RMB-1075 vs 1085

[Blktre]

Maybe im missing something here. Can someone explain to me the main differences between these two amps besides 20w, price, and the obvious space, cool running of the class D?
I'm leaning heavily towards the 1075. I just don't see the need to pay the extra money for space and heat issues in my situation if both amps have similar sonic characteristics.
Any thoughts on this....
Thanks ahead of time.

[WI Rotel]

Listen to them side by side and decide with the same source and speakers. Doing and A-B comparison should be pretty easy if you have a pre with 2 amp outputs. The real comparison should have both amps with a full set of the same speakers(X5) not just stereo. I'm partial to the 1075, Class D's can be very powerful and are superbly efficient but I still have my reservations about full audio spectrum fidelity compared to "classic" amplifier topology.

[mjb]

Here we go again - another D vs. analog thread...
Opinions are at best divided, but I've long made my choice for digital.
The best advise is to try both, and go with which ever you prefer, however, digital is the future, and Rotel seems to be moving more and more in this direction.

[Blktre]

Thanks for the responses. Unfortunately, i probably wont get to audition sidexside. Thats to bad. I didn't mean for this to get into some kind of (another) debate. My intentions was to clarify the differences.
Thanks again....

[artv4]

what type of source are you using? ht/2channel usage?

[Blktre]

what type of source are you using? ht/2channel usage?

It will be used for both. Im into HT including 5.1 concert DVD's, music, and HDTV. I also plan to research the possibility of adding a 2 channel amp for 2ch. music down the road. But in the meantime, im thinking my processor can handle that w/a 5ch amp.

[artv4]

i personally would probably go for the 1075. to bad you cannot listen and compare yourself

[style]

D / Ice power

Hi Blktre,

I have beginn my adventure in HT with a 1075. Is a good ampli.

than I have buyed a Rb1092 or the L/R. (1075 center bi-amp,..)

And now I have a RB1092 for L/R, RB1091 for center and another RB1092 for rear :T

I don't have listen the D class but if is like the 1077 I will be go wit the D Ice power class.
Powerfull, there are no problems temperature (piece over piece), save place, sound quality,...

I have tested the RB1090 vs. RB1092 and the RB1092 is sure much better
(FOR MY PERSONAL TASTE! BUT ALSO FOR MANY OTHERS...)

In Switzerland the RB1090 is too no more available!! out catalog.
The Customers have chosen the RB1092, there is no longer required for RB1090 and Rotel has removed the catalogue....
the 1075 and 1095 will be the next....

greetingsfrom switzerland
Omar

[Leef DaLucky]

new 1085 review up:

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/a...rotel-rmb-1085

[style]

rmb

Hi ,

I don't understand becouse the Rmb1085 is not available in Europa!!

europa:
RB1091
Rb1092
Rmb1077
Rb1072

Rotel has lost Rmb1085 (5channel) on the street? :B


Omar

[mjb]

While some of the other Switching amps on the market (as well as other Rotel offerings) sport Bang & Olufsen's ICEPower amplifier modules, the RMB-1085's proprietary Switching amplifiers seem more than up to the task of keeping up with the demands of today's modern home theater.

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/a...rotel-rmb-1085

Does this amp really not use ICE modules? Does anyone have any more information?
Also, not available in Europe whether this will change I don't know.

[Blktre]

Thanks Style for your input. It sounds like you have what im thinking about heading. I too will keep an eye out for the icepower, or other driven D class, but until the jury is out, sticking w/a proven 1075 isn't a bad thing.

[artv4]

Thanks Style for your input. It sounds like you have what im thinking about heading. I too will keep an eye out for the icepower, or other driven D class, but until the jury is out, sticking w/a proven 1075 isn't a bad thing.

you can find the 1075 for so cheap now... what type of speakers are you driving?

[Blktre]

you can find the 1075 for so cheap now... what type of speakers are you driving?

yea, the 1075 is a great deal it seems...

I built Zaphs ZDT3.5 w/matching CC. They are a 4ohm design. I listened to many commercial speakers in the $1500-2000 price range and after listening to Stangbats ZDT3.5's, those commercial speakers didn't come close in comparison. No need to go into sonic characteristics....

[WI Rotel]

BTW don't skimp on the interconnecting cables. I had been running my system on audioquest copperheads. One of my channels developed a hum and after endless hours of searching for the cause I discovered one of the copperheads had a broken soder connection in its single ground connection. I decided to change all the amp interconnects since this looked like it could be a recurring problem on the other cables (bad design). I swapped them all for Monster Ultra 600 THX. Much to my surprise not only did it solve the hum issue, there was a 3dB gain! I had to readjust all my speaker settings since all the levels were 3dB higher! Not only that, the sound was actually noticeably improved, particularly in the lower registers. The upper bass that sounded a little watery before is now punchy and clean. I also swapped my CD interconnect for the same series with another readily noticeable improvement in sound quality. Another recurring problem that I was expiriencing was that occasionally my 1095 would suffer from amplifier hum. The hum was in a crescendo-decrescendo manner and didn't affect the speakers but it was loud enough that you could hear the box humming from accross the room! That problem completely disappeared too! What is mystifying is that the broken cable was not even connected to my 1095 (for my surrounds) it was connected to my 1080 (for my mains)!
Moral of the story: Audioquest copperheads are utter crap! Despite general poopooing of Monster stuff they do make some decent (though expensive ($50 for 4 foot pair) stereo interconnects. Thus, choose your cables wisely, some highly touted "audiophile" (audioquest) stuff is pure crap while the better versions of more consumer oriented gear are top notch.
Of course don't forget to try some CAT cables too :W

[artv4]

i recommend straight wire for speaker wire and interconnects.

[Blktre]

Thanks fellas on the cable/wiring advice. Thats good stuff. And this brings up an entire different conversation. I'm pretty pumped. My first HT/speaker system was is an older timber matched JBL Northridge boxstore speaker setup backed w/a 100w Pio. receiver. Its 5yrs old now, and ive decided to get to the next level! And the Rotel amps seem to fit my bill for the price/performance ratio. I will wait out and see what their new processors will be concerning the new codecs.

[WI Rotel]

Thanks fellas on the cable/wiring advice. Thats good stuff. And this brings up an entire different conversation. I'm pretty pumped. My first HT/speaker system was is an older timber matched JBL Northridge boxstore speaker setup backed w/a 100w Pio. receiver. Its 5yrs old now, and ive decided to get to the next level! And the Rotel amps seem to fit my bill for the price/performance ratio. I will wait out and see what their new processors will be concerning the new codecs.

Just a quick note on the codecs. I dropped an E mail to rotel on the subject (DTS HD&dolbyHD), their answer was pretty straightforward. There are no plans to include them in their upcomming gear. The reasoning is quite simple, decoding for those formats is expected (and is) moving to the players thus, any HDMI, 7.1 Rotel gear will be able to reproduce it just fine. Just be sure that whatever pre you buy has HDMI, at present in the rotel stable that means the 1069. Though some people have had video issues with theirs (primarily early adopters), mine, a brand new one works perfectly.
IMO many of the complaints have been due to the general problem of not all HDMI equipment working in harmony with one another.

[Ken49r]

Just a quick note on the codecs. I dropped an E mail to rotel on the subject (DTS HD&dolbyHD), their answer was pretty straightforward. There are no plans to include them in their upcomming gear. The reasoning is quite simple, decoding for those formats is expected (and is) moving to the players thus, any HDMI, 7.1 Rotel gear will be able to reproduce it just fine. Just be sure that whatever pre you buy has HDMI, at present in the rotel stable that means the 1069.

I like Rotels stance on this issue.
Maybe it's a good marketing approach for the all in one A/v receivers to have more logos on their products, but I still prefer separates. I like the source do the decoding and the Pre-Pro do its job of staying out of the way and passing a zero distorted signal through to speakers.
I'm pretty sure the only time my Pre-Pro does any decoding now days is when I'm watching cable tv and the sound quality is really poor vs my disk players.

[Blktre]

There are no plans to include them in their upcomming gear. The reasoning is quite simple, decoding for those formats is expected (and is) moving to the players thus, any HDMI, 7.1 Rotel gear will be able to reproduce it just fine.

I agree. But the only problem i foresee is that if you wait and let a BD player handle the codecs, then the processor wont display TrueHD or DTSMA, etc. If thats the case, then how do you know for sure what you are processing properly?

[style]

Hi,
the cable for this amp? wow each system has its history ...

I use Kimber PBJ wbt147 (pre-powerampli) and kimber 12vs for speakers.
Audioquest cables VDM5 and VDM3 for dvd to pre ... but if I was in USA the CAT cables with super price-performance was in my system attached.

everyone knows the rule to spend 10% for cables....

Makes no sense to spend too much cable but also spare is no good.
everything must be at the same level (calbes-pre/pro-powerampli-speakers..)

we need balance in the system.

Omar

[WI Rotel]

I agree. But the only problem i foresee is that if you wait and let a BD player handle the codecs, then the processor wont display TrueHD or DTSMA, etc. If thats the case, then how do you know for sure what you are processing properly?

The players decode and output the signal as PCM. Your Rotel gear will display "Multi-Input" and show which channels are being activated (5 or 7 +/- the sub) Note the sub part, I have an opera blueray (die Fledermaus, strongly recommended) that's 5.0 surround, there is no .1 (sub) channel!. There is a caveat, with my sony Blueray, when it decodes 7.1 DTS HD MA, it says its outputing the rear channels but there is nothing comming out of them, so though all the seven channels are activated only 5 are actually being used! Other 7.1 recordings like Dolby true HD and 7.1 PCM work just fine. Again this is no fault of the rotel gear but of the actual lack of DTS MA decoding for all channels in the player. Ergo, your rotel pre is exactly telling you what its doing :T

[Nolan B]

I agree. But the only problem i foresee is that if you wait and let a BD player handle the codecs, then the processor wont display TrueHD or DTSMA, etc. If thats the case, then how do you know for sure what you are processing properly?

Sound quality will let you know if its working. Also your player should indiacte what is being decoded. i.e. the PS3 will tell you exactly whay is being decoded.

[WI Rotel]

Sound quality will let you know if its working. Also your player should indiacte what is being decoded. i.e. the PS3 will tell you exactly whay is being decoded.

True! Took me a while to find the button on the remote for this function!

[Blktre]

Nice.......thanks for the clarification. I'm prolly gonna wait for a Profile 2 player. I'm into PC online gaming instead.

[Ferres]

Hi ,

I don't understand becouse the Rmb1085 is not available in Europa!!

europa:
RB1091
Rb1092
Rmb1077
Rb1072

Rotel has lost Rmb1085 (5channel) on the street? :B


Omar

Rotel seems to withhold certain products from certain countries. The rb1072 is not available where I am but the more powerful rb1092 is available. 8O