Rotel PreAmps Stereo Performance

[miket]

Hi,

I was wondering if anybody could comment with experience on what I suppose would be a list of rotel preamp's (series 10 only) in order of stereo performance only (e.g. surround sound processors in analog bypass mode). The list goes from best to worse.

1. RC-1090 (but discontinued)
2. RC-1082
3. RC-1070
4. RSP-1098
5. RSP-1069
6. RSP-1068

I'm not sure about the RC-1070 versus the RSP-1098 - any comments on this or the others are welcome.

thanks..............miket

[Mikael]

I would rate them like this(though I haven't heard the RC 1082,only read about it)

RC 1082
RC 1090
RSP 1098
RC 1070
RSP 1069
RSP 1068

I had the RC 1070,before I got my RSP 1098,and the 1098 is way better in bass and has a better and sweeter treble and the midrange is about the same.

[Gummo]

I can only comment on the RSP-1098. I have literally become addicted to listening to music, all over again since I bought it 2 weeks ago. Mainly listening to vinyl on a Music Hall MMF9, using the Rotel RQ970 Phono Stage, always in Bypass mode. The RMB1075 provides the guts, and I have Paradigm Studio 60s. It sounds incredible to me. The highs have a presence I've never heard in my system before, and are very smooth, not grating at all, like I used to find them at high volume through the Denon.

[miner]

For the purist - RC1090 (no bass/treble controls - less musical interference). I had the RC1070 before the 1090 and liked it for the $$$ - a great phono stage too.

[Ferres]

I have the rc1082 and it is significantly better than my old rsp1068.

[bigburner]

I have the RC-1082 and I prefer it to my old RC-1070.

Nigel.

[iiaudio]

I have been nothing but blown away with my RC-1082. I auditioned pres that were 4 to 5 times the price at home and although they all sounded slightly different, none of the high dollar units blew me away. If they were all the same amount of dough, I think I'd probably still get the Rotel. That's what I based my decision on. With the money I saved, I was able to get some acoustic treatments and Sound Anchor stands which took everything to the next level.

[Nolan B]

I would rate them like this(though I haven't heard the RC 1082,only read about it)

RC 1082
RC 1090
RSP 1098
RC 1070
RSP 1069
RSP 1068

I had the RC 1070,before I got my RSP 1098,and the 1098 is way better in bass and has a better and sweeter treble and the midrange is about the same.

For me...when going from the 1068 to the 1069 one of the first things I tested was 2ch and IMO th 1069 was much better then the 1068 in both bypass mode and when doing the work on its own.

Actually I got to borrow the 1098 right before i got the 1069 and felt the 1069 was better in almost every way

[lvhung]

1069 better than 1098
that really to start a war here

[mjb]

Actually I got to borrow the 1098 right before i got the 1069 and felt the 1069 was better in almost every way

Hopefully the 1099 will be out in the fall.

[Gummo]

1069 better than 1098
that really to start a war here

Meh... never heard the 1069 in my home. Can't comment.

[miket]

Ok let's try a new list based on feedback so far:

RC-1082
RC-1090
RSP-1069
RSP-1098
RC-1070
RSP-1068

The hard bit is between the RSP-1098, the RSP-1069 and the RC-1070 which seem pretty close and not everybody can agree to a clear order of merit. Moreover some people claim the RSP-1069 is even better than the RSP-1098 (remember we are talking about 2-ch bypass).

[Gummo]

I highly doubt there is a significant sonic difference between the RSP-1098 and 1069. Although as I said above, I have never auditioned the 1069.

[WI Rotel]

The 1068 and 1069 stereo is exactly the same both have a stereo bypass mode which offers completely unprocessed and unfettered stereo.

That is, if you listen to stereo anymore. Since going "surrround" I almost never listen to plain jane stereo anymore. Its as is something is missing (because it is!). To me its akin to as if in the 80's I decided to listen to mono Victrolas because they sounded "better" :roll: Once you compare a good multichannel recording of anything and compare it to its stereo version you never want to listen to the stereo one ever again! If you want to see what I mean, listen to REM greatest hits or Fleetwood Mack Tusk on CD vs DVD, there is simply no comparison, NONE. :T

[Nolan B]

Ok let's try a new list based on feedback so far:

RC-1082
RC-1090
RSP-1069
RSP-1098
RC-1070
RSP-1068

The hard bit is between the RSP-1098, the RSP-1069 and the RC-1070 which seem pretty close and not everybody can agree to a clear order of merit. Moreover some people claim the RSP-1069 is even better than the RSP-1098 (remember we are talking about 2-ch bypass).

For me the RC 1070 is better then the 1098 and 1069.

Based on what I have used in my home over the last three years here is how I would rate the quality.

RC 1070
RSP 1069
RSP 1098
RSP 1068

I cant comment on the others.

[Gummo]

I don't know... I've flipped between stereo and bypass using the turntable, and I have found that bypass has a more open, airy feel to it which i find extremely pleasing. I whole-heartedly agree with you though, when listening to CD or HTPC. All speakers firing then.

[lotones]

The 1068 and 1069 stereo is exactly the same both have a stereo bypass mode which offers completely unprocessed and unfettered stereo.

That is, if you listen to stereo anymore. Since going "surrround" I almost never listen to plain jane stereo anymore. Its as is something is missing (because it is!). To me its akin to as if in the 80's I decided to listen to mono Victrolas because they sounded "better" :roll: Once you compare a good multichannel recording of anything and compare it to its stereo version you never want to listen to the stereo one ever again! If you want to see what I mean, listen to REM greatest hits or Fleetwood Mack Tusk on CD vs DVD, there is simply no comparison, NONE. :T

Um, excuse me... Tusk on on dvd? DVD-A? Please enlighten me, I've got to have it! Please PM me with details (as not to go too far off topic here...), if you don't mind.

thanks!

[JDH]

For those interested, I was using a Rotel RSP-1068 for both HT & 2ch music in conjunction with a Benchmark DAC1. I've since added a Bel Canto Pre3 - 2ch pre-amp which also has the HT bypass feature for better integration of an HT & 2ch system.

After living with the Bel Canto Pre3 for a couple of months it is clear to me that a dedicated 2ch pre-amp is atleast another couple of notches above the RSP-1068 for 2ch use. ie. more depth and detail from bass through to treble, I hear extra detail in the music that is simply missing with the RSP-1068.

I would not be surprized to see the Rotel dedicated 2ch pre-amps sounding better than the AV pre-amps.

JDH.

Hi,

I was wondering if anybody could comment with experience on what I suppose would be a list of rotel preamp's (series 10 only) in order of stereo performance only (e.g. surround sound processors in analog bypass mode). The list goes from best to worse.

1. RC-1090 (but discontinued)
2. RC-1082
3. RC-1070
4. RSP-1098
5. RSP-1069
6. RSP-1068

I'm not sure about the RC-1070 versus the RSP-1098 - any comments on this or the others are welcome.

thanks..............miket

[Mig17]

AV processor is not desinged for ultimate stereo
you can find many better and cheaper preamp than 1098 (3000$)
I gave up stereo long ago
So I think 1069 will be good enough for me

[scanido]

Where would the RSX-1057/8 fit in?

Are they the same in pre-amp quality as a RSP-1068?

[bigburner]

They don't call the RC-1082 the "Classé killer" without good reason you know.

[Horacio]

I own the RC-1070, but have not heard the other units. One thing I can say is it really depends on the rest of your system. In my case moving from B&W CM-4 to 804s was the thing. I was contempt while I had the CM4, but when I brought in the 804s it revealed some attributes of my system I didn't like that much anymore. Make sure the caliber of your pre and amp match that of your speakers (unless you are on an upgrade trip, that is).

My two cents.