Rotel receiver or Yamaha receiver with Rotel amp?

[Robosapien]

I already own a Yamaha RX-V1500. I like the features and reliability but not the sound so much. Would I be better off selling the Yamaha and going with a Rotel receiver(1057) or keeping the Yamaha and using it with a Rotel amp? As I wouldn't get much $$$ for it, better sound quality(???) and less clutter would be the main reasons for selling the Yamaha.

[soundhound]

I went to Rotel from Yamaha, changing the "preamp" section as your thinking would make a big difference, but go listen and let your ears judge for themselves.
Rotel designs for sound quality, with only the essential bells and whistles.

[Robosapien]

Just doing some groundwork I do plan on auditioning ASAP. As I've never used a receiver as a pre I was just trying to understand if using the Yamaha would ''adulterate'' the Rotel's sound characteristics. Wouldn't the Yamaha's pre stage be the weakest link compared to a Rotel receiver which is Rotel pre and Rotel amp.

[mike c]

I'd say get the amp first ... that would pave the way for separates in the future (if you want) - that way nothing gets wasted YET

[NMG]

Nmg

I'd vote to switch to the 1057 as I think there will be a greater improvement in sound quality by getting the Rotel pre-amp section as opposed to running a more powerful amp through the Yamaha's pre-amp section.

This does turn into a difficult analysis though because allot will depend on your future plans, what sort of sound you are looking for, how hard you drive your system, etc. Like soundhound said, an actual listening session would be very worthwhile.

[Russ L]

I traded my Yamaha RX-757 for the Rotel RSX-1057 because the brassy harshness of the upper midrange made me cringe. The precision of the Rotel is remarkable. The Pre will influence sound less than the amp. How much others will know better. Most influence on SQ:
1. Speakers and Room Acoustics
2. Source
3. Amp
4. Pre
5.Interconnects
6. Speaker cables
7. Power quality
Thoughts anyone?
Maybe you can demo the Rotel Amp with the Yammi Receiver and compare with the Rotel RSX-1057. -Russ

[joetama]

I went from a Yamaha RX-V1500 to a Rotel RSP-1098 using a RB-1080 to drive my 703's and wow is all I can say. I expected an upgrade in the sound but nothing like actually happened. The realism and precision with the RSP-1098 totally floored me. I would say it is an awesome upgrade idea.

[soundhound]

Robo,
your thinking is on the money.

I would turn 3 and 4 around Russ.
If your speakers are descent, capable of full range, and your amp is not way under powered, the pre will have a very big impact on the overall sound.

[Robosapien]

''I traded my Yamaha RX-757 for the Rotel RSX-1057 because the brassy harshness of the upper midrange made me cringe.''
That pretty much sums up what I've been experiencing with my Yamaha. Yet some people(on other forums) maintain that the electronics have little or nothing ro do with the overall sound. Maybe my Boston speakers are not the smoothest or most engaging speakers out there but they never sounded this harsh on my old Harmon Kardon stereo receiver or on a friend's NAD.

[joetama]

''I traded my Yamaha RX-757 for the Rotel RSX-1057 because the brassy harshness of the upper midrange made me cringe.''
That pretty much sums up what I've been experiencing with my Yamaha. Yet some people(on other forums) maintain that the electronics have little or nothing ro do with the overall sound. Maybe my Boston speakers are not the smoothest or most engaging speakers out there but they never sounded this harsh on my old Harmon Kardon stereo receiver or on a friend's NAD.

People sometimes believe crazy things (not saying they are right or wrong) but you have to listen and believe what you believe for yourself. No one has your set of ears or tastes to what music should sound like. I grew up on old B&W DM330i's and Meyer Pro Audio (MSL-3/4/6 and UPAs) so that is how music should sound to me. But, there is no doubt in my mind that I can hear things with my Rotel that were not present with my Yamaha. A perfect example would be in Los Lobos "The Ride" one of the songs has a 'knock knock' sound. The first time I played this CD with my new setup I seriously paused the track and went to see who was at my door. My, friends who listen to it do the exact same thing (one of them didn't even know I added anything new to my setup so there was no "placebo effect”).

[revelman]

You probably dont want to hear this but your gonna have to listen to both and decide what you like better. You never know.

[apodaca]

''I traded my Yamaha RX-757 for the Rotel RSX-1057 because the brassy harshness of the upper midrange made me cringe.''
That pretty much sums up what I've been experiencing with my Yamaha. Yet some people(on other forums) maintain that the electronics have little or nothing ro do with the overall sound. Maybe my Boston speakers are not the smoothest or most engaging speakers out there but they never sounded this harsh on my old Harmon Kardon stereo receiver or on a friend's NAD.

I went from a Harman AVR 630 and added 1070 stereo amp and then went to Rotel 1056 and there was an audible difference. Rotel was a bit more forward in its presentation and had more air as well as better high frequency response but also more detailed with a better sense of depth and 'punch'. The cost though was that CDs that sounded bad sounded worse (I have found a trend in CDs to sound hot and or bright at least way more often than their SACD or DVD-A counterparts) but those recorded well and almost all SACDs/ DVD-A sounded excellent. At louder volumes the AVR could not match the 1070 nor the 1056 in terms of sounding clean. The Harman AVR 7300 should be a more worthy opponent unfortunately I never had it for a demo.

I have also demoed Yamaha and can tell you that Yamaha has an even higher frequency response in the high frequencies (extended sometimes is good if executed well) so it may not be a good match for a neutral or brighter side of neutral speaker. Their DVD-A and SACD players sound the same unfortunately. On the other side of the spectrum I demoed an Outlaw 7125 amp in house and the results were the opposite with the 7125 sounding darker, less airy and detailed than Rotel but still more pleasing than Yamaha. Rotel to me offered both the best compromise and value. Having about 50% high rez music (SACDs mostly) and 50% CDs I have invested in a very high quality SACD player and am very pleased with my system now. Component matching and quality is essential when putting together a high end/high quality sound system.


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[classicman]

I'd say get the amp first ... that would pave the way for separates in the future (if you want) - that way nothing gets wasted YET

i agree w/ mike c.......IMHO, i think it is a more prudent route especially so w/ the advent of the new formats (HD DVD & Blu-ray) that will surely affect all surround processors & receivers 8)

[lvhung]

I use Yamaha 2500 with French speakers and WOW I forget my boring life
Adding rotel power 1070 is quite a jump in dynamic but I still love my Yama receiver

[Robosapien]

Which French speakers are you referring to? Triangle, J.M. Reynaud?

[lvhung]

yamaha RXV is not powerful as Rotel but it is sound so clean with JMlab

[chinets]

I have both Yamaha and Rotel. Go with the Rotel for more detailed, dynamic Music or HT. Making your ears do your mental decision is the most important factor here ,and whether you like a forward or a warm sound depends on your taste? Only your ears can make that clear diference, which in turn will make up your mind!! Trust your ears ,and please demo everything before plunging into the unknown!
Hard decisions, but you have to do them.
Cheers

[lvhung]

It is very logic that I should demo as much as good to come to final decision
But in Singapore when I stayed there 2 months
I listened to over 10 setups of both 2 channel and 5 channel , nothing sound good
and some demo sound even bad
I was tired and bored to listen to " demo "
Now I buy Rotel electronics and speakers mainly to audio reviews

[Elvis]

There are alot of inexperienced people out there that think all pre's sound the same.Don't buy into that line,most all sound different.If you have good speakers and amp you MUST have a decent pre,after the speakers it's the most important part.

Enter Rotel,they make a solid product that's superior in audio compared to most avr's.I'd rather hear a 1056/57 only than most mass mrkt avr's with a Krell amp.Yamaha is well known to be bright,regardless of the defense by some owners.If one wants a bright avr that's fine but it didn't get that rep for nothing.

[Robosapien]

Yamaha is well known to be bright,regardless of the defense by some owners.If one wants a bright avr that's fine but it didn't get that rep for nothing.

It's funny how, on the one hand, Yamaha gets good reviews and on the other the general concensus is that they are(too)bright. Many defenders will tell you that the room or the speakers are the problem. I've owned many mid/hi-fi systems but never experienced sibilance before owning a Yamaha A/V. I was recently told that RSX-1057 has the same basic ''sound structure'' as Yamaha - but without the harshness. I'm really hoping this is true - if not it's back to good old stereo(Rotel or otherwise) for me.