Compared the RSP 1066 vs RSP 985

[deloner]

I bought the RSP 985 a couple of weeks ago.Had some trouble in the beginning with it, but now everything is okay.I loaned a 1066 from a dealer to compare the 1066 vs 985 (have the RMB 1075).I calibrated it and then the listening begun.I listend to my favorite cd's that i know well.And they sounded awful compared to the 985.The sound sounds compressed,harsh,agressive, and i don't feel it has controll over the bass as the 985 has.I't sounds as my old Yamaha RX-V1300RDS as i used as a processor with the 1075.The 985 is just so much better in my ears and i had a couple of buddys to listen too, and they all liked the 985 much better than the 1066.The 985 has a much wider,clear,warm sound.I then tested the processors on movies, and it turned out the same again.The 985 has much better surround, and it dosn't sound agressive as the 1066.If i had bought the 1066 as a replacement oer the rxv1300, i had returned the 1066 and used the 1300 as a processor instead.Its not worth the money difference in my opinion.All over the world the 1066 is called the best processor in its price range, but that i cant understand.In fact i have read one bad review of the 1066, and that was in a swedish magazin.They said that 1066 was not good in stereo, and i agree about that.

I was just lucky that i found the 985.I bought it without hearing it.I was going for the 1066 at that time, but there was the 985, and in my ears it is so much better processor in stereo and 5.1 (i don't need the prologic2,6.1,7.1)

So is the 1066 overrated?
And how will you compare the 1066 vs 1098?

Regards
Tom
Norway

[Andrew Pratt]

the 1098 sounds quite a bit better then the 1066. I'm glad you found a product you like though I'm a little surprsied to hear your results.

[eelco74]

Since the 985 is an older unit, it might be run in. Was the 1066 a brand new unit ? It takes at leas 60 hours before you can do any serious listening.

The 985 was a very good (and expensive) processor, however I am suprised about the outcome.

[will1066]

Yes, I've heard past mentions that the 985 is better-sounding than the 1066. However, I don't think the 1066 is overrated.

[deloner]

The 1066 was a demo unit, and has been in the shop about 8 months.So it was run in.But do you really have to run in a processor? After much reading in different forums, people don't agree on that.

[Kevin D]

Component wise, I would think the 985 is more similar to the 1098 then the 1066. It was a $2000 retail piece that didn't do as much.

Kevin D.

[teekster]

My first Rotel Pre/Pro was an RSP-976. At the time, the MSRP was $1200, while the 985 was $2000. The 1066 seemed to be an evolution of the 976 in design, features, and performance.

[Mike Hayes]

I owned the RXV1200 prior to the 1066. The 1066 is a huge upgrade over the 1200. No comparison. Much softer, yet fuller surround sound. The 1200 did suffer from some of the harshness you describe but not the 1066. I have noticed a night and day difference between the 2 units.