Are Rotel Products HiFi?

[DrJRapp]

all I am saying is that there is a line between pricey audiophile equipment and Rotel.

Yes, you draw a line and that line is based on price, not performance. Don't you think that perhaps price is the wrong criterion for determining quality? I can find some mighty expensive Bose Acoustimass speakers out there that nobody who knows anything about HiFi would ever classify as quality.

[Mitchell]

This thread is pointless... what is the value of classifying Rotel products?... to give it a 'high-end' rating as if to imply that you don't have much untill you move up to a Rotel?

Actually I think GD is correct.
Except that as hobbyists/audiophiles we enjoy discussing this stuff way more than a non hobbyist would think is overkill. Clearly the "discussing" and "classifying" is fun for many people. I have seen it in every hobby/endeavor I have been in from Sailing, skiing, scuba diving etc. The problem is when it gets nasty and it is no longer fun.
As in many discussions the answer depends on the premises that the person who is answering it is relying on. I believe that when one gets to a certain expense level which for me is more than 3-4 thousand dollars for a basic stereo system and the audio quality is above that of the usual system I can buy at best Buy or J&R Music I am in the realm of HIFI. When I see my potential equipment reviewed positively in magazines such as Audiophile or others I become even more confident. Do I fool myself into thinking that it is the best? Of course not. I live in NY and my dealer auditioned for me a $250,000 system. What I spend on an entire Rotel System many people here spend on one CD Player.
It would be interesting to hear the market share numbers overall for different brands. For instance if 98% of all audio system purchased were under $2000 worldwide then I would think that a $5000 system would be regarded as Hi End. If you insist on drawing the line at $249,000 then the system I heard for $250k would be one of the few high end systems around.
Everyone seems to have their own definition and I am sure that the guy with the $250k system thinks Rotel is pretty crude stuff. He may not think much more of Krell or Bryston either. But as I have said before, if Intelligent educated people are listening to different brands and choosing Rotel,if magazines are reviewing the equipment positively, if many high end dealers are recommending them and the price while lower than a Krell or Bryston is still higher than what the vast majority of the population would buy, isnt that equipment likely to be considered high end?

[gd]

The point is to see how others view what they get from Rotel in terms of how HiFi is defined. Afterall, who really determines what's HiFi? You? Me? The magazines? The manufacturers? Pointless? Not at all pointless.

Hmmm... after thinking about it...

I'm sticking with 'pointless'.

I don't need the definition, I can't use the classification.

I can only guage Rotel (or any gear) by how it performs in my home... this is most accurately determined by auditioning... information from outside sources (you, the magazines, the manufacturers, and online user comments) is very useful as a starting point to learn basic characteristics of a given component... but I would be very wary of anybody's 'rating' guidelines.

'Good' and 'bad' are subjective -- especially as they relate to sound quality... if you care about the hobby at all, it's something you have to discover for yourself, not refer to a published checklist.

[RebelMan]

Mitchell and gd, I think you both have missed the "point" . This excercise is only meant to see what people think (their opinion) about Rotel products and how well they fit into the definition of HiFi. Everyone has an opinion on this and I (others too) appreciate them.

[gd]

Mitchell and gd, I think you both have missed the "point" .

Well, if I have, it wouldn't be the first time... :wink:

All I can contribute is that classifications mean little to me... and Rotel = good.

Otherwise, enjoying the discussion.

And enjoying music.

[soldonandy]

Here is perhaps the final input on the debate because we seem to be going round and round and what started as a neat little poll is becoming "pointless".

RebelMan- Whether you want to admit it or not, you are a guy that finally took the plunge to spend a few bucks on some step up gear and are looking to have your good will feelings toward Rotel validated by others who are "sold" by Rotel on the same level. The reality is that there is nothing wrong with feeling positive about a purchase and if you want to feel that Rotel is in the highest threshold of audio/video offerings, so be it.

Jerry: I really don't get half of what you say, you try to be so witty with everything you say that 1/2 the time I am not sure people know what you mean, maybe it's part of the "I am an imprortant guy, I own a Jaguar, I own a business, blah, blah, blah" small guy ego syndrome. From your earlier posts mostly you come across as a huge Rotel advocate and more recently you are the first to jump in with your misery stories relating to your ownership experience. You chime in on this discussion stating that Rotel's quality is not up to snuff and that you have gotten burned recommending it and then you come after me when I point out that part of Rotel's classification in the mid hifi class has to do with the manufacturing process. At one point you told me that you never owned a RMB 1095 then I find a post that says you did. Which is it Jerry, do you like Rotel or not? Do you think it is midhifi or hifi? I'd be curious if you can simply answer the question.

In closing, I hate for this to be confrontational and I think we all know that most of these types of discussion will solicit all extremes. RebelMan, the most important thing is that you are satisfied with your purchase and sounds like you are so enjoy!

[Mitchell]

Soldon
I figured out awhile ago that besides being informational, this forum allows people who like to talk about this stuff talk about it.
Its part of the hobby. I see no point in getting confrontational to other people about audio equipment. Its not important enough. Now if you want to talk about people who prefer Coke to Pepsi thats another story.

[RebelMan]

Here is perhaps the final input on the debate because we seem to be going round and round and what started as a neat little poll is becoming "pointless".

If that's how you see it, sobeit.

RebelMan- Whether you want to admit it or not, you are a guy that finally took the plunge to spend a few bucks on some step up gear and are looking to have your good will feelings toward Rotel validated by others who are "sold" by Rotel on the same level. The reality is that there is nothing wrong with feeling positive about a purchase and if you want to feel that Rotel is in the highest threshold of audio/video offerings, so be it.

Actually, my feelings were validated long before. If I were really that concerned I would have asked the question before taking the plunge. BTW, I really don't think Rotel is the highest A/V as you put it, but one of highest A/V in terms of value. Weather you would like to admit it (now) or not, you felt the same way not to long ago, when you were considering the RMB-1095. :wink:

RebelMan, the most important thing is that you are satisfied with your purchase and sounds like you are so enjoy!

Thanks!

[DrJRapp]

Jerry: I really don't get half of what you say, you try to be so witty with everything you say that 1/2 the time I am not sure people know what you mean, maybe it's part of the "I am an imprortant guy, I own a Jaguar, I own a business, blah, blah, blah" small guy ego syndrome.

Andy,

Every time I appear somewhere you attack me , and it doesn't matter what forum or what the subject. You read parts of things that I write and assign your own meaning to them and twist them around in your head for your own self service. Then you eventually explode in a personal attack as you did above.

I am truely sorry if it intimidates you so much that I am very educated and very successful. It's certainly nothing I have to hide or be ashamed of because you can't deal with it. Most people here understand what I am saying, I'm truely sorry if you can't.

Although ownership and preference for Rotel gear isn't an absolute criteria for membership here, that is the intention of this club.

[Andrew Pratt]

I think this topic has strayed far enough of topic and no longer serves its original purpose so i'm going to close it. Also we're all adults here so please lets behave like grown ups.

[soldonandy]

*removed by moderator*

[Andrew Pratt]

Andy apparently you missed my post about behaving like adults. Consider this your first and last warning on the matter. I tend to let you guys play unattended but don't think I won't step in when members start to insult each other...that goes for everyone here on the HTGuide.

[Lex]

Actually, I have a few comments. As owner, I provide HTGuide as an outlet and inlet for audio video discussion. The clubs were setup for members to learn about their specific gear, a focus group if you will about select equipment. Just because you've owned gear of that brand in the past, does not give a person the right to come in blasting it because they've purchased gear they consider "higher end". It's not only condescending, it's rude, uncalled for, and totally unwelcome at HTGuide. It also doesn't give a person the right to come in and quitely lay little land mines, that they know will start discussion that will get someone upset, and create controversy, so then they can perform vicious attacks on people, seamingly justified in their own mind. That person will be tossed out of HTGuide so fast it will make their head spin. I'm not saying you are him XXXXXXX. But I am saying, I've seen this once. A second time will result in membership termination. But personal attacks will not be tollerated.

The debate about whether the gear of our clubs is "quality" is not really up for debate. We established the clubs because the gear is a draw to a lot of people primarily. The huge nature of Club Rotel says, Rotel is doing many things right and is good gear. Have they had some issues? Well, yeah, who hasn't that sells a large volume of gear? The more gear you sell, the more that can have an issue. It's just a numbers game. That still doesn't mean it is not good gear.

The fact is, Hi-Fi stands for High Fidelity. The original definition was a radio or other transmission device driving more than 1 speaker and producing sound that is of a premium nature. I think. That makes all gear high fidelity that we use. High Fidelity is truly outdated terminology. Hi-Fi refers more appropriately to stereo gear in this day and age. A mis-nomer of sorts really, adaptation of a term.

IS Rotel High end? To some people it is, and that's fine. To others it's above average quality gear. That's ok too. High end is such a fickled catigorization. In the end,the only thing that matters, is does it make sound through your speakers that you enjoy. That's high end.

Doug