I believe the RC-1090 when coupled with the RB 1090 represents the best price point. I tried the RC 1080 and it is no comparison. Also tried a number of other products and for the price nothing will compare to it.

I didn't notice any difference to the balanced and unbalanced though but the way it captures the mids and base are truely remarkable.

Even the treble when jazzy blues is played is very precise. The sound stage is also well presented.

I had the 980 bx, later the 995 now the 1090
This pre amp is so clear, that I put it up against other pre amps that cost way more
I could hardly tell any difference in the sound, the one that keep music more alive
was the rotel rc 1090
Buy one you will not and never be sorry that you bought one, I love the sound.

Detail, Transparent, wide soundstage and good performance in Vocal and Classic musical

None

i am really satifiied with this combo , RC1090 + RB1080, it is a "perfect match with my new B&W 805s" i can hear detail which were leak from Previous Amp. i used Musical fidelity A308(nothing surprise with this amp.), Krell KAV-400xi(fast, but bass is not good), Primare A30.1(the vocal performace is the worst). The Rotel Combo (Sound quality: fast, transparent (espacially "Vocal"), i think i will keep this combo for a whole life.

Similar Products Used:

For Rotel Combo, Musical Fidelity A308, Krell KAV-400xi, Primare A30.1

Better 3D imaging, quiet, deeper bass and more revealing and great phono amp for those old LP's. excellent remote.

Long breakig times, only 1 pair balanced inputs/outputs.

Been using this unit for 3½ years and enjoyed it throughly. After the first 300+ hours use, it fully settled down. I was using the RC-995 before (the weakest link), especially the worst component when using balanced outputs. The new RC-1090 was hugely quicker, more revealing and musical with large, detailed, more delicate 3D presentation. Oh yes, the 1090 is more transparent than the 995 in every sense but looking more closely, the 1090 is many times more refined. The 995 had a serious problem with channel separation, 3D imaging and some tones were quieter, if always missing something. IMHO, I didn't expect so much difference from a single upgrade for a budget unit. When I changed my power amp to the rb-1090 before the preamp upgrade, I then noticed something was wrong everywhere. I didn't know how much until I experienced it 1st hand. Let Rotel components get a good burn-in before any serious listening. No preamp is perfect at any price, its not the most transparent or detailed out there but I wouldn't know until I change the source. Compared to Krell's 300i, the RB-1090/RC-1090 combo is so much better! but to be fair a little more costly. Conclusion: much less listening fatigue. Setup: speakers: B&W Nautilus 803 power: Rotel RB-1090 cd player: Rotel RCD-991 Cables: DH Labs Q10 int. biwired and BL-1 balanced and RCA

Similar Products Used:

Rotel rc-995 and older, krell 300i, Harmon Karmon.

Very good sound, exceptionally good headphone amp, very versatile (Phono MM/MC, RCA and XLR, 2 Tape, 2 output, 6 line level input), great remote control, gorgeous look.

No "Balance" control, not the ultimate for very low frequencies, expensive

I am very, very happy with this preamp. Compared to my previous preamp (Adcom GFP-565), it sounds slightly better : more details, better soundstage. I was very amazed that there is a difference (I am a "loudspeakers" guy). I didn't try the phono input yet.

Similar Products Used:

Quad 44, Adcom GFP-555-II, Adcom GFP-565

Great sound - wide soundstage, detailed sound with plenty of depth and punch

None

I upgraded my entire 2-channel stereo system a few months ago, and totally love the sound. The new system includes Sonus Faber Grand Piano Home speakers, Rotel 1080 amp (200 w/ch), Rotel 1090 pre-amp, and Rotel 1055 CD changer, with Audioquest Coral interconnects, AQ Bedock speaker cables, and MonsterPower Center 5100. The system has an incredibly wide soundstage (I have the speakers towed in so that they are aimed slightly in back of my head), with a very detailed sound. Vocals especially sound great. Cymbals are crisp, with plenty of punch. Overall, the system sounds very musical (I mainly listen to pop music), with great depth and presence. I believe Rotel provides the best value out there, with better quality than the mass marketed brands (basically a high-end sound at much less cost than the top audiophile brands). Although there are better sounding systems out there, I'm convinced you would have to spend twice as much to noticeably improve on this one.

Similar Products Used:

15-year old Onkyo integrated amp

Dark, Smooth, and neutral sound. Great mid-price pre-amp.

None at this price point

Rotel RC-1090 pre-amp came out with tons of features including a tuner and a phono, which is a bonus. I got this pre-amp after having owned the Acurus RL-11 for the last four years. The RC-1090 sounds better than RL-11 and Adcom in every aspect. The sounds come out of the RC-1090 is fuller, darker and more control. Initially, I was frustrated because the bass was weak in my system, however, after replacing KCAG cable from pre to amp with Cardas Cross the bass is great, and the mid and high are even smoother and clearer. The CJ-PV14L produces more detailed and clear high than the Rotel, but it costs twice as much. Eventually, I will upgrade to tube electronics, but for now, the Rotel is a keeper. My listening music is: Classic Rock, Smooth Jazz, some piano solo and newage. It is all come down to sound preferences and how much you are willing to pay. With this hobby, it is never enough. My system consists of :RCD-991, RC1090, RB1080, and VA Mozart speakers Cables: KCAG from CD-PRE, Cardas Cross PRE-AMP, and 8TC from AMP to speakers. I am thinking of replacing the 8TC with Cardas Cross. Too bad the system may sit idle throughout summer time. -Tan

Similar Products Used:

Acurus RL-11, Adcom 5300, CJ-PV14L

In my first review (18 December 2001) I used to write another review after burn in. Well, although I tested that RC-1090 is somewhat better than my old RC-995, I could not get what I was looking for. I was not happy with bass lines and midrange. Compared to some other preamps, 1090 seemed to me that my weakest link is still the preamp (the reason that I traded my old RC-995). I found a second hand Audio Aero Capitol 24/192 cd player/preamp and directly connected to the power and it showed me how much I suffered from the source + preamplification. I traded my Rotel RCD-991 (make no mistake, RCD-991 is a very good player for its cost) and RC-1090 for Capitol 24/192 for a bargain price. RC-1090 is surprisingly my first experience about Rotel products that I was not satisfied for the price (see my review for the power amp RB-1090 on 1st of Nov. 2001)

I’ve had the RC 1090 preamp for about 4 months and it’s paired up with the Rotel RB 991 power amp which I’ve had for about 15 months. I was using an Audiolab 8000a as a preamp prior to the purchase of the RC 1090.
I was originally going to buy the Rotel RC 1070 but was a bit put off that product because I would have needed an outboard phono stage to cope with my Ortofon MC 15 Super cartridge on my vinyl spinner because the RC 1070 only has a MM phono stage. So when I went to my local Rotel dealer and the salesman dropped the original asking price a bit I didn’t need much persuasion to try out the RC 1090. I took their demo version home and was immediately very, very impressed. I listened for a couple of days and decided I was going to buy it. Because I used another preamp for a year with the RB 991 I can really appreciate what a difference Rotel’s top of the range preamp does for my system.
The difference was amazing with the first thing that hit me was how much better the bass was. More of it, more tuneful and rythmic. The Audiolab was no slouch as a preamp but the RC 1090 is in a different league. The soundstage is more open, dynamic and coherent. Vocalists sound like they're singing in front of you. The slam and attack on rock tracks (long live Motorhead!) is hugely improved. Also a lot of the annoying sibilance I had with several recordings is now gone.
The remote is pretty good too and and is a learning remote so gets rid of all the other remotes in the house for the CD player, TV, VCR etc.
I currently use unbalanced connections between pre and power amp but balanced connections could be a future upgrade. One word of warning - the RC 1090 takes a long, long time to run in properly.
I am a very, very happy customer with this amp pairing. It lets the rest of the equipment I have really do its stuff and lets the music shine through. I am now safe upgrading the other parts of my system in the years to come without ever having to worry about the amp.

Other gear:

Project 1.2 turntable with MC 15 Super cartridge
Rotel 965 BX LE Discrete CD Player (used as a CD transport)
Theta Chroma DAC
Cambridge T500 tuner
Rega XEL loudspeakers
Transparent Musiclink/Musicwave cable

Actually, this is an initial review for rc-1090 since it has not broke in yet, I only used it for approx. 30-35 hours. I got this unit to test against my current RC-995. Although rc-995 has a good value for money (got it second hand for 500 usd, it is really a bargain), it is less transparent wrt some other preamps. I was satisfied with especially bass management and also natural presentation of rc-995, weak, less transparent highs forced me to try the new model rc-1090. Also, to me, rc-995 was not well enough at channel seperation and pinpoint 3D imaging, at some instrumental music, some instruments played louder and others were compressed or more laid back. I think, although rc-995 is a good amp for money, it has its own color for mids, and lack of highs position rc-995 far away from an ideal preamp which is assumed to be a simple wire with gain (I know we are talking about a budget component here).
Although I do not expect rc-1090 to fulfill of the areas rc-995 has not covered (since it is again a budget amp), I am more demanding about imaging and more transparency especially for high frequencies. After 30-35 hours of listening, it seems rc-1090 is much more transparent in highs, I discovered smooth and nice highs which I could not hear with rc-995. The channel seperation and imaging seems to be better. I am not sure how the sound will improve after a complete break in period (maybe +100 hours) but expect a better imaging and more transparency. About bass and midbass, surprisingly, my old rc-995 is nearly same or better, I dont know whether rc-1090 will take the lead in lows after break in.
Conclusion: rc-1090 passed the first tests for me, I think I will keep it and trade for rc-995 for an extra 500 usd, so the cost of rc-1090 will be 1000 usd, which is a very good deal for what it offers.
I will submit another review after a complete break in period.
Audio setup:
speakers: B&W Nautilus 803
power: Rotel RB-1090
cd player: Rotel RCD-991
cables and connectors: Transparent Audio Musicwave Super biwire speaker cables and Musiclink Super RCA connectors.