RB-1090, is it working?

[Tapesh]

I recently got my Rotel RB1090.

Hooked it up to my Denon AVR-3300 I don’t see any diff. Is there some thing wrong with the amplifier or its my ear or am just not cut out for high end audio.

This is a pre-owned unit not a brand new unit so I can’t go to the store and get it exchanged. Even otherwise we don’t have a dealer in this area (Albany, NY).

Speakers that I have are new Managpan MMGs or my old Polk RM7500. Interconnects are Monster Ultra THX certified.

Is there any thing wrong that can be a problem. Power related or power cord or some thing you can think of.

I will be talking to Rotel though, may be they have some clue.

Please help I am very puzzled.

Regards

Tapesh

[Andrew Pratt]

I've owned the Maggie MMG's and even powered them with a Denon 3300 so I know your gear. Back when I had that combo I found that the Denon didn't do too bada job with the maggies except for louder volumes and it really strained when I added more maggies for a full 5.1 setup. My solution at the time was to add a 5 channel power amp (HK) which really helpped to take the strain off the Denon which made it run much cooler and the bass response improved. Given the significantly better amp you're using with the 1090 I have a hard time believing that it doesn't improve the sound you hear. What sort of volumes do you typically listen too? Do you have a subwoofer? Are there other maggie speakers in the setup and what's the cross over set to?

[Tapesh]

Andrew,

That’s my point, this amplifier is way to more powerful than Denon 3300 that there should be no comparison but its almost like Denon.

As I have bought a used piece, that’s making me think all the more that there is some thing wrong. Serial # is intact and it doesn’t look that its been opened ever so I doubt that’s the problem.

Talked to Rotel, one thing they said was use electrostatic(I think I said it right) speakers not magnapan’s or send it to us and we can check it. But before I do that and end up spending $100.00 on shipping, I want to make sure that I am not doing some thing wrong.

My listening level is not very high, rather its on the low side. There is subwoofer but, it doesn’t kick in as pre-amp outs are being used with Rotel. No other speakers I am using for stereo.

My tube Pre-Amp (ASL’s AS2004DT) has just arrived when I was leaving for office so that will make this setup totaly independent. And I will get a better insight in to the problem, if there is any.

Or may be I was expecting too much.

Thanks

Tapesh

[aud19]

If you're still using the Denon as your pre/pro it will be leaving it's same audio signature as it was before using it's own internal amps. Especially if you're listening at lower volumes. Without utilizing the extra power of the seperate amp you probably won't notice much if any difference at all. If you were to crank it up you'd probably notice less strain, compression, possibly a lower noise floor etc but at low volumes you're still just going to hear the signal the 3300 is sending it.

J.R.




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[vsarathy]

Talked to Rotel, one thing they said was use electrostatic(I think I said it right) speakers not magnapan’s or send it to us and we can check it.

Wonder why they suggested that you use a pair of electrostatic speakers and not planar ones like the Maggies. Why would a 1090 have trouble with planar speakers like the MMGs. I am just curious as I my Rotel 1098-1095 are on the way and in near future I intend to get a pair of Magnepan MG 1.6Q/Rs.

Viji

[Tapesh]

Magnepan, doesnt seem like an issue here. I talked to Magnepan after that and they didnt agree with that either.

One thing I can say about Magnepan is give them a chance and listen to them at home with their 60-day home trial. Probably that will change your mind. It did mine. Was all set for B&W 603 S3 or Polk's LSi15, but now I think will get 1.6Qr instead.

Thanks

Tapesh

[vsarathy]

One thing I can say about Magnepan is give them a chance and listen to them at home with their 60-day home trial.

I have listened to the MG 3.2s at length at my brother-in-law's and that's what got me hooked into the Maggies. Unfortunately, Magnepan does not have the promotion that you mentioned for the MG 1.6s. The closest Magnepan dealer for me is in Atlanta, about 180 miles away but he will ship the 1.6s.

I have read great reviews about the 1.6s and if I can be assured that the Rotels can handle them without a fuss, I am willing to to give the 1.6s a big leap of faith and just order them when the time comes.

Viji

[Andrew Pratt]

The Rotel should have no problem powering any maggie speaker. Maggies get a bad rep for being hard to drive but electrostats are much more difficult. Maggies appear as a constant 4 ohm load to an amp vs an electrostat that could dip down to 2 ohms (Martin Logan's) which obviously is much harder on an amp.

If you're not listening very loud you'll likely not notice as much improvement in sonics then if you were powering 5 maggies and listening at a louder volume. The 1090's likely fine and will be with you for a long time if you're willing to keep it.

[Tapesh]

Thanks a lot for your help and advice.

Problem was some thing to do with the signal that was coming from receiver, cant explain or understand.

Hooked up my new ASL AQ2004-DT Pre-Amp, that arrived just in time today morn. Cant believe there is a Day & Night diff.

I am so happy that my search/research realy paid off. There couldnt have been a better and cheaper solution then a Best valued Tube pre-Amp and Best valued Monoblocks my RB-1090. Just $1305.00 + $270.00.

I wasnt in a position to buy 1098 so went this route and saved money

Magnepan is definately is a winner in speakers. Cant believe if theire demos are so good then how good their 1.6 QR will sound.

Thanks

Tapesh

[Andrew Pratt]

Tapesh you like don't want to hear this but the 1.6's are even better. They'll give you a wider soundstage and better bass response...and you really don't want to listen to the 3.6's because they'll drive you mad tryingto find a way to afford them

[ht_addict]

Thanks a lot for your help and advice.

Problem was some thing to do with the signal that was coming from receiver, cant explain or understand.

Hooked up my new ASL AQ2004-DT Pre-Amp, that arrived just in time today morn. Cant believe there is a Day & Night diff.

I am so happy that my search/research realy paid off. There couldnt have been a better and cheaper solution then a Best valued Tube pre-Amp and Best valued Monoblocks my RB-1090. Just $1305.00 + $270.00.

I wasnt in a position to buy 1098 so went this route and saved money

Magnepan is definately is a winner in speakers. Cant believe if theire demos are so good then how good their 1.6 QR will sound.

Thanks

Tapesh

I think what your hearing is the night and day difference between a tube preamp and the Denon design not any type of signal coming from the Denon. Your speakers are 86db sensitive/1meter. Your receiver puts out 140w into 6ohm so probably 200w into 4ohms. So lets say at 128w pre channel being used you looking at 107db. Now you say your listen at lower level so you maybe at most using 32-64w per channel. Not really at taxing issue on the receivers amps. Now the 1090 is putting out 700w into 4ohms. So where your going to see the difference is at higher volumes where the speakers are screaming for power. The Denons internals just couldn't handle it.. Personally I notice the same thing when I went from a Rotel RMB-1066 to RMB-1095. At lower volumes I could hear better on the 1095. At mid levels then both sound the same. Its when I crank it during intense action scenes in movies that the 1095 shines with all that extra power to spare.

ht_addict

[Andrew Pratt]

Your receiver puts out probably 140w into 6ohm so probably 200w into 4ohms

If you go to this site you"ll see that the denon 3300 puts out 83 watts into 8 ohms so I'd guess its about 130 into 4 ohms...if that

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Hollow/3401/ratevsac.htm

[ht_addict]

Your receiver puts out probably 140w into 6ohm so probably 200w into 4ohms

If you go to this site you"ll see that the denon 3300 puts out 83 watts into 8 ohms so I'd guess its about 130 into 4 ohms...if that

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Hollow/3401/ratevsac.htm

8O I was going by the specs on Denons website. But even at 130watts per, he's got enough juice for low levels. Again its louder volumes, more intense transients that where he'll hear a difference.

ht_addict

[Andrew Pratt]

Agreed but then the pre amp section in the 3300 isn't all that great...though its better then the 3801 which was horrible.