introduction of the 1065. First off, I did find a good amount of info on the hiss/pop issue amongst the threads, but didn't find much info on my questions and issues specifically so I decided to start a new thread, I hope I'm not treading on posting etiquette.
So I just purchased the RSX-1067 last weekend. I was able to read up on some of the potential issues here on HTguide.com so I made sure to tell my dealer to get me a unit with a recent build date. I later wrote Rotel about about when the build date was and learned it was from May 2004. Though I really like my dealer, I was a little annoyed that he assured me I'd be getting the newest shipment which came in a month ago. I guess it's possible they did receive a month ago, but received an older unit from their distributors. Unfortunately I am unsure on how to see what firmware the unit is running since I haven't hooked up the OSD yet.
So far, my testing with the 1067 has mainly been 2 Channel. First, I love the sound, I'm coming from a crappy Sony receiver and the improvement in soundstage and imaging is simply amazing. The build quality of the Rotel alone is enough to make me love this unit. Of course after reading these posts about odd issues with Rotel amps & receivers, I stuck my ear to my speakers and immediately started fudging with the unit to see if I was unlucky enough to find some of the issues. My speakers are not great (next in line for future purchase), I am running JBL studio monitor 4208's (8ohms) with 4.5M PS Audio xstream prelude cables. I have not connected anything else to the 1067 other than my 2 mains, and a dvd/cd player.
I was in 2CH bypass mode and the first thing I noticed was a hiss from the speakers when there was no source...when volume is at 0 it was barely audible. Once it hits 1, it was very audible with my ear right at the tweeter, but not really audible from 6 ft away. If I put the volume up to max, the hiss was VERY audible, even from 6 ft away. I have read that some hiss will always be inherent in audio equipment, the question is how much is too much? What should be acceptable from the 1067? The volume of the "hiss" really seems to be subjective. I have also read on many of the posts what people refer to as "hum". I'm not sure I would call the hiss from my speakers hum, to me, hum sounds like a low frequency type noise. This hiss is not really audible when music is playing, but is volume dependent.
The other thing I noticed was a static pop noise. This one is a little bit more difficult for me to isolate. I first noticed it while listening to "Angel" by Sarah mclaughlin from the "City of Angels" movie soundtrack (HDCD). The song is primarily vocals and piano, so there isn't a lot going on. I started to notice an occasional abrupt, static pop. I eventually was able to reproduce it when turning the volume knob to increase and decrease the sound level. When I repeatedly turn the knob back and forth quickly, I am able to reproduce a static like clicking or popping noise as the knob is being turned. It does not happen as much if the knob is being turned slowly in any one direction. It still occurs, but not as frequently. The static pop sound is a lot more difficult to hear on songs that have more instruments and tracks going on. I then tried to see if I could recreate it when listening to radio. I also did hear a slight pop everytime I press the tune up or down button. I was able to recreate the series of static pops even when listening to the radio (AM channel, talking with silent environment). Again, it's faint, not like how some posts have described a loud pop or crackle from all speakers during multichannel play, and again this is going through 2 channel stereo only. It's an extremely subtle "click" noise.
I am still slightly afraid since I haven't even tested the 1067 in multichannel yet. I do have a Panamax 5300 and plenty of Virtual Dynamics power cords so I will be testing the 1067 using those peripherals today. I just don't know whether the things I am experiencing are the same as everyone elses issues, or am I just being paranoid and finding things to fit the description of exisiting issues? Should I contact Rotel about this first? or Dealer? I want to be as informed as possible so I don't fall prey to the potential "it's normal" attitude. I have also seen a few threads on how hot the 1067 runs, my unit runs hot as hell also. Even with only 2 channels driven, volume level somewhere around the upper 40's for about 20 minutes will make the unit almost too hot to touch on certain areas of the top of the unit. My unit is also sitting in the middle of the room so ventilation is not the issue. The heat does not bother me as much, but the other two potential issues do. I am, however, intent on sticking with the unit, I am sold on Rotel's sound (sans the potential issues) and build/material quality!
Thanks!
I'm a first time Rotel owner, been eyeing the RSX since the introduction of the 1065. First off, I did find a good amount of info on the hiss/pop issue amongst the threads, but didn't find much info on my questions and issues specifically so I decided to start a new thread, I hope I'm not treading on posting etiquette.
So I just purchased the RSX-1067 last weekend. I was able to read up on some of the potential issues here on HTguide.com so I made sure to tell my dealer to get me a unit with a recent build date. I later wrote Rotel about about when the build date was and learned it was from May 2004. Though I really like my dealer, I was a little annoyed that he assured me I'd be getting the newest shipment which came in a month ago. I guess it's possible they did receive a month ago, but received an older unit from their distributors. Unfortunately I am unsure on how to see what firmware the unit is running since I haven't hooked up the OSD yet.
So far, my testing with the 1067 has mainly been 2 Channel. First, I love the sound, I'm coming from a crappy Sony receiver and the improvement in soundstage and imaging is simply amazing. The build quality of the Rotel alone is enough to make me love this unit. Of course after reading these posts about odd issues with Rotel amps & receivers, I stuck my ear to my speakers and immediately started fudging with the unit to see if I was unlucky enough to find some of the issues. My speakers are not great (next in line for future purchase), I am running JBL studio monitor 4208's (8ohms) with 4.5M PS Audio xstream prelude cables. I have not connected anything else to the 1067 other than my 2 mains, and a dvd/cd player.
I was in 2CH bypass mode and the first thing I noticed was a hiss from the speakers when there was no source...when volume is at 0 it was barely audible. Once it hits 1, it was very audible with my ear right at the tweeter, but not really audible from 6 ft away. If I put the volume up to max, the hiss was VERY audible, even from 6 ft away. I have read that some hiss will always be inherent in audio equipment, the question is how much is too much? What should be acceptable from the 1067? The volume of the "hiss" really seems to be subjective. I have also read on many of the posts what people refer to as "hum". I'm not sure I would call the hiss from my speakers hum, to me, hum sounds like a low frequency type noise. This hiss is not really audible when music is playing, but is volume dependent.
The other thing I noticed was a static pop noise. This one is a little bit more difficult for me to isolate. I first noticed it while listening to "Angel" by Sarah mclaughlin from the "City of Angels" movie soundtrack (HDCD). The song is primarily vocals and piano, so there isn't a lot going on. I started to notice an occasional abrupt, static pop. I eventually was able to reproduce it when turning the volume knob to increase and decrease the sound level. When I repeatedly turn the knob back and forth quickly, I am able to reproduce a static like clicking or popping noise as the knob is being turned. It does not happen as much if the knob is being turned slowly in any one direction. It still occurs, but not as frequently. The static pop sound is a lot more difficult to hear on songs that have more instruments and tracks going on. I then tried to see if I could recreate it when listening to radio. I also did hear a slight pop everytime I press the tune up or down button. I was able to recreate the series of static pops even when listening to the radio (AM channel, talking with silent environment). Again, it's faint, not like how some posts have described a loud pop or crackle from all speakers during multichannel play, and again this is going through 2 channel stereo only. It's an extremely subtle "click" noise.
I am still slightly afraid since I haven't even tested the 1067 in multichannel yet. I do have a Panamax 5300 and plenty of Virtual Dynamics power cords so I will be testing the 1067 using those peripherals today. I just don't know whether the things I am experiencing are the same as everyone elses issues, or am I just being paranoid and finding things to fit the description of exisiting issues? Should I contact Rotel about this first? or Dealer? I want to be as informed as possible so I don't fall prey to the potential "it's normal" attitude. I have also seen a few threads on how hot the 1067 runs, my unit runs hot as hell also. Even with only 2 channels driven, volume level somewhere around the upper 40's for about 20 minutes will make the unit almost too hot to touch on certain areas of the top of the unit. My unit is also sitting in the middle of the room so ventilation is not the issue. The heat does not bother me as much, but the other two potential issues do. I am, however, intent on sticking with the unit, I am sold on Rotel's sound (sans the potential issues) and build/material quality!
Thanks!
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