Hi guys - Who else has bought "Black" Rotel gear?

[Mark-n-b]

Hello! I'm new to this forum but not new to HT. I've sold my DENON kit (AVC-A1SR etc) and I'm going ROTEL shortly.

In looking at the ROTEL gear it strikes me how many people buy the silver designs, but all black is still available and I might buy my gear in Black.

I was wondering if any other people on this forum had bought black ROTEL components?

[Andrew Pratt]

Its all black for my rack...silver looks nice but for me I want to hear gear not get distracted by it.

[ajpoe]

I too have all black and agree with Andrew. Silver is sweet looking, but I prefer the sleekness of black in a rack. I suggest you scroll through the 'Post Pictures of your Rotels' thread and you will see all kinds of combinations to see what you like best.

[PewterTA]

What's funny is I was an all black gear type of person (I almost said I was a black person... ooppps lol). Anyways, that was what I liked, but now after seeing the silver in person, you do not get distracted by it being in the rack and I think more often than not it gets a lot more "wow" factor to it. Since I've gotten my Rotel gear, I've gotten twice as many (if not 3 to 4x as many) compliments on how good it all looks in a silver/black setup. I never got this with my all black gear that I used to have.

Now if it was an all silver setup, I wouldn't like it at all...but the two tone silver/black (I think) just looks sooooo good.

Reguardless of which you choose though, you're going to love your Rotel gear! :T

[Azeke]

I enjoy the silver for it's aesthetic properties 8) .

Just my humble opinion,

Azeke

[Radec]

Gotta say, silver looks best to me too. I'd buy black in a heartbeat if the silver wasn't available when I made my purchase. I don't think I like silver enough to wait weeks for my new gear :W

[resperc]

Beacuase of the position of my gear I went with the black to minimize it's visual presence. However, I was still tempted to get silver. Either way you gotta love that sound. resperc

[Joelp]

All my Gear is black

[aud19]

Silver here

[FirebirdOne]

I started with black, now that Rotel has gone to silver, I have to order mine black from the dealer.

[DrJRapp]

The nice thing about the aesthetics of Rotel's "silver" is it isn't really silver, but a combination of silver and black. I find this very attractive, plus, it also blends well with the rest of my gear that is black. I don't find the silver in it to be destracting at all in the dark. What is distracting are the bright blue LEDs.

[JDH]

Recently the Australian distributor stopped inporting both colours and now only imports the silver version. Even if black was available I think I would of still gone with the silver anyway.

[Slice]

Mark - you've made the break from Denon sonically, why not visually too?

Silver here - I just liked the appearance, plus didn't want them look like so many other brands of gear out there, especially those carried by the box stores.

Jerry, I hear you about those blue LEDs - Rotel's very own (very expensive) night lights.

[srb]

I have the RSX-1056 and RB-1080 in black. I like the look much better than the silver. The only problem is that if you want to operate it from the front panel, Rotel uses a very low contrast lettering on the black models that is extremely hard to read. The silver models have very easy to read lettering.

I had an Audio Refinement Complete amplifier in silver that looked stunning because it had a finely finished CNC machined faceplate. The Rotel silver, on the other hand, looks to be some kind of powder coat or paint process, that to me, makes it look very cheap.

[gd]

I'm constantly surprised by the number of people who favor the silver.

Oh well, different strokes...

Serious-Business-Darth-Vader-Stealth BLACK for me, please.

[Fishy]

I had all black until I replaced my 1075 for its BIG brother (1095). So I might have to arrange to replace the middle cover on the processor now.

Fish

[phuz]

I've got all black, for a reason. I have absolutely nothing else that is silver. The silver trend seems to have come from the grey/silver TV trend that started a while back, mainly with the Sony TVs... everyone followed after that.

I don't like it. Everything in my room is black, glass, and medium cherry wood.

[rpryan]

I have all black, when I bought my rcd1072 the sales rep said he was sorry that he only had black in stock, but thats what I would of pick anyway.
Bob

[ekkoville]

All black here, I'll never go back.

[FirebirdOne]

Are there silver cover panels to "convert" the old 985 MKII?

[GosonFletchy]

I doubt that you will find any covers to convert a unit that you have. I personally like the silver/black combo but I do have some older pieces of Rotel gear that are all black. I would love it if they were able to convert the units but it appears as though this is not something that was ever offered. I guess they figure if you wanted silver you would have bought it, hehe. Oh well, guess if I want to get all silver/black combo then I will just have to replace my older gear with something more current.

G.

:assimilate:

[Mark_C.]

Once the silver fad is past, it will be back to black. So, I went with the timelessness of black.

[will1066]

Always bet on black. Anyhoo, the black looks meaner.

[Mark-n-b]

Wow thanks for the responses!

I think it's black for me. I like rock (actually I like all types of music), and I believe that the black designs are befitting a thrash sitting of Metallica etc. :T

Sonically the DENON was nothing short of stunning, but the power amps are built into the chassis. I find ROTEL sound slightly tighter, but it is the convenience of upgrading just the processor and keeping the amplifiers that appeals. And the ROTEL kit does look the dog's doodars.

I have a review of the RSX-1065 somewhere and the reviewer recons the designers must have been looking through brochures of the Stealth Bomber while listening to Motorhead at the time. Great analogy!

Mark

[dermie999]

I was all black here and loved it. However in Australia (or so I am informed by my dealer) we can no longer get the black only so my 1098 and 1080 are silver. Not too bad but by choice, when available, I choose black every time. Like Andrew I am more interested in listening than looking.


Trevor

[Elvis]

Black,as mentioned,it still looks great when silver is out of style.

[eelco74]

I have got both the 9 series (985MKII, RB981, RT935 and RD960) and the 10 series (rsp1068) in all black. I might upgrade the 981 to a RB1080, but that one willl be black as well.

[Mr. Mxyztplk]

Rotel in black gives off this air of timeless elegance. Both of my Rotel amps are in black. The irritating part is my dealer only keeps the silver versions in stock. I have to order my Rotel components.

The silver fad will fade along with the super bright 'retina burning" blue LEDs.

[Nick M]

The thing that turned me off from the black unit was the gold lettering and how it clashes with the red led. Reminds me of some 70's/80's color scheme. My ideal combo would be all black with silver lettering and blue LED. I ultimately went with the silver unit even though my dealer had both in stock.

[Mark-n-b]

Well it seems more people like the black which I find surprising. Rotel products do seem timeless and perhaps that's why - everyone who is used to seeing Rotel up until the late 90's was used to the black (with red bits).

And the heat sinks on Rotel products should always be black. (For as long as they have heat sinks that is...)

[Azeke]

The silver fad will fade along with the super bright 'retina burning" blue LEDs.

Not as long as I am alive :rofl: .

Azeke

[Mark-n-b]

Now i've seen Fishy's black 1098 i am personally convinced that black is best. :T

Mark

[weijst]

...My ideal combo would be all black with silver lettering and blue LED...

I second that! Than again, I do not wish to brag with things which (or that?) are not mine (I have all bi-colour myself), but I remember this picture in the "Pictures" section: http://www.htguide.com/forum/attachm...ttachmentid=89

SaNdOkAn's system looks stunning to me!

[Mark-n-b]

Yeah that really is superb.

[starlights]

Is the main LED color of the all black 1075 / 1095 Blue too, like the silver version ? Recently i saw a picture of the Black 1075 with red LED

I ve silver - and thats what i like.

[Fishy]

http://www.htguide.com/forum/attachm...ttachmentid=89

I luv that rack.... Who makes it?

Fish

[TonyStarks]

Hey All,

My 1095, 1075 & RT 1080 are black, my RSP 1098 is silver only because rotel didnt bring the black to Australia this annoyed me to no end

[ti33er]

hmmm looks quite nice but it is on wheels? - don't know how much that will isolate your equipment from micro-vibrations? Equipment racks do make a difference to audio (it is small, but it is there!) ...wonder if there is a spiking kit option?

Originally Posted by weijst

http://www.htguide.com/forum/attachment.php4?attachmentid=89

[raider]

Black is where its at!!!!

[GregoriusM]

New 1056 came today- black!

It just looks like a LEAN, MEAN, SOUND MACHINE!

A sleeper.

Stealth.

It just exudes POWER!

Yep. Yep. Yep. :B

[yblocgerg]

I was thinking of getting black gear, but the aesthetics of the silver tackled my senses. But I'm sure it blends into HT darkness better.

[RebelMan]

Imho

The black Rotel gear is beautiful, but the black and silver gear is STUPENDOUS! :T