1068 -v- 1098 choice? Progressive on TFT?

[JudgeBaxter]

Hi guys,

My very first post here, so hello and how do to all you fellow Rotel-ites and greetings from the UK..

I have a small conflict of the heart and mind here, and would appreciate some input.

I precently picked up a second hand pairing of a 1068 processor and 1075 amp. Lovely!!

However, with "upgrade-itus" running through me like a fever, I've also changed just about every other component in my kit and, having decided I wanted to bi-amp all my speakers, I went about sourcing another 1075 amp which I duly did this week.

Problem is as follows - the same dealer is offering an EXTREMELY attractive deal on a 1098 processor.......Now, by the time I've sold on my 1068 for what I would roughly expect to get for it, the 1098 is going to cost me an additional £500 pounds.......(give or take)....in essence, in pure sound quality terms, is the 1098 worth that outlay?

As an additional quandry, I am confused by the TFT screen on the 1098. Having gone into Rotel's website, if I go into the North American portion of the site (as opposed to the Global option) and then go through to the 1098 product description, it has a link for a firmware update that alledgedly allows the TFT on the 1098 to display component/progressive images? I'm running a Denon 2900 DVD player (which is an oldie but a goodie) which has a superb component/progressive picture - has anyone installed this firmware update on their 1098 and had success? Is it a USA only option and not available to UK machines? Does anyone know if it is the V.2 firmware that enables this or the V.3? as it appears to be a no go to update to V.3 unless the machine comes with V.3 software from the factory, and I'm pretty certain that the unit's that this dealer stocks come with the latest V.2 firmware, but not V.3?

So, does anyone have any experience and advice on the above?

Should I be happy with my 1068 and pair of 1075's or is the additional £500 smackers on the 1098 worth it and can I get a component/progressive signal onto the TFT?

Sorry for so many questions on my first post - hope you guys will induldge a "noobie"

Best Regards,

David.

[Kevin D]

Hi guys,

Problem is as follows - the same dealer is offering an EXTREMELY attractive deal on a 1098 processor.......Now, by the time I've sold on my 1068 for what I would roughly expect to get for it, the 1098 is going to cost me an additional £500 pounds.......(give or take)....in essence, in pure sound quality terms, is the 1098 worth that outlay?

Probably not right now. I would wait until the new replacements show up next year.

As an additional quandry, I am confused by the TFT screen on the 1098. Having gone into Rotel's website, if I go into the North American portion of the site (as opposed to the Global option) and then go through to the 1098 product description, it has a link for a firmware update that alledgedly allows the TFT on the 1098 to display component/progressive images? So, does anyone have any experience and advice on the above?

Can you post exactly where you see this? I'm thinking the wording might be confusing you. The TFT (any version) can only display inputs connected with a composite cable. As composite can be progressive only, no 1098 will display a progressive signal on the TFT (as there's no way to get it in there).

V3 units have a TFT screen from a different manufacturer that required different software to run it. Otherwise there is no difference between the two. If your DVD player disables the composite output when in progressive mode, you're out of luck getting it on the TFT.

Should I be happy with my 1068 and pair of 1075's or is the additional £500 smackers on the 1098 worth it and can I get a component/progressive signal onto the TFT?

David.

Again, right now I would wait. While most hear a difference, it varies from 'marginal' to worth it. If you could get him down another 150-250 I would consider it. The 1098 would hold more of its value when the new units do come out.

Welcome to the club!

Kevin D.

[JudgeBaxter]

Hi Kevin,


Many thanks for the response and the answers so far.

Here's the link to the reference on the Rotel site. On re-reading it, it does seem a bit ambigious - does it basically mean, that if you are watching a component/progressive picture on your main viewing platform (in my case a 36" Toshiba CRT) that it will now let you view the picture on the TFT, but it will be a composite type picture as opposed to a progressive picture?

Would it not let you view anything at all before if you were in progressive/component mode?

here is the link anyway - I'm sure you guys will have seen it a hundred times before and I am just mis-interpreting it....but would appreciate some clarification if possible.

cheers,

Dave.

http://www.rotel.com/support/techups/techup-H20.htm

[Kevin D]

Ah.. This line?

The software updates for the RSP 1098 have allowed for several changes and additions to the features and capabilities of these models, including the addition of options to allow the On Screen Display of the RSP 1098 to display when viewing a Progressive Scan or High Definition video signal,

That's in reference to the setup menu displayed on the television. The OSD is only generated in 480i and can't be applied 'on-top' of 480p+ signals. If it tries to apply it on 480p+ signals, the video will get distorted and possibly cut-out. Setting the inputs you know will have 480p+ signals as 'progressive' tells the 1098 to mute the video when displaying the OSD menu.

Kevin D.

[JudgeBaxter]

Ahh haaaa. So that's what it means. Thanks for clarifying that Kevin. I assume (hope) that I'm not the first one to make that confusion.

Okey-dokey then - no other thoughts on the 1068 to 1098 upgrade? It does seem that there is very little between these two beyond the TFT screen, so perhaps my £500 is better spent on some new cabling.........?

Cheers,

Dave.

[hifiguymi]

The main difference between the two is a better preamp section in the RSP-1098. It also has and additional component video input and the front panel TFT display. It's a nice upgrade, but with the new models coming soon (before the end of the year) I'd wait. It's hard to quell "upgrade-itus", and I know this as much as anyone, but be patient. The RSP-1068 is a great sounding piece and will serve you well until the new models come out.

Eric

[sirbogey]

Personally I would upgrade to the 1098, especially when you are getting a good deal from your shop...

[JudgeBaxter]

Couldn't help myself......I went for the 1098 in the end. Should arrive early next week.....managed to get the price difference down to bang on £300 quid.......couldn't say no at that money. :T

I'm looking forward to hearing what a 1098 with a brace of 1075's in bi-amp mode will sound like......

I would imagine it will sound quite good...... :twisted:

cheers for the input everyone.

Regards,

David.

[sirbogey]

Good choice! Don't forget to throw in some decent cables...

[hifiguymi]

Couldn't help myself......I went for the 1098 in the end. Should arrive early next week.....managed to get the price difference down to bang on £300 quid.......couldn't say no at that money. :T

I'm looking forward to hearing what a 1098 with a brace of 1075's in bi-amp mode will sound like......

I would imagine it will sound quite good...... :twisted:

cheers for the input everyone.

Regards,

David.

For that price you made a good choice. I know I recomended to wait before, but you can't complain about a price like that. Congrats. :T

Eric