RC-1082: In stock and shipping

[Kevin D]

Attached are pictures of the spec sheet for the new RC-1082 stereo pre-amp. Unfortunately they were not able to add a HT bypass to the unit.

If you are upset they didn't add HT bypass, please call Rotel directly and tell them. Please don't clutter the forum posting how you're not going to buy one.

Now with that, I believe we can utilize the RS232 port on the back of the unit to add our own HT bypass. I'll have to get my hands on one and the code, but would a little black box that does the following work for you?

RC-1082 would work normally, AUX 3 input is the front output of a SSP.
Box would have a 12v trigger input that would run to the SSP.
When 12 volts is present at the box (SSP on), the RC-1082 would:
1: Turn on if not on.
2: Switch to the AUX 3 input
3: Ramp the volume to reference level
When 12 volts is removed from the box (SSP off), the RC-1082 would:
1: Ramp volume down to a normal level
2: Switch off of AUX 3 to another input
3: Turn off.

If that would interest any of you, please let me know and I'll pursue it.

Thanks,

Kevin D.

[melantone]

D'you know its price?

[hifiguymi]

The RC-1082 is $1200.00 US.

Eric

[melantone]

Thanks, Eric

[calmac]

Attached are pictures of the spec sheet for the new RC-1082 stereo pre-amp. Unfortunately they were not able to add a HT bypass to the unit.

If you are upset they didn't add HT bypass, please call Rotel directly and tell them. Please don't clutter the forum posting how you're not going to buy one.

Now with that, I believe we can utilize the RS232 port on the back of the unit to add our own HT bypass. I'll have to get my hands on one and the code, but would a little black box that does the following work for you?

RC-1082 would work normally, AUX 3 input is the front output of a SSP.
Box would have a 12v trigger input that would run to the SSP.
When 12 volts is present at the box (SSP on), the RC-1082 would:
1: Turn on if not on.
2: Switch to the AUX 3 input
3: Ramp the volume to reference level
When 12 volts is removed from the box (SSP off), the RC-1082 would:
1: Ramp volume down to a normal level
2: Switch off of AUX 3 to another input
3: Turn off.

If that would interest any of you, please let me know and I'll pursue it.

Thanks,

Kevin D.

Interesting idea Kevin but it doesn't really solve the problem of the loss of transparency that a ht bypass would have minimised.
I usually find myself defending some of Rotels choices over on the Australain forums however one would have thought given Rotels strong and quality orientated presence in both the ht and stereo markets that ht bypass would have been an obvious inclusion from the outset never mind trying and failing to include it as an afterthought.
I am still a staunch Rotel enthusiast but it is becoming harder and harder to understand some of their choices of late.Perhaps you could ask someone at Rotel to provide some insight for the forum members.
Gordon

[geeza]

I think that as well, Gordon

[bleeding ears]

Hmmm, maybe Rotel thought there would not be high enough sales to justify a unit with ht bypass? (it adds to the price of the unit and not many may want it)

After all, ht systems are what most buyers are getting into (which can still do 2 channel reasonably well) and at the same time the 2 channel enthusiasts might not want ht bypass? (to keep it pure)

Keeping the costs down and the sales up is what business is about.

It is only us relatively small number of home theatre/Hi Fi nuts here that might want a 2 ch unit with ht bypass and if the cost was too high maybe many of us would give it a miss as well.

I might be totally wrong, but that is my guess why there is no ht bypass on the new preamp.

Dissapointing, yes !

Pete

[meltdown]

rc 1082

Heard the rc1082 today. Amp was the rb 1080, speakers were B&W 805's. Was'nt all that impressed. I have the rc 1070. The 1082 has balance and tone controls unlike the 1070, which has only contour dial. Wish they still made the rc1090. The 1082 is a great looking stereo preamp, but I don't know if its worth spending a few hundred bucks more over a 1070.

[gianni]

Heard the rc1082 today. Amp was the rb 1080, speakers were B&W 805's. Was'nt all that impressed. I have the rc 1070. The 1082 has balance and tone controls unlike the 1070, which has only contour dial. Wish they still made the rc1090. The 1082 is a great looking stereo preamp, but I don't know if its worth spending a few hundred bucks more over a 1070.

agreed.

[calmac]

Hmmm, maybe Rotel thought there would not be high enough sales to justify a unit with ht bypass? (it adds to the price of the unit and not many may want it)

After all, ht systems are what most buyers are getting into (which can still do 2 channel reasonably well) and at the same time the 2 channel enthusiasts might not want ht bypass? (to keep it pure)

Keeping the costs down and the sales up is what business is about.

It is only us relatively small number of home theatre/Hi Fi nuts here that might want a 2 ch unit with ht bypass and if the cost was too high maybe many of us would give it a miss as well.

I might be totally wrong, but that is my guess why there is no ht bypass on the new preamp.

Dissapointing, yes !

Pete

It would be interesting to get an explanation from Rotel for their decision however it is my understanding that the inclusion of ht bypass costs very little to include if designed in from the 'ground up'.
If anything including a ht bypass would have made the preamp even more economically viable simply by increasing it's appeal.
There must be a relatively large number of folk out there who ,like me, cant afford financially or in space terms to have two systems but would like to obtain the best from both the ht and the stereo side of things.As good as Rotels ht pre/pro's and recievers are at 2ch work they is still not a patch on a dedicated stereo preamp imo.
Lets face it the majority of folk spending $1200 US on a stereo preamp are going to be enthusiasts and one would imagine most would have a ht system these days so the decision not to include ht bypass may well prove more costly for Rotel in the long run.
Gordon

[gianni]

To put it simply: Deal Breaker.

[hifiguymi]

Rotel finally put this preamp on their web site. They sent out copies of the review TAS did on it to their dealers and Chris Marten loved it. He said it's the best preamp Rotel has ever built hands down.

Eric

[calmac]

Rotel finally put this preamp on their web site. They sent out copies of the review TAS did on it to their dealers and Chris Marten loved it. He said it's the best preamp Rotel has ever built hands down.

Eric

Good news hgm but it just makes the lack of ht bypass even more gauling.
Gordon

[gianni]

Makes me wonder if Rotel's decision not to include this feature indicates that they believe that their HT pre/pro's are good enough to make the use of a 2 ch pre in a bypass set-up unnecessary.

What else would explain it - it would be a relatively inexpensive feature to implement.

[calmac]

Good point gianni,When I got my RSP1066 I left my RC1070 in circuit initially and had the 1072 connected directly to the 1070 with the 1066 left and right feeding the AUX input on the 1070.After a lot of comparisons I found that I actually preferred the sound of the 1072 direct to the 1066 direct to the 1080 to any confuguration using the 1070.Removing the 1070 from the signal path improved ht sound also in terms of transparency.
The 1070 had a wider and deeper soundstage than the 1066 but was less musical more lackluster sounding.
So I guess for Rotel product of that era to my ears and in my system there wasn't a clear cut winner.I haven't heard a RC1090 in my system and I doubt if the RC1082 is in Australia yet but given the flexibility of the new preamp in all other areas it is still ,to me , a strange oversight given the improvement in tranparency of ht sound I experienced removing the 1070 from the circuit
Gordon

[bleeding ears]

I found my 1068 to hold up very well against an older 990 preamp, which was top of the Rotel line a while back.

They each have their own individual sound but the flexability in tailoring the sound to suit your taste is, for me what makes the 1068 a better unit.
It has contour controls and crossovers for each speaker.(also the fact that it does HT)

Yes the 990 did perhaps have a deeper, or bigger kind of sound, but to me seemed to be just a little too smooth or lifeless in my room/system.
Keep in mind that others systems/rooms may get different results.

No tone controls on the older 990 pre, was for me in my room, not good, but hey the new rc1082 preamp has the tone controls so this could be just what is needed for many to get the sound right for their taste/room and make it sound considerably better than prepros or other 2 ch preamps.

How about somebody here buy one and let us all know what you think?

Anyone ? :W

[gianni]

How about somebody here buy one and let us all know what you think?

Anyone ? :W

Good idea. And while you are at it, how about pairing it with the new RB-1072!

[Kevin D]

Also keep in mind the two channel stuff is Europe's baby. It's a long process for the powers that be in Rotel Europe to approve a 2 channel piece and the 1082 was passed the final European approval when the concern of not having a bypass came up.

Even though adding a bypass would be a simple design change, the new 1082 would again have to go through testing and approval. This could have delayed the product another 6-12 months.

Kevin D.

[calmac]

Also keep in mind the two channel stuff is Europe's baby. It's a long process for the powers that be in Rotel Europe to approve a 2 channel piece and the 1082 was passed the final European approval when the concern of not having a bypass came up.

Even though adding a bypass would be a simple design change, the new 1082 would again have to go through testing and approval. This could have delayed the product another 6-12 months.

Kevin D.

Interesting info Kevin , oh well maybe we will see ht bypass in the mk2.
Gordon