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Review NaN of
Price Paid:
$1075.00
from Audio/Video Synergy- Summary:
I have been in the never ending upgrade cycle for a few years, from receivers to separates, from inexpensive to expensive cables, DVD players, etc. One observation in the Audio/Video world is that generally speaking, the jumps in price can range from a real waste to really worhtwhile depending of coarse on all of the elements in your system. The longer you figure out what to listen for and try different things, the more apparent this becomes. This by no means qualifies me as an expert, but I do pride myself on navigating through the hype and achieving a system that is a decent value.
Which leads me to the 1066, my fist entry (at the time) in to separates. Prior to buying the 1066, I had a Denon AVR 3803 and added a Rotel RMB 1075. This was the first significant change per dollar spent I ever experienced. The difference was clearly measurable (more dynamic) and got me thinking that going to a dedicated pre-amp, things would only get better. Well they did and they didn't.
First of all, I am a big fan of Rotel, I consider their products to be well-built and a good value for those of us that want to pretend we are in the higher end audiophile world. The various Rotel reviews exclaim that you get the performance of units costing many more dollars. I have been seduced by these types of reviews and Rotel's excellent marketing but have come to the conclusiion that like anything else, you get what you pay for. True, the law of diminishing returns kicks in when you go from a $1,500 pre-amp to a $2,900 pre-amp, but if you listen discriminately, the small differences become worth the premium.
The 1066 is a budget pre-amp, albeit subjectively in my view more classy than an Adcom or even a B&K, a few pegs down from Anthem, Krell, Proceed, etc. It is decently built, has a nice feature set and good warranty. Most importantly, it will be a nice step up from most receivers, keeping in mind that I feel that it didn't provide the difference I was sold on by my dealer when I replaced my Denon 3803 (pre-outed to the RMB 1075).
Recently I bought an Anthem AVM 20 floor model at a great price. The bottom line is that the Anthem felt more like what I thought I would get when I upgraded to a pre-amp from the Denon. More lively surround processing and more punch to movies. Musically, the gap is probably narrower thus giving credence to the reviews that compare it to pricier units.
On the downside, I used to have a Rotel RSX 1055 and like the 1066, I hear a "pop" in my speakers when changing channels on my digital cable box, something that I haven't experienced on numerous other receivers. Also, there can be sound drop outs on the split second layer change on DVD's, something I have read about even with the more expensive pre-amps. The remote is what it is, kind of a big awkward affair.
All in all, my opinion is that if you can somehow make it work out, try to stretch to something the calibur of an Anthem AVM 20 or if you have a decent receiver, try partnering it with a good amp first. If you are starting out and have around $2,000 to spend and the choice is between entry level separates or a bigtime receiver, you'll be satisfied with the Rotel 1066 and an amp like the RMB 1075.
Lastly, it is easy to get a little snobby as you move up in to different levels of equipment, also remember that all of this kind of gear has its' quirks,is oversold professional review-wise and is miserably overpriced. The Rotel 1066 is on par with the Adcom and B&K offerings at similar price points, do some demo's and get the one that looks and sounds the best to you. Again, if you are in this thing for the long haul and are piecing some good equipment together, I'd spring for something like the Anthem or better, you are going to be pleased, especially if you are in to Home Theater. Strengths:
Nice features, warranty, looks. Weaknesses:
Like all of this stuff, riddiculously overpriced. Similar to other Rotel products I have owned, sensitive to grounding issues, noise through speakers, "pops" through speakers when changing cable tv channels. Similar Products Used:
Rotel RSX 1055, Anthem AVM 20, Denon 3803, Marantz 7300, Pioneer VSX 55TX.
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