Rotel RSX 1550 vs Yamaha RX-A2000

[PannTher]

Hello!

I just spent 4 hours at my dealer comparing the Rotel and the Yamaha. I love my new B&W CM8 fronts, CMC2 center and 685 rears.

I noticed that the ROTEL sounded better, but I just can't seem to justify if it sounded $1000 better!

Also, the fact the the ROTEL has nowhere near as many gadgets is somewhat frustrating. However, that's not a big issue as I am interested in sound first. I listen to music a lot and also love a good movie.

I know to trust me ears, but does anyone have advice as to the technology differences between the two? Is the Rotel really that much better a product to warrant the price difference? Does it have really better components? There are great reviews on the A2000 I see though.

I am only interested in these 2 receivers for my speakers, but would appreciate some guidance from someone who is knowledgeable with these 2 receivers.

Thanks a lot in advance!

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Hello!

I just spent 4 hours at my dealer comparing the Rotel and the Yamaha. I love my new B&W CM8 fronts, CMC2 center and 685 rears.

I noticed that the ROTEL sounded better, but I just can't seem to justify if it sounded $1000 better!

Also, the fact the the ROTEL has nowhere near as many gadgets is somewhat frustrating. However, that's not a big issue as I am interested in sound first. I listen to music a lot and also love a good movie.

I know to trust me ears, but does anyone have advice as to the technology differences between the two? Is the Rotel really that much better a product to warrant the price difference? Does it have really better components? There are great reviews on the A2000 I see though.

I am only interested in these 2 receivers for my speakers, but would appreciate some guidance from someone who is knowledgeable with these 2 receivers.

Thanks a lot in advance!

If both in set in direct mode, the difference you hearing is placebo effect

 

[PannTher]

Thanks for the reply.

I guess the Yamaha it is!

 

[LAB3]

You will not be unhappy with either unit. Sometimes shops have the more expensive AVR a little "Brighter" in the speaker setting so it stands out more.
Go back and use remote on Yamaha and push "Pure Direct" as BSA advised and do the same on the other one and see how they sound then. I am biased to Yamaha AVR. I have a old Yamaha AVR RX-V2400 7.1 from 2003 that still plays great.

 

[Surudos]

To make your decision easy...today and tomorrow newegg is selling the RX-A2000 for $900 with free shipping. Hope that helps. I'm in the same boat at the moment as well =)

 

[PannTher]

Thanks for the responses.

It seems the consensus is the Yamaha.

I'm in Canada, so even though the dollar is stronger at the moment, I got a "deal" at $1200

I don't mind helping the smaller shops out though.

I guess I'll choose the Yamaha although I found the Rotel sounded better.

Thanks again.

 

[timoteo]

Ive listened to almost every major brand of avr on my B&Ws & non sounded better than my RX-A2000. However i never did a direct comparison with the Rotel i heard so cant comment onif its better. You will love your new Yamaha it is fantastic!! I just got an Emotiva XPA-5 & i highly recommend you consider adding an amp to your B&Ws as they do much better with external amplification than just an avr. Congrats on your purchase & welcome to the Yamaha/B&W club. The cOmbination of the two brands makes for a knock-out system!!

 

[cpp]

I don't think you will notice any difference in sound, the Yamaha has a lot more features plus HDMI 1.4 if you ever want to move up to 3D, but the Rotel is clean power but I don't think it's worth the extra cash for a few extra watts unless you get a great deal on the Rotel.

 

[LAB3]

I have never owned a Rotel. Do they rate the amps different from Yamaha? On paper the Yamah has higher rated amps. I have read some bench tests where all the brands AVR did not really have the power when all amps were on, that the mfg. claim.

 

[PannTher]

Wow, thanks for the encouraging words!

I am told that Rotel has a lot more wattage than what the let on.

I am excited for the yamaha and will loko into the Emotiva as that seems a lot cheaper than a Rotel amp!

Thanks again!

 

[PannTher]

Listened to both of them again.

The Rotel does sound better.. but is it $900 better?

I don't know why I'm having such a hard time with this.

Better features in the Yamaha.... better sound in the Rotel.

Is the Rotel really THAT much better?

 

[timoteo]

It may be that the Rotel has more robust amps & its the extra powers headroom that is giving you more dynamics. I cant say for sure but i can say that if you got the Yamaha & put that $900 towards the Emotiva XPA-5, you would for SURE be getting more power than the Rotel PLUS you would have more expandability toward 9.2 with extra zones etc.

My vote still goes to the Yammie+Emo but you need to listen to your ears & make a choice based on whats going to make you happy!!! Rotels are known for sounding great with B&Ws. At the same time so is Yamaha but in the past, AVRs werent what they are today so i think its a toss up.

Bottom line..........Trust your gut!!

 

[timoteo]

For the exact same price as the Rotel you can be running seperates!
Thats all i have to say about that so i will shut-up now

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Listened to both of them again.

The Rotel does sound better.. but is it $900 better?

I don't know why I'm having such a hard time with this.

Better features in the Yamaha.... better sound in the Rotel.

Is the Rotel really THAT much better?

1) Did you bring a digital SPL meter to make sure that your volume is exactly the same? Even a 1 dB higher volume will make that unit sound better.

2) I am assuming now that both units are in Direct mode and playing the exact same song?

 

[LAB3]

1) Did you bring a digital SPL meter to make sure that your volume is exactly the same? Even a 1 dB higher volume will make that unit sound better.

2) I am assuming now that both units are in Direct mode and playing the exact same song?

Good point........ the reason is in the Eq setting. As I posted before some shops set up the more expensive (more profit) units to have more gain to each speaker. By compairing on the Pure Direct(no Eq just the amps) mode and a meter in hand you can make a better decission.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Good point........ the reason is in the Eq setting. As I posted before some shops set up the more expensive (more profit) units to have more gain to each speaker. By compairing on the Pure Direct(no Eq just the amps) mode and a meter in hand you can make a better decission.

Yeah, and even in Direct mode, I would make sure Audyssey or other room corrections and Dynamic EQs are completely turned off.

 

[its phillip]

Using pure direct should disable all of that.

Using pure direct on my receiver even disables bass management, so I never use it

 

[LAB3]

Using pure direct should disable all of that.

Using pure direct on my receiver even disables bass management, so I never use it

I just noticed you too are live in Ft.Worth me to. North Richland Hills area. I have Pop's old Cornwall speakers for front L&R in a very small den so I enjoy the 15" woofer in them with subs off. It's a flatt Klipsch sound that I grew up with. Pop use to set the old McIntosh seperates in the middle on the bass ,mid and highs and that was his Eq settings.

 

[its phillip]

Nice. I have run my speakers without the sub, but I would much rather use it if I can.

I live just north of saginaw/southwest of keller

 

[3db]

Using pure direct should disable all of that.

Using pure direct on my receiver even disables bass management, so I never use it

I run my Yammy pure direct while listening to vinyl and CDs ..I get enough bass from my towers with most music without the sub. Notable excpetion is music which includes teh pipe organ. Then I augment with a sub.