Rotel going all-digital?

[Blindamood]

Read a rumor on another forum the other day that Rotel is discontinuing the RMB-1095 and RMB-1075. (Coincidentally, my dealer has all of their Rotel demo amps--including two-channel models--on sale at the moment.) Stopped in at my dealer for something else today, and asked if the rumor is true. Basically, it sounds like yes, they are discontinuing both, and are now concentrating on the newer digital amps.

Has anyone else heard anything about this? To me, it would be a real shame to see these babies disappear.

[Kevin D]

News to me, good thing it's not true. They are no where close to ended the 1095 or 1075. They are looking at adding more digital amps, but their analog line isn't going anywhere.

Due to price increases in copper and transportation, the 1095 is going to be going up in price soon. So if anyone is looking and can't decide, go ahead at get one at it's current price.

Kevin D.

[Pez]

If Rotel was going all digital I would have expected to hear a bunch of announcements at CES boasting to new rec's and pre/pro's at CES with HDMI 1.3.

[tagman]

I dont know what it is, but I just don't like those digital amps!! I know what everybody must be thinking, this guy doesn't know zip!!

Please, dont no one get offended, but I just feel there is something more substantial or real with a torroidal transformer (analog) amp. I perceive
these digital amps as somewhat cheapo.

Maybe I am old school. I'm only 43, and have had many receivers and amps over the years that were all analog types, but I just hope Rotel does not abandon these type of amplifiers.

Have I listened to any of these digital amps? yes. They do sound very nice, but I still wouldnt buy it. Thanks for letting me vent.

Tommy

[Pez]

I dont know what it is, but I just don't like those digital amps!! I know what everybody must be thinking, this guy doesn't know zip!!

Please, dont no one get offended, but I just feel there is something more substantial or real with a torroidal transformer (analog) amp. I perceive
these digital amps as somewhat cheapo.

Maybe I am old school. I'm only 43, and have had many receivers and amps over the years that were all analog types, but I just hope Rotel does not abandon these type of amplifiers.

Have I listened to any of these digital amps? yes. They do sound very nice, but I still wouldnt buy it. Thanks for letting me vent.

Tommy

I could be way off but I would think there are a lot of others that feel the same about digital amps and wont convert, I was in that boat until recently. I will say that even though I love my 1077 I miss the visual impact my old Earthquake amp had.

[tagman]

May be I come off as sounding a little ignorant, and it is true that I don't really understand the technology that goes into these types of amplifiers. It is just that these digital products from Rotel, and a few of the other brands out there remind me of cheap electronics put into cheap toys sold in Kmart!!

I have researched that some of this technology was invented by B&O, and licensed
out to other manufacturers. It isn't new technology, but suppossedly it has come a long way.

Even though it is sort of new in the higher end products do any of you members, and owners believe these products will last for 20 years? I have owned amps and receivers for that long. Thank you.

Tommy

[cfrizz]

Hi Tommy.

I wasn't really impressed with their 1077 100wpc amp, but I was really impressed with their 500wpc mono & 2 channel.

I think if they came out with 200-250wpc 2/5 channel amps you would be a lot more impressed.

Hopefully this is how they are planning to expand the line of digital amps.

[calmac]

May be I come off as sounding a little ignorant, and it is true that I don't really understand the technology that goes into these types of amplifiers. It is just that these digital products from Rotel, and a few of the other brands out there remind me of cheap electronics put into cheap toys sold in Kmart!!

I have researched that some of this technology was invented by B&O, and licensed
out to other manufacturers. It isn't new technology, but suppossedly it has come a long way.

Even though it is sort of new in the higher end products do any of you members, and owners believe these products will last for 20 years? I have owned amps and receivers for that long. Thank you.

Tommy

Tommy ,If you can't here a difference between the amps and prefer the analogue amps for percieved value ie weight and size then I can't see any reason to change.On the other hand , for those that can hear differences it comes down to personal preference based on good reference points , as previously discussed.I can't see any reason why these new amps should be any less reliable than more conventional devices if Rotel have applied their usual build quality standards.
Gordon

[Ferres]

I was actually surprised at how well the rmb 1077 handled my Sensys DC2 towers. I used to have an old para HCA 2200II to handle them and that was 250watts per channel.