How best to use a Rotel RSX-1067 in 2023?

[Minimization]

Hello,

I have a Rotel RSX-1067 which performs great; sturdy, reliable, and clean, powerful sound. But it is 2004 technology.

I would really like to have the connectivity (HDMI, etc.) and processing power of something contemporary.

Should I just use the RSX-1067 as a power amplifier for the 5 speakers, and use a reasonably-priced low power premium AVR as a pre-amplifier/processor? Or sell the Rotel and get a better AVR than what I just mentioned? The current Rotel is out of the question at $5,500.

I was thinking about the Marantz Cinema 70S ($1,200) for the first idea.

Appreciate any thoughts. Thanks!



I have the following:

Sony XBR-43X800E
Rotel RSX-1067
Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K
Oppo BDP-103D
Sony PlayStation 3
Onkyo DP-X1
B&W ASW 675
B&W LRC 600 S3
B&W DM 603 S2 (2x)
B&W DM 602 (2x)

 

[-Jim-]

As much as you may love the Rotel RSX-1067, I think it's time to move onto a completely new AVR.

 

[PENG]

Hello,

I have a Rotel RSX-1067 which performs great; sturdy, reliable, and clean, powerful sound. But it is 2004 technology.

I would really like to have the connectivity (HDMI, etc.) and processing power of something contemporary.

Should I just use the RSX-1067 as a power amplifier for the 5 speakers, and use a reasonably-priced low power premium AVR as a pre-amplifier/processor? Or sell the Rotel and get a better AVR than what I just mentioned? The current Rotel is out of the question at $5,500.

I was thinking about the Marantz Cinema 70S ($1,200) for the first idea.

Appreciate any thoughts. Thanks!



I have the following:

Sony XBR-43X800E
Rotel RSX-1067
Panasonic DP-UB9000P1K
Oppo BDP-103D
Sony PlayStation 3
Onkyo DP-X1
B&W ASW 675
B&W LRC 600 S3
B&W DM 603 S2 (2x)
B&W DM 602 (2x)

Yes if it is in good conition, I would use it as a power amp, or if you have a 2.1 channel system for music, use it there too.

 

[-Jim-]

Yes if it is in good conition, I would use it as a power amp, or if you have a 2.1 channel system for music, use it there too.

Initially I was thinking the same as a power amp, but the Rotel is 18 years old. Using it in a secondary system would be fine, but how reliable will it be going forward?

 

[Minimization]

Thanks for the input!

Yes, I have no idea if I should just cut the line on this thing all together, or augment it. Would the Cinema 50 be an adequate replacement with respect to power quality and quantity?

 

[lovinthehd]

Thanks for the input!

Yes, I have no idea if should just cut the line on this thing all together, or augment it. Would the Cinema 50 be an adequate replacement with respect to power quality and quantity?

The Cinema 70 might need the help of the Rotel for amp, but seems the Cinema 50 is about the same and wouldn't be particularly useful. Maybe a bedroom system? I just setup spare gear in other rooms, have four avr systems

 

[mono-bloc]

I think what you have to ask yourself is what advantages are you going to get by swapping the Rotel and buying a so-called modern AVR. So the Rotel does not have HDMI, Is that really the end of the world. What the Rotel does have is a superb power supply, Something your never going to get with the current trend if receivers which incidentally are upgraded every 12 months or so. I have an old Rotel RX 203, integrated, which where introduced in 1975 or 1978, From memory I got it from a charity auction, and it came with a pension card, back then. It's still in use running the audio from a plasma panel.I must admit I did have to replace one of the lamps in the display panel. But Rotel don't fail , even after 40 years, they just go on and on.

 

[PENG]

Initially I was thinking the same as a power amp, but the Rotel is 18 years old. Using it in a secondary system would be fine, but how reliable will it be going forward?

That's why I qualified my recommendation with "if it is in good condition".

That model seems to be very well designed and used higher quality parts than many new AVRs of the day in terms of:

- Nice power supply, with decent size toroidal transformer, 60,000 uf total, 80 V rated storage caps.
- 4 pieces of stereo DAC ICs, they don't have SINAD as high as flagship Denon's, but better than the non flagship D+M models that have the downgraded ICs after the AKM factory fire.
- The DAC ICs have differential outputs and Rotel appeared to have implemented them that way.

So not only I would recommend it for use as power amp, but also as a good preamp/dac for a secondary stereo 2 channel system for music. Again, that's if it is in good operation. The fact that the service manual is downloadable is a plus.

 

[Minimization]

Thanks everyone! At this point, I am leaning towards the Marantz Cinema 70S as a modern pre-amplifier/processor to the Rotel RSX-1076. I will drive all five of my speakers (with 2 channels to spare still) with the Rotel.

I am the first owner of the Rotel and it is in excellent condition; no issues yet.

 

[-Jim-]

I wish you many more years of good tunes from your Rotel / Marantz combo.

 

[PENG]

Thanks everyone! At this point, I am leaning towards the Marantz Cinema 70S as a modern pre-amplifier/processor to the Rotel RSX-1076. I will drive all five of my speakers (with 2 channels to spare still) with the Rotel.

I am the first owner of the Rotel and it is in excellent condition; no issues yet.

Have you considered the excellent deal on the avr-x4700h direct from Denon for $1,499? In preamp mode, it's preamp/dac should be as clean as the Rotel. It has Audyssey XT32 and subEQ HT that is much more effective than the C70's MultEQ especially if you use the Editor app.

I prefer the look of the C70, but the x4700h is 2 notches above it, for less money.

 

[-Jim-]

Have you considered the excellent deal on the avr-x4700h direct from Denon for $1,499? In preamp mode, it's preamp/dac should be as clean as the Rotel. It has Audyssey XT32 and subEQ HT that is much more effective than the C70's MultEQ especially if you use the Editor app.

I prefer the look of the C70, but the x4700h is 2 notches above it, for less money.

Good suggestion @PENG

 

[lovinthehd]

Thanks everyone! At this point, I am leaning towards the Marantz Cinema 70S as a modern pre-amplifier/processor to the Rotel RSX-1076. I will drive all five of my speakers (with 2 channels to spare still) with the Rotel.

I am the first owner of the Rotel and it is in excellent condition; no issues yet.

The juxtaposition of size of faceplate was the first thing I thought of....a slimline with a wideline?

 

[-Jim-]

I was just thinking, @Minimization might as well just hook up the Denon AVR-X4700H direct without the Rotel, and see if it meets his needs. I work to the KISS Principle (Keep It Simple Stupid) and this fits it perfectly.

Then if @Minimization doesn't like the result, he hasn't "lost" anything. He can reconnect it (a bit more complicated) and go forward from there.

I hope this is helpful.

 

[PENG]

I was just thinking, @Minimization might as well just hook up the Denon AVR-X4700H direct without the Rotel, and see if it meets his needs. I work to the KISS Principle (Keep It Simple Stupid) and this fits it perfectly.

Then if @Minimization doesn't like the result, he hasn't "lost" anything. He can reconnect it (a bit more complicated) and go forward from there.

I hope this is helpful.

Agreed, there is a good chance that the Denon can do the job well by itself without the Rotel amp, but I would still use the Rotel for the LCR just to take some load off the Denon. On paper the Denon's amps are actually more powerful than the Rotel's but in reality, the difference will likely be negligible either way.

With the Cinema 70, there is chance, though just a slim chance, that the 50 W rated amps can do the job but of course it depends on what his power need really is.

 

[lovinthehd]

Yeah if it were me I'd just get the 4700 too for the prices vs that slimline Marantz model....

 

[Minimization]

Thanks again everyone.

That Denon looks like an excellent deal. I may have to pay 10% sales tax on it though if I can't pick it up in OR. The Marantz is $1,200, so maybe $300-$450 more for the Denon.

How do the two compare with respect to inputs/outputs, processing, and pre-amp output quality? I am not sure how important the 8K connectivity will be in the mid term/long term.

Also, Denon has the AVR-X3700H knocked down to $1,200, but the $300 difference is not an issue.

 

[PENG]

Thanks again everyone.

That Denon looks like an excellent deal. I may have to pay 10% sales tax on it though if I can't pick it up in OR. The Marantz is $1,200, so maybe $300-$450 more for the Denon.

How do the two compare with respect to inputs/outputs, processing, and pre-amp output quality? I am not sure how important the 8K connectivity will be in the mid term/long term.

Also, Denon has the AVR-X3700H knocked down to $1,200, but the $300 difference is not an issue.

You can compare the bench test results of the preamp section of some recent Denon and Marantz models. The 2022/23 models have not been measured, except the AVR-x3800h but since the spring of last year, Denon and Marantz started to use a lower quality dac because the excellent one they used before became unavailable after the AKM factory fire. The x3700h and the x4700h made before the dac change will have the better performance, even better than the Marantz AV7705, 7706 and 8805A. Even the ones with the replacement dac will be as good as your Rotel' preamp/dac, but the Rotel's power amps should be better.

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[Minimization]

Thank you, this is incredibly useful to know!

Before I saw your message, I was thinking of comparing 4700 versus 3800 on price. Looks like the 4700 will be the best way to go.

 

[PENG]

Thank you, this is incredibly useful to know!

Before I saw your message, I was thinking of comparing 4700 versus 3800 on price. Looks like the 4700 will be the best way to go.

If you are keen on having clean preamp output, don't just look at the SINAD but also the FFT, again let's use the following example:

You can see that even the AVR-X3800H, that has the lower grade DAC chip has much cleaner output that the Marantz preamp/processor.

Edit: There are no available measurement data for the Cinema series so it is possible that the Cinema 70 may measure better, but could also be worse.