Price Paid:  $500.00

Summary:
Over the years I have carefully selected equipment and listened to classical and jazz music. When I recently replaced my electronics I conducted much research and spent my time listening to equipment. The market place is very competitive and as a result can overwhelm the individual with good quality electronics. Having to seek performance and quality without taking out a second mortgage was my challenge. I decided on the Rotel and the final decision was based on performance and what I heard with my ears. The RCD-971, RB-991 and the RC-955 became the heart of my system, I was and continued to be thrilled. However, with the desire to provide background music in the home and those occasional special broadcast's on CBC Radio 2, it was imperative that we add a tuner to the system.

Without repeating what Woody indicated below, I can only whole heartedly agree. The RT-955 looks great with the rest of the system but more importantly it delivers transparent performance. Broadcast transmission that are of poor quality, sound just like that. However, when quality recordings and live broadcast are good this tuner simply get's out of the way and delivers depth, width, clarity...its the next best thing to being there.

On the R.F. side of performance I do not live in a congested R.F. environ, so I can't comment to much on that, However, the unit's quoted R.F. specifications are at the industries standards. Unfortunately, you find any reviews out in the media on this unit.

Although the RBDS function is nice, not many FM stations seem to include this signal in their broadcasts. However in comparing this unit to the RT-940 tuner there appears to be a sonic difference, ie the RT-955 sounds much more open. So if your trying to decide on either model, spend the bit of extra even if RBDS is not an issue to you. You'll be rewarded over the long term.

With the typical build quality of Rotel this along with the rest of my system will be around for a long time. :-)

Strengths:
Transparent performance, build quality, price.

Weaknesses:
None experienced, although I wish Rotel was a little more open to ciruit and feature descriptions in the owner's manual.

Similar Products Used:
Dynaco, Marantz, Yamaha, Dyanalab

Price Paid:  $500.00 from Audio Store

Summary:
As a person that still likes to listen the radio, and it appears that this is becoming a small and select group, I still like the quality sound from FM that I enjoy with the rest of my audio system. I recently replaced my old tuner which was becoming long of "tooth". I auditioned several FM tuners ranging from $250 to $3000, a wide range of price and performance to be sure, but the Rotel RT955 delivered with both the performance and the price and this is no small order in todays pricy audiophile market! Coupled with a quality FM antenna, and not one that sits on your shelf, this tuner delivers "CD" sound and a wonderfully clear and wide soundstage. It is a well built and a pleasure to look at, I do not know what more you could demand in a product. After numerous auditions of just about every brand on the market, I found it to surely be the equal of the tuners in the $2000-$3000 range, but if one needs to spend the extra bucks for what would amount to some form of bragging rights, that is your choice, but for the dollar and performace, this is the ticket. The only "negative" I would broach, is that you have to get by the rather lengthy and complicated manual, because the unit and remote do a "lot", once this hurdle is cleared, you are on your way!!

Strengths:
Performance,Quality,Price

Weaknesses:
None other then you have to read the manual closely as it has a lot of features!!

Similar Products Used:
Adcom and Sony FM tuners