Unbelievable sound quality,number of inputs and outputs,

Slow volume control.

This thing flat out blows me away for sound quality,everything about it screams high-end,except the price of course,even more so in my case having bought an open box return(it wouldn`t fit original buyer`s custom cabinet).I`ve only used it for 2-channel operation so far,but the sonic performance is amazing.It caused me to go back through most of my CD`s and appreciate music again.

Similar Products Used:

Previous system used a Carver pre-amp/tuner and Rotel amplifier that is more powerful than this reciever.

Fantastic audio capabilities. Very musical. Excellent programmable remote.

No video switching between component, S-video and composite.

I spent a lot of time listening to different AV receivers including units from Denon, NAD, Yamaha, Onkyo and Arcam. Most of them had a ton of features, buttons, switches and a multitude of DSP modes. It is easy to get glossy eyed by all these featuers but you have to really think on whether you want to pay for the 45 DSP modes or whether you want to pay for audio quality.

To my ear, the Rotel RSX-972 sounded the best. In second place was the Arcam AVR 100/200 unit. While the Arcam had a somewhat softer and tube like sound, the Rotel had just a hair line more presence in the sound.

This unit has let me rediscover my entire CD collection. It is amazing how wonderful everything sounds. If you love music, you will love the Rotel.

Like other reviewers have mentioned, I too had a problem with the tuner section in that it would start to loose stations or do stereo clipping once the unit got warmed up. I called Rotel and they confirmed that this was a known problem and is easily fixable. My dealer has an inhouse technician and he fixed it within a day. To be honest, at this price level I shouldn't have had to return my unit to get it adjusted but at least it was easily and quickly corrected.

My only gripe about this unit is that it doesn't do video switching between the various inputs. You can't output composite signals out via the S-video output or vice versa. If you connect your VCR to this unit via composite, you will only be able to output via composite. Same thing for S-video and component. Not a major thing but again, it would have been nice to see this feature at this price point.

Overall, if you're looking for a lot of features then this unit might not be for you. However, if you're looking for a receiver that sounds (IMHO) heads and tails above most of the AV receivers out there and can put up with some minor quirks you will be very happy with this unit.

very good sound, rapid email response from customer support

no switchable ac (for my sub), no headphone jack, confusing surround setup

My main criterion for selection was sound quality that would be at least comparable to the stereo that I was replacing. I find this unit does very, very well in that regard, particularly with female jazz vocalists. This unit was recommended over Denon by the folks at SDG. I did not do a listening comparison. Speakers are Paradigm Studio 20s.

This is my initial foray into HT/surround. Generally, I found the setup less bewildering than anticipated. An appendix describing hookup options would have been useful. Between the manual and questions to customer support, I've got things going adequately.

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replacing adcom/hafler stereo

blows away the competition

none at this price...could do with DTS-ES though....but then again that'll be a different story and price altogether

Tried many other AV Receivers around the S$1k-1.4k range over here in singapore and nothing beats the rotel at it's price....quality-wise of course...it isn't the best when you talk about features and good looks....doesn't even have a more popular gold/silver finish....but it puts its money where it really counts...INSIDE. Never before i have heard an AV Receiver being so good at stereo as it is at HT...of course....they have a budget to stick to too...you can't expect a receiver to contain 3k worth of components selling at a price of 1.4k so i would say that some people here are really unrealistic...NOTE...i won't say that this is the best thing since sliced bread....but for the price...it can't be beat in all-round ability....though i must add again it lacks a little on features..eg. DSPs....but who needs those anyway..Had to make this post...otherwise people would think....this unit's reviews get 3.8 while the marantz 8000 gets 4.++? surely the marantz is better? How further untrue that may be...

Similar Products Used:

Marantz SR-7200, Yamaha RX-V1200

Sound, honest power, design, great remote with light.

None

Nice work Rotel!

Honest power rating, music for a/v receiver is the best ive heard so far

None so far

I am in the market to purchase H/T and I keep coming back to the rotel rsx-972 receiver. I Love the sound from this rig ang was hoping to see some more reviews for it before i purchased it.

Similar Products Used:

sony, yamaha, pioneer, etc

Components Video Switching, Honest Power Output, Separate Amplifier Like Power. Great Remote Control, Fairly good Ergonomics.

A Bit Utilitarian Looking. Weak DSP Modes ie. No 5-Channel Stereo.

I use this receiver to drive a pair of Linn 5140's. I must say this receiver shocked me in that it has the power quality to comptete with stand-alone power amplifiers of similar watts.

The receiver is used in a two-channel 1st, home theater 2nd kind of set-up. It does the job very nicely indeed. The 100 watts into stereo and 75 watts RMS into 5-channels is plenty to drive my speakers to reference levels with barely a hint of strain.

When Rotel went to the drawing board this time in making a receiver they actually thought about the design and how to make it easy as well as sound good. It is not just another mass market "receiver", it is a quality two-channel amplifier coupled with 5-channels of "real" power.

The remote control must get some mention here because it is truely a nice remote control. The Rotel RSX-972 is bundled with one of the best remote controls I have seen for a receiver, easy to use and full of useful features.

This receiver is a winner for Rotel, I hope people arent scared awary by their last receiver which even with all its problems was very nice sounding.

Thanks for listening.

Similar Products Used:

Marantz SR-18, Onkyo TX-DS777, Sony STR-DA777ES, Denon AVR-3801, Denon AVR-3300, Pioneer VSX-D509, Pioneer Elite VSX-D24TX, Harman Kardon AVR-7000.

POWER! This unit at 75 watts RMS x 5 blows away most units rated at 100+ watts.

switching inputs on the receiver with the remote

I used to own a marantz sr8000 rated at 105w/ch. The rotel puts it to shame. It isn't even a close race. The rotel sounds better in 2 channel and 5 channel. I now have bass coming out of my speakers that wasn't there before, unless I hooked up an amplifier. The channel seperation is unsurpassed at this price level. I couldn't touch this type of performance even when I was using my sr8000 and the 985mkII amplifier from rotel (110w/ch).

The remote does have its flaws, but can be overcome. I used another learning remote to transfer the commands I wanted to move and then used the rotel remote to learn the command back to the button I wanted it to be at. The remote allows great versatility. There are several buttons on the remote that can be used anyway you want them to. This remote overall is a good remote.

For the price this receiver is better than entry level seperates. Thats my 2 cents anyway. Don't believe me, try it yourself and you won't be dissapointed. All of you denon and marantz fans demo this unit against yours and see if there is any difference. I used to be a loyal marantz person, but not anymore.

Associated gear:
b&w 9nt fronts
b&w nt center
crappy surrounds
Kimber d-60 digital cable
Kimber 4tc/8tc biwire to fronts/center
rotel rsx-972
JVC dvd & tv

Similar Products Used:

marantz sr 7000/8000

clean sound
simple design

not convenient to operate with remote
slow volume control
No Balance

I am putting this review here hopefully to help anyone who is confused as to whether to buy this unit.
It has great sound, stereo and surround, very clean, the seperation is very accurate and overal satisfying.
I have not had any problems with the tuner as the last reviewer and have found the tuner section to be excellent, though if I had the same problem as his I would feel the same way ( Rotel should go out of their way to fix it!!!!)
You have direct buttons on the front panel for different modes of operation (stereo, surround, dsp) but you have to cycle through them on the remote, each mode cycle has a pause, so it is slow and annoying that there are not direct mode buttons on the remote. There is no balance setting between main speakers, in fact there is no balance at all for stereo listening! I need to make a phone call:#1
When you are trying to figure out the sound diffence in the setup menu between optical or analog listening, there is a pause between selection that makes it more difficult to determine the best source.
Though the online brochure says phono inputs, there are none labeled on the rear of unit, none mentioned in the manual nor anything marked on the unit for grounding a record deck. I guess I have to call them!#2
Dsp is not something I use as I prefer clean sound, the four modes just seem to add more reverb as you cycle through them, though they are effective.
Hookups are great and assignment of sources easy by means of an on screen display, hope you have one!
My conclusion is: Rotel gives very good clean sound for music and good surround listening at a fair price. It is not the most convenient unit for operation,nor does it offer all the bells and whistles but if you have a sensible budget and ears are your judge, then this is a fine center piece to your A/V system.

Similar Products Used:

carver
yamaha
B & K

Good Sound. Lots of power. Good general HT system.

Flaky tuner section

I bought this product 3 months ago. Since then, its tuner section has been driving me mad. The problem is the following:

When the A/V receiver is cold and is turned on, it works properly and is able to tune well into more than 20 FM stations in stereo (I live in the middle of metropolitan Boston). However, after about 20 minutes of operation, an annoying stereo mute function starts clipping the sound. The situation degrades until all the weaker stations are completely muted, and the 3 or 4 stronger ones have periodic clips every 2 or 3 seconds. It is extremely annoying.

The weird thing is that when I turn the stereo mode off, the tuner works well in mono. I get all the 20 stations once again (in mono) with no noise or any kind of reception problems. This makes me believe that the problem has to do with the stereo mute function getting too sensitive when the unit is warm. I have tried the receiver in different house locations, at a friend's house, with many different types of antennas, and I always get the same result. Once the unit is warm, there is no way I can hear the radio in stereo.

I returned my first unit to Rotel. They shipped me another one with the same problem. After the second incident, the dealer contacted Rotel, and found out that they were aware of the problem. However, they had no way of identifying which units were affected. Because of this, the dealer gave me a brand new third unit. Again, it has the same problem. I called the dealer once more, and they don't know what to do, nor do they seem too anxious to solve the problem. I am tired of making repeated phone calls, having to explain the problem again and again, and having to make so many trips to the audio dealer. I think I will just forget about the dealer and Rotel and end up buying a separate tuner component (not from Rotel).

I regret not having read the bad reviews for the RSX-965. It seems like Rotel is still having quality control problems with their A/V receivers. It's a pity because the unit is quite nice, sounds great, and works well, except for the tuner. If you are considering buying this receiver, make sure you test the tuner for an entire day. If you start noticing problems like the ones I described above, return it and get your money back. Maybe this problem only affects a few of the RSX-972 units. In my case it's been 3 out of 3.

I am not giving this unit one star because it does have good sonic qualities and even without the tuner, it might be a good buy. However, if I buy a receiver, I expect its tuner to work in stereo and for more than 30 minutes.