STIFA

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $450.00 from bought used

Summary:
I bought this wonderful integrated from a friend and it was the best sonic upgrade I have made in last 2 years. I was so surprised when first notes hit the air, It was damn EXCITING. rotel ra985bx nad c542 audioquest/vdh bi-wired B&W 802 You could imagine my surprise , because I have heard/owned following : Rotel Ra/02, 1070 Nad (almost all , not impressed but good CD players from NAD) Arcam Diva and FMJ range (wonderful) Electrocompaniet 3 Linn Karin, Musical fidelity (too much $) and this Rotel beats them all in terms of DETAIL and EXCITEMENT. Thought I have heard it all till now but this amp made me realise how much detail is implemented in music. Another DAMN good thing about this integrated is DYNAMICS. It kicks so fast and without loss of detail that is labeled by many that came in my house as "most heart-shaking amp I ever bought". Bypassable tone controls, many inputs, zone operation for second room ,bi-wire quality outputs, remote.:) Tried it with many CD players and it draws every single bit of data out of them. Try Nad or Arcam CD players they are a mind-blowing match with Rotel. Another thing is easy-listen with so much dynamics that at very low volume you can hear all the details without loss of bass/dynamics/detail. AWESOME. Thought I found my match with Musical Fidelity for last 15 years in this area but this made me shiver.Really. Sound is best described as: detailed and crisp highs smooth and forward mids fat and controlled bass Could be descaribed best as the "american" sound with parts of "english" sound. Very near Adcom ,Arcam and other. So natural.

Strengths:
DETAIL DYNAMICS TREMENDOUS TREMENDOUS HUGE BASS EASY LISTEN

Weaknesses:
remote could be better organised but its cool when you get used.

Similar Products Used:
see above

zamario

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00 from BUSCEMI

Summary:
I have owned this amp for about 7 years and I just think it is GREAT! Sound is perfect, controlled and very musical. I don't know if it is possible to find better for the price and, if you find it second hand just go for it. I recently decide to change setup for a Home Cinema system and even if I spent much more I still don't have the same quality on stereo!!

Strengths:
Sound, sound, sound

Weaknesses:
None, it worked perfectly for more than 7 years and it is still working wonderfully

Similar Products Used:
Arcam, Technics, Rotel

ppeter1

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
1.53 of 5, 17.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
Received as a trade-in for more expensive gears which i have sold.It was my worse amp.in my 30 years hi-fi experience!!!Even with cables such as VdH First and Wind was unlistenable!Without finesse,lacking freq.extremes,it has only power and nothing else!Smaler Rotel's sounds better!

Strengths:
None

Weaknesses:
Looks ugly,sounds ugly

Similar Products Used:
many!

Price Paid:  $700.00 from Hobo Hifi

Summary:
Well here's another absolutely positive comment on this remarkable amp. I play a Rotel RCD 991 and ELAC CL 202 speakers. After more than a year the sound still smashes me. The bass is present but smooth. It is as if you can hear the thumb against the strings. Female voices are awesome, Barbra's Send in the Clowns lifts you straight into other levels of awareness. It gives a very broad and deep soundscape. The music is everywhere in you room.

Strengths:
Warm, smooth but accurate bass Astounding female voices Top of the bill for classical and jazz

Weaknesses:
None yet (well, the remote then, but others have said that and once you get used to it, it doesn't matter anymore)

Similar Products Used:
NAD 302

Price Paid:  $750.00 from Rotel Dealer

Summary:
I have owned this integrated amplifier for about 7 years now. I have to say, it is one great sounding piece of equiptment. I have it powering Vandersteen 2Ces, and coupled with a Rotel 955 CD player. The sound is crisp and clear. Listening to Paul Simon or Sarah McClaughlin is really enjoyable. The soundstage is open, with instruments and vocalists sounding as though they are in the room. I mean, you can hear very subtle sounds like a slight parsing of lips or inhaling from a flute player. The bass is also tight and driving, but never muddled. I have been very happy with this piece and would recommend it highly. At its price, no wonder Rotel stands for value in hi-fi stereo.