Rotel RB 1080 and RB 1092 comparison

[yanies]

Hello everybody

I just got 3 days ago the Rotel RB1092 to test it at home that my dealer gave me.

I compare it with RB 1080 and I have to admit that I am a little confused.
The 1092 should have more significant power showing than 1080 but there is not much of a difference that I expected by jumping from 2x200 to 2x 500
Maybe the whole watts theory works different?

Something last
I also noticed a small drop on highs on 1092
I use Monster cable M1.2
Should I remove the pins from the speaker cables so the cable should be naked? or get smaller gauges?
I really dont know, maybe I pay too much attention.

Anyway I would like to hear your suggestions.

Yanies

[bigburner]

Hi Yanies,

I have an RB-1080 so I am interested in your comments.

There are several possible reasons for there not not being too much difference between those two amplifiers.

Possible Reason #1. All amplifiers having high input impedance, low output impedance, flat frequency response, low distortion, and low noise floor sound exactly the same when operated at matched levels and not clipped. Some people in this forum believe that it's a criminal offence making such a claim so I want to make it absolutely clear that I'm playing the devil's advocate here.

Possible Reason #2. You don't have golden ears. I don't have them either so don't feel too bad.

Possible Reason #3. You may only hear the difference when you play music really loud where the lower distortion of the more powerful RB-1092 amplifier will be an advantage.

Possible Reasons #4, #5, #6...#n. Your interconnects, speaker cables, power cables etc aren't sufficiently high-end for you to hear the difference. I don't believe that but alien abductions may really occur and if they do I'll be the first to apologise to all the people I've mocked.

Best wishes,
Nigel.

[Ferres]

Also, some speakers may not benefit from the extra power.

[style]

Rb1092

Hi,

Is a very personal chioce.

I have changed my Rmb1075 with all D class.
1. Rmb1075 plus a RB1092 for drive the 703 front.
2. the 703 are changed in 803s.
3. with 803s come a htm4s and 805s and the Rmb1075 replaced with a RB1091 for center and another RB1092 for rear.
4. 803D, Htm2d, 805S and Rb1092 L/R, RB1091 center, RB1092 rear.

well with the D class I am happy. sure a ower ampli in A or B classe BUT NOT Rotel (really high end) give you a very different hear with music & movie.
The RB1090 for ME in not better as the RB1092. RB1092 is much clean,no warm sound or no too much warm sound,...

I use my system to 90% for movies therefore.....

Greetings Omar

[audioqueso]

Vanies, what kind of speakers are you using? What are the rest of your components?

[yanies]

I own Bose 901 VI

[audioqueso]

What are the rest of your components? Pre-amp? CD/DVD player?
The reason I ask is this:
A few months ago I was at a store here in Japan that had numerous power amps, integrated amps, CD players, and speakers all connected to a matrix switch. So I could choose any combination that I like and listen to it. For the speakers, I choose B&W 805s since I own the same speakers. Switching between mid-grade CD players and amps, to high-end CD players and amps allowed me to listen for myself what a difference all components make.

What I found was astonishing to me.

B&W 805 + mid-grade CD player + mid-grade amp sounded pretty much the same as B&W 805 + mid-grade CD player + high-end amp. The bottleneck was the source. Since the source wasn't so great, adding a really great amp barely made a difference.

B&W 805 + high-end CD player + mid-grade amp sounded good, but it was noticeable that the amp was holding it back.
B&W 805 + high-end CD player + high-end amp sounded beautiful.
So what I found is that if you have a really great CD player or pre-amp, adding an amp of the same caliber will show improvement. But if you're source is mid-grade, you will not hear much of a difference by adding an amp of higher caliber.

The same I found true with cables. No point hi-fi cables if your system can't take advantage of it. I've plugged DH Lab cables into a regular system and couldn't really hear the difference. But when I plugged them into a high-end system, you can hear where it really makes a difference to own high-quality cables.

Honestly, try to keep all your components in the same level. Adding one component that's extraordinarily better the rest will not "bring your system to the next level".

What kinda of CD/DVD player do you have?
What are you using as a pre-amp?

[yanies]

Thanks audioqueso for your respond

Here is my audio system:


Turntable Thorens TD 166 MK VI
DVD Rotel RDV 1045
Tuner Rotel 1080
Pre Amp Rotel 1082
Power Amp Rotel 1080
Bose 901 VI
HDTV Panasonic TH-42PZ77U
Monster Cable Interconnects
Monster Cable M1.2 Speaker Cable

So... as I mentioned before I had to make a comparison between 1080 and 1092
Tomorrow I have to give an answer to the dealer.

I think my choice is going to be to keep my RB 1080.
It sounds more musical to me, more highs maybe with a little less bass than 1092 but I didnt notice any significant increase to the watts. From the other side it is $1500 difference. I think I took the right decision with your help.

Thank you

John

[audioqueso]

I'm not sure about those Bose speakers, but Ferres may be correct. Your speakers may not really benefit from any extra power. The 200 watts from the 1080 may be more than enough to push the 901's to their best. Good luck with your decision.

[miket]

Interesting this this debate on the RB-1080 v RB-1092, did you get a chance to audition the RB-1072 also?

Bye..........miket

[style]

Hallo

@yanies,
I dont' think that if you use a Monster or CAt interconnect cables is soooo
imprtant.
A good interconnect cables is the same as the other....
Not go with a 5.- dollar cable but at "the same level group" is not so decisive.....

if you willl a powr ampli for 2 channel system or a HT system is sure more important.

and I you have a Rotel Rmb1095 vs. a Rmb1085or1077 with a RB1092 for the mains the Class D (1077&1092) will be the better solution..) -> HT
For a stereo system too the RB1090 give you satisfaction with a good preampli...!!!

BUT is always a personal choice.
Omar

[hifiguymi]

I'm not going to get into a Bose bashing thread here so know that up front. The 901 is one of the few speakers I've heard that doesn't show off differences in electronics that much. I think it's due in large part to the light bulbs they use internally to dissipate amplifier DC if an amp clips. They put them in for reliability but they choke the signal that gets to the drivers. If you plan on keeping the 901s, then it sounds like the RB-1080 you have would make sense. If you plan on upgrading the speakers, then look at the RB-1092 when that happens.

Eric