Superb sound quality, precise imaging, value for money

none so far

This product has performed flawlessly for us for everything from Blockbuster movies,classical music & rock. It has driven our speakers (603S2, 601S2, CC6 & subSonicML2) to ear splitting levels when reuired without strain or distortion. The clarity & precision, as well as the natural soundstage were what really sold us. We'd decided on a Yamaha that was twice the money when we heard the Rotel & changed our minds on the spot. Weighs a ton & the power supply is huge.

Excellent value & definitely worth a listen.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha, NAD, Denon

Flexibility

Lack of Power

This is a very good all rounder be it H/T or the good old fashioned 2 channels integrated amp/receiver. But it does have some problems though. One transitor fried after I got it for two months causing it to refuse to power on. Now at 14 months old I am having another problem with the PCM stereo mode when playing CDs from my DVD using its coax digital out into the Rotel. It almost gave my wife a heart attack when the music suddenly turned into white noise with a couple more dB added. It only happens after an hour or so continous playing. I can not make it happen every time so now I am worry that the dealer may not believe there is any problem with the Rotel if I take it in for service.
If there is any similar problem with yours please let me know. Other than problems like these it is still a decent piece of electronic equirement. It even has phono input, what's more can on ask for?

Similar Products Used:

None

I can say that I have never heard something that sounds so good when it works. Problem with my receiver is that after a while, say 1 movie, I want to switch to another channel, say CD or the VCR, and the receiver won't switch over to the selected input. It will continue to display the DVD screen no matter what I select.

I can't beleive something which sounds so good, in this day and age, is so evidently riddled with quality control problems.

The receiver cools down and in the morning works just fine. I took the receiver back to the store yesterday who assured me that it was just fine. It's not. It happened again tonight. By the way I've only had it for 3 days.

Tommorow its refund (and goodbye to Rotel) time and then to another store to purchase a Yamaha RXV 995, which is cheaper anyway.

4.5 for sound, 0.09 for quality control (or should I say, lack thereof).

My wife and I purchased the RSX 965 in January after extensive testing. We've paired it with B&W 602s and a Marantz CC-48 (which we are using as a transport for the RSX 965's DAC) -- fairly standard combo, from what I can tell. It was far and away the best sound for the price, and I have to say that I've had NO problems with the receiver: no video jitters, no shorting out, no returns. BTW, my unit was made in Korea, not the PRC as some posters have suggested.

Overall nice unit, especially if you require a receiver instead of seperate units.

Not very clear manual for beginner home theatre user.

I have been very happy with the unit until I encountered the DTS version of "Jurassic Park". From what Rotel told me, when DTS first came out, DTS did the dvd's. Now the dvd's are under the control of the studio's, and as a result the consistancy of manufacturing has declined some. They upgraded the DST chip for me free of charge and everything now works fine.

Similar Products Used:

Rotel, Carver

Awesome sound, great imaging, plenty of power and connections.
Useful features, well thought out design, phono stage and a snappy universal remote

Fiddly remote, but OK once you get used to it.....

In my opinion the Rotel has it all over the NAD, NAK and MARANTZ for sound quality, especially when in stereo mode. It has a very open, natural sound stage with excellent imaging and tonality. Plenty of power too, I've had everything from R.L.Burnside to the Prodigy at full tilt and my neighbours said it sounded great....
DTS and Dolby are faultless as far as I can tell, the sound just seems to be there.....so natural, so believable you can barely believe it is actually coming from man made speakers.
I have had no buzzes, breakdowns or other quality problems so far.......

So if you want a receiver that does movies and stereo just as well and you are into big beautiful unbiased sound and imaging........this could be the one for you.
Well done ROTEL.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz SR5000
Nad T70
Nakamichi AV10

Good Power. Tons of inputs. Versatile Remote. AC-3/DTS and much more. Highly Recommended!

No A/B speakers or multi-room capabilities

I have had very few complaints about this piece. Rotel has upgraded this receiver twice with improved software since I purchased mine just over a year ago. They added more subwoofer control and improved control over DTS settings. Both times my dealer upgraded it for me at no charge! If you're not going to spend over $2500, get this one!

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha, Onkyo, Kenwood, Sony

Sound, reliability, ease of use

On screen menu, no sub available in stereo

Best sound for the money I could find. I tried out Denon, Yamaha, Marantz and Onkyo but, at the time (Jan 99) this was the best sounding receiver I could find. I'm using it with a Paradigm Monitor 7, PS 1000, Minimonitor and CC350 combination with a Sony DVP7000 DVD player. Sounds great in both Dolby Digital and straight forward analog stereo. Sound on PCM stereo is a bit thin for my taste. This receiver has been very reliable with no problems.

Similar Products Used:

Denon

Excellent sound especially in two channel.

none so far

The sound and video have been excellent. I am running B&W P5 speakers and they match up well. I have not experienced the quality control problems that have shown up here. In two channel the sound is spectacular and in Dolby Digital it runs with some of the best. I would not hesitate to recommend this receiver. It has given me the balance between video and audio that I have been looking for.

Similar Products Used:

Adcom seperates, pre amp and surround sound add on three channel amplifier.

the last reviewer said he had a little problem of video jitter and still gave it 5 stars. the reviewer before that had only minor problems and gave it 4 stars. this is 1999 we shouldnt have any problems with receivers in this price range. also read my review posted today on the sherwood 945. i did my homework and listened to all of the receivers in this price range. rotel is not in the same league as the others.