Great sound, great sound and great sound

Very, no too slow of a processor, almost a full 2 second dealy switching into Dolby Digital, Rotel really dropped the ball on this one. Poor volume responce using remote.

I upgraded from the Rotel RSP-976 and the difference was day and night. Huge music improvement was the first impression but watching movies just gets better and better and if you are using 5 large speakers you must rent U-571 and let her go, this amp will not dissapoint you.

I am holding back on giving high marks because of the time delay for Dolby to kick in. On the 965 and 976 it was seemless and virtually unheard but the 985 is so slow it really bothers me, bad Rotel, you really screwed up on this one.

The volume responce using the remote is another sore spot but I quickly forget about it once the sound begins.

Similar Products Used:

RSX-965 RSP-976

sound quality, easy setup, processing capabilities (PCM/AC3/DTS/THX/etc)

remote, no MPEG or MLP

The RSP985 replaces my RSP980 and is being used to drive an RB-985 MarkII + M&K speakers. I considered the preamp version of the RSX965 but found the high-freq hiss, the volume control quirkiness to be too much and I wanted a little more input flexibility.

The setup of the unit was very simple. The onscreen menus are more-or-less self explanatory, and the manual is very clealry layed out (as are most Rotel manuals). Setup took less than 10 minutes, which included a bit of tinkering and trying different approaches to speaker setup.

Sound quality from the unit is excellent, in both 2ch PCM and 5.1 AC3 (haven't tried DTS yet) I'm particularly impressed by the bass output, very tight. The 5.1ch performance is simply stunning. I'd been using a DVD player with a built in AC3 decoder prior to this, and was impressed with that, so was blown away to hear the improvement in switching to the RSP985.

Bass management is excellent, with the ability to specify different bass levels for 2ch & DPL , DTS , AC3 , DTS/THX and AC3/THX and even different bass management for 2ch mode and surround modes.

Video switching is fine. I discovered that if I run a SCART cable from the S:Vid monitor output to my TV, that the RSP985 will automatically switch between sending S:Vid and composite down the scart cable. This means i can mix S:Vid and composite sources without having to muck with cables or switches!

It takes a few milliseconds at the start of every digital audio stream to detect what type it is, i.e. PCM, PCM/DTS or AC3 or whatever, which can sometimes detract form the starts of songs, in that half-a-beat can be missed.

The remote leaves a little to be desired, needing two fisted operation. The buttons for setup are spread out all over the remote but you get used to it. I should replace this with a universal remote of some sort... any suggestions?

Heartily recommended based on setup & sound quality, bit dubious about the delay in digital stream detection.
I rate it 5 for value, but take a mark off for the digital audio detectingy (hey, i'm picky)

Other gear:
-> M&K Bookshelf75 + S85c + V75 sub + others
-> RB985 5ch power amp
-> Tosh 2109 DVD player
-> Rotel RCD970 CD player
-> Loewe TV

Similar Products Used:

RSX-965 recv., RSP-980 pre-amp

All the Full Functions expected from a THX Certified Processor. Very Simple Design.

Volume button on remote. No on screen display. No balanced in/outputs.

Overall this unit is very value priced. It has many of the perks which is expected in more expensive units. When combined with the Rotel RB 1095 this unit blows away anything compareable in price. The AC3 on the unit is automatic, altough the on-screen display needs to be hooked up to your TV, once set, you can almost forget about it.
Rotel has a solid reputation, and this is a very wise choice for home theatre shoppers who desire 2 channel music along with THX Cinema.

My Components, I use my system 50/50-HT/ST

Rotel RSP 985
Rotel RMB 1095 200watts x 5
Panasonic DVD
Panasonic 31 Gao TV (want a 36 WEGA XBR400)
B&W CDM9NT mains
B&W CC6 S2 centre
B&W AS6 Sub
B&W Rock Solids rears

Similar Products Used:

Denon AVR 4800 Receiver.
Out dated Carver CT 17 Preamp.

GOOD PRE-AMP FOR HOME THEATER. BETTER FOR MOVIES THAN MUSIC. COOL BACKLIT REMOTE THAT WAS EASY TO "CODE" AND MACRO COMMAND. GOOD VALUE AT $2000.00
WOULD NEED TO SPEND WAY MORE TO GET THIS KIND OF SOUND.

the on screen menu is very detailed for adjustments in sound capabilities.

the remote control doesn't adjust the bass and treble sound.

the pre-amp is used to power martin logans sl-3 in the front and phase tech speakers in the rear. i also use the rotel rb-985 amp. i am not lacking in power. the on screen menu is very clear and well laid out. the remote control features makes it easy to switch from tv to cd to dvd to video through programmed memory features. dvd movies have extremely realistic sound. i am very happy to spend the extra money for the best surround proccesor that rotel makes. it will be long term investment for years to come.

Similar Products Used:

kenwood and technics

great build quality,,, Just Awesome sound!!!

No DD/DTS EX/ES.. or component inputs.... wish it had 8 external rca inputs instead of 6 using a DB25

First I want to say I love rotel products... You ALWAYS get more volue for the money.....

I have B&w 604 s2 for the main speakers, LCR S2 for the center, and paradigm v.2 studio 450 dipole for the rears...

I have the rotel Rb993 for the front 3 speakers, and rb-980 for the rear,,, I have 2 side speakers, and 2 rear speakers.
As for the sub, I am using the paradigm pdr-2200

I previously owned the Yamaha RX-v1 but had to sell it for money reasons.... I now am looking for my future pre-pro.. I just heard the rotel rsp-985 and was just blown away... After using the yamaha, i realize I was in the dark.. I was sold on the EX/ES stuff... I really wish I baught this unit... Oh well we all make mistakes...

Anyway,,, what I heard was a very smooth sound, very dynamic sound, and very precise steering of the sound to each channel...

The features this unit give one, is just awesome, I love the ability to tweak my system the best I can, and this unit just gives me all the options I could ever want...

My only complaint about this unit is that it needs Ex/Es.. I was spoiled with that option on the yamaha, but just to hear Ex/ES on a rotel would be a dream come true...

The dennon avr-5800 was another beast I compared this to, and let me tell ya,, the rotel sound much much better... More smooth, and made you fell like you were in a movie, not just watching one....

Anyone looking for awesome sound for a low price, rotel is the best....why pay more like I did with the yamaha???


Also, since I am waiting for my next pre/pro, from rotel,,, does anyone know if there is a replacement for this model that will have Ex/ES by summer of 2001???

Please get back to me, or I will not wait anylonger and just buy this pre/pro and forget about Ex/ES.....

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha, Rx-v1 (not using the back channel), dennon avr-5800 (not using the back channel)

Superb Quality

Remote has you going all over it for even the slightest functions

I have had my 985 for just a week now and I must say I have never been so blown away. It's quality is fantastic and the sound is GREAT. I have upgraded from the AVC-A1D ( Denon).
The Remote is not upto standards in that to use it you have to press buttons all over the remote which takes some time to get used and dont hop eto use it with one hand.Anyway I have the Marantz 2000 Mk II so that problem has been solved.
The rest of my system:
B&W 605 s2 for Fronts
B&W LCR6 s2 centre
B&W DS 6 surround
Sony VPL-VW10HT LCD Projector
991 and 993 Rotel Power Amps
Pioneer DVL 919 DVD/LD player
Marantz 2000 mk II Universal Remote
Paradigm Servo 15 Subwoofer
Lutron 3102 Lighting

Similar Products Used:

Upgrading from a Denon AVC-A1D

Good I/O and processing capabilities.

Unecessary fake surround modes. The remote isn't top notch.

Well, this product is good, actually it's very good indeed. Having set my goal in the mid-Fi class I was very pleased with the result of the Rotel RSP-985, well worth waiting for. The sound is detailed and the bass is deep and not to boomy, at least for movies and 5.1 output. Compared to Rotel preamp RC-995 when playing CD, tuner or other sources, the 985 is very good, near the same class and clearly a product for the mid-Fi customer.

Setup and calibrate the system is relative easy and I miss nothing in terms of tuning my system, speakers etc in the Rotel RSP-985. As for the remote, it has some very good solutions but also somewhat less good.

Overall I rate this product 4 out of 5. Not becuse I don't think it's good, but becuse I'll be sad if there isn't a better product out there somewhere ;).

The rest of my system :
-PreAmp Rotel RC-995 & RSP-985
-Amp Rotel RB-991 & 993
-CD Rotel RCD-991 & 971
-Tuner Rotel RT-955
-DVD Sony DVP-725D
-Cables Monster (Midrange Quality)
-Speakers Mirage OM-6(front), Mirage OM-C2(center), Mirage OM-R2(rear), Mirage BPS-150i(sub)

Similar Products Used:

-None-

Sounds great

None found yet. No display on unit other than LEDs?

I am hours to days away from buying a new reciever.
Last night I was at the local elite Hi Fi shop where I was
listening to speakers and recievers. I got a chance to listen to the latest Denon Reciever and have to say I was shocked at the results but not in a good way. At first the salesman had me listening to a Rotel seperates setup while playing Godzilla but he then switched over the cables to the 5800. When he switched them back to the Rotel I noticed a hiss that disapeared and pointed it out. He plugged the cables back into the Denon and we listend for it but couldn't hear it again and he wrote it off as the sound of the store's air conditioning shutting off. after a couple more switches back and forth we noticed it again on the Denon. The speakers when plugged into the Denon gave off a very apparant hiss. When he plugged them into the Rotel... Nothing. This was very disheartening given that I was seriously considering the Denon reciever. The salesman confided in me in a reluctant hushed tone that they (The stores staff) had been disapointed in Denon's products as of late as far as preformance and reliability. (They'd been recieving a lot of faulty unit returns) He also told me about how he'd noticed the Denon was running very hot when sitting in standby mode doing nothing and how the fan kept coming on and off every 2 minutes for no reason.
Now the Denon 5800 is a lot more expensive than the Rotel package I was looking at so I don't think the salesman was trying to sway me one way or the other. He could make a lot more money selling me the Denon. But he highly recomended I go with the Rotel seperates setup over the Denon all in one sys. After hearing that hiss I tended to agree with him.
When I started considering Rotel more seriously he told me about the Rotel RSP 985. Then he remembered they had a discount deal a ways back on the 985 with with 2 amps (RB991 & RB 993) where he thought they might have 1 set left that a customer who had it on hold might have changed his mind about. He checked and they did indeed have it.
So instead of buying the hissy Denon for $5800 CDN I could get the Rotel stuff for $4500 CDN instead of the usual price of $7500 CDN. His attitude on the fact that they still had this set available was "GRAB IT! Don't think, just do. Hands down better over the Denon."
Reading the other reviews here. I see people have done hiss tests and heard nothing and have no comments about the fan other than it being completely silent. This is all contradictory to my experiences with it so I'm really confused now. I'm going to continue reading reviews and hopefully I'll be able to reach a decision as to which set I want to get.