Last weekend I received a RB-1092 that had been used for demo for a price I couldn’t resist, I originally was looking for a RB-1090 but after reading 3 professional reviews (plus reviews of bel canto ref-1000 and other Class D – “manufacturers” with ice) and reading the impressions from users at this forum I decided to give it a try, if I got disappointed I could easily sell it for the same price as purchased.
Equipment used…
Rotel RSP-1068 (only used with analog bypass)
Rotel RDV-1092 (DVD/CD)
Rotel RMB-1075 (measured 160w/8ohm with 2 channels driven)
Rotel RB-1092 (measured 635w/8ohm with 2 channels driven)
Infinity Renaissance 90
Nominal impedance: 4 ohm (read somewhere that they go down to 2 ohm, but haven’t got it confirmed)
Power rating: 75-400 watt
Efficiency: 87 dB
Frequency response : 27 Hz – 45 KHz (+/- 3 dB)
Closed 4-way speaker (ribbon tweeter / ribbon midrange / 6,5” midwoofer / 10” woofer)
As you can see the speakers are very difficult for an amplifier, low efficiency, high power rating, low impedance, closed case but still frequency down to 27 Hz. My comparison between RMB1075 and RB1092 isn’t fair, I am fully aware of that, but I thought I could write my impressions anyway.
The first thing that hit me when I switched to RB1092 was, “wow”. I knew I could expect a lot more of control and bass output but I wasn’t prepared for the difference in the whole soundstage… Naturalness, depth and transparency was very good, me and my friend sat all weekend with a smile on our faces and said “How the hell can that little thing deliver so much!” One thing I also noticed was I played loud, much louder then before and wanted to play even louder (but my neighbours have a different opinion). It never sounded bad or hard as I raised the volume level, it just kept delivering the goods. ;x(
Compared to RMB1075 it was a clear winner, to say it in simple words, the RMB1075 sounded drunk! With blurry & boomy bass, boring midrange and a tweeter that sounded very unnatural and aggressive, I can never go back to this baby again. But folks, they don’t even play in same league
And just for fun, I played “Jennifer Warnes (The Hunter) – Way down deep” with extreme low bass and cranked the volume up to almost max, sweet jesus, I whole room filled up with extreme low and controlled bass and with a bass wave I felt in my stomach. Okey, no audiophile technique to evaluate an amplifier but it sure was fun.
Next week I will probably compare it to 2 pcs Vincent SP-998 monoblock instead because this comparison was no match for my new baby...
/Daniel
Equipment used…
Rotel RSP-1068 (only used with analog bypass)
Rotel RDV-1092 (DVD/CD)
Rotel RMB-1075 (measured 160w/8ohm with 2 channels driven)
Rotel RB-1092 (measured 635w/8ohm with 2 channels driven)
Infinity Renaissance 90
Nominal impedance: 4 ohm (read somewhere that they go down to 2 ohm, but haven’t got it confirmed)
Power rating: 75-400 watt
Efficiency: 87 dB
Frequency response : 27 Hz – 45 KHz (+/- 3 dB)
Closed 4-way speaker (ribbon tweeter / ribbon midrange / 6,5” midwoofer / 10” woofer)
As you can see the speakers are very difficult for an amplifier, low efficiency, high power rating, low impedance, closed case but still frequency down to 27 Hz. My comparison between RMB1075 and RB1092 isn’t fair, I am fully aware of that, but I thought I could write my impressions anyway.
The first thing that hit me when I switched to RB1092 was, “wow”. I knew I could expect a lot more of control and bass output but I wasn’t prepared for the difference in the whole soundstage… Naturalness, depth and transparency was very good, me and my friend sat all weekend with a smile on our faces and said “How the hell can that little thing deliver so much!” One thing I also noticed was I played loud, much louder then before and wanted to play even louder (but my neighbours have a different opinion). It never sounded bad or hard as I raised the volume level, it just kept delivering the goods. ;x(
Compared to RMB1075 it was a clear winner, to say it in simple words, the RMB1075 sounded drunk! With blurry & boomy bass, boring midrange and a tweeter that sounded very unnatural and aggressive, I can never go back to this baby again. But folks, they don’t even play in same league
And just for fun, I played “Jennifer Warnes (The Hunter) – Way down deep” with extreme low bass and cranked the volume up to almost max, sweet jesus, I whole room filled up with extreme low and controlled bass and with a bass wave I felt in my stomach. Okey, no audiophile technique to evaluate an amplifier but it sure was fun.
Next week I will probably compare it to 2 pcs Vincent SP-998 monoblock instead because this comparison was no match for my new baby...
/Daniel
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