Reasonably good dynamics, reasonably neutral

Build quality doesn't seem up to par with normal Rotel

This rewview is for the 100 watt version, not the Mk II

First off let me disclaim that this review may or may not be fair to the 985 series in general because I may have just bought a lemon used. I was in the market for a decent 5 channel amp and in general I LOVE Rotel stuff. Although after my experiences with this amp I'm a little more cautious. This amp I bought used sounded good on the whole but there was one significant problem, a ground noise hum. I've had it into the local Rotel shop twice now and they haven't been able to fix it yet. The tech showed me on the circuit board where someone has modified it and added some solder in places. He said it looked like a factory modification but I personally think it could have been in for service somewhere else. I suspect it was a modification in relation to a grounding problem since it's right at where the PCB attaches to the chassis. The local tech said that Rotel could have been in a hurry to get this amp out and not designed it with good enoguh grounding and then tried to fix it afterwards. In any event when I looked at the solder job it looked fairly shoddy. Whether Rotel did it or someone else is a mystery. I don't want to make this review scare you off from buying this amp on the used market. I do want to however make sure you check out this amp thoroughly before buying. I know that's true for any used item but that can be hard to do when you buy long distance like I did. The guy stuck me with a lemon. Well anyway even if it had been perfect otherwise I still don't feel this amp's build quality is up to Rotel's otherwise high standards. The binding posts suck in particular. They are technically 3 or 4 way binding posts (won't accomodate bare wire) but they seem really cheap and flimsy. They use thin screws which could easily break if it was unscrewed and had any sideways pressure put on it. They're not gold plated either. Am I being pickey? Perhaps .. do binding posts make or break an amp? Of course not .. but it does suggest Rotel cut some corners there and it's unexcustable considering decent gold plated 5 way binding posts like the use on their 980 cost about $5 at Radio Shack. My overall impression is that the sound quality is reasonably good (assuming you don't have any ground prblems). If you can get this unit in the $400 range then it might be a good enough bargain. However, as soon as the tech fixes my amp I plan to sell it. For the same money I can get a 100x5 B&K or AMC and I'd have more confidence. If you love Rotel I'd recommend you spend a little extra and get the Mk II version of this amp. But again maybe I just got unlucky and I"m giving this amp a bad rap but after closely looking at the physcial build quality inside and out I just don't feel the build quality is up to par. My RB 980 2 channel amp seemed much more solid both in sound and build qaulity.

Similar Products Used:

Rotel RB 980, AMC 2100, Carver AV-405

Reasonble price,One of the lowest distortion in the market
today,Stylish look.The best sound that I've ever heard.

Nothing at all!!!.

This power amp is associated with some of my audio gear:
1.CD player- Marantz (special edition)
2.Rotel Preamp processor
3.Rotel Power amp
4.DVD Panasonic K520 model (video karaoke)
5.Center channel speaker-B&W CDM cse
6.Main speaker B&W CDM7se
7.Rear speaker B&W CWM650
8.Subwoofer Boston Acoustic PV1000
9.Main speaker cable MIT terminator4
10.Center channel speaker MIT terminator4
11.Sub cable MIT terminator4
12.Video connections Tributaries silver model
13.Audio cable from CD player to Preamp MIT terminator

Similar Products Used:

Nothing could match the performance.Hey! why will you not
try of owning with this kind of unit.

Excellent sound and value.

Best sounding amp under $1500 for music/movies. I have heard several with more bass weight that sounds great on movies, but sounds bloated on cd's. This amp has been bulletproof also, like all other Rotel components I have had. It is powered up about 2-3 hours a day for either TV, DVD's or my evening cd listening session, not a problem yet, and never gets hot even during lease-breaking DVD's like the Matrix. I am not sure what the two people who bashed this amp were thinking, see my system below, brightness? I don't think so!! This setup sounds as smooth as any solid state setup I have heard, even at low levels.

system:
Rotel RTC 965
Denon DVD 2500
Paradigm Reference Studio 20's
Lovan Imperial sand filled stands
Paradigm Reference CC
Definitive Tech BP1 surrounds
MIT Terminator 2 bi-wires
Panamax Power supply
Sony XBR250 Wega

Similar Products Used:

NAD, Denon, and HK amps

midrange, warm highs, looks, price/power ratio

no trigger, no clipping indicators, bass control is good but not great

Amp sounds good with my Polk speakers and is a really good value. All weaknesses are relatively minor; bass control is not as good as my Lexicon amp but it is better than the HK and B&K amps. I really like the sound of this amp.

Similar Products Used:

Adcom GFA-6000, B&K AV5000II, Lexicon NT 212 and Harman Kardon PA5800

Exeptional detail in sound quality. Very live and realistic soundstage. Will retain it's original sound pattern no matter what volume level.

None. Could possibly be a wee bit louder but this does not detract in anyway from such a spectacular soundstage.

I hooked up the AVR 500 to my Klipsch speakers. It made them sound very dull and especially harsh at high volume levels. Some audiophiles simply love Harman Kardon but I never have. And don't take me wrong, I listen to a great deal of loud rock music. So I tried the Rotel Amplifier and it made all the difference in the world. Every bit of Harshness was gone. This amplifier is not the loudest thing in the world but sounds better than the Harman Kardon AVR 7000 by far. I don't think I have ever really heard anything this good that cost under $4000. First, the overall soundstage is extremely live, detailed, clear, present, and effective. Secondly, this amplifier has the ability to perfectly retain it's original sonic projection and at ALL volume levels. Trust me because I have thoughly tested out this sweet momma. Thirdly, Rotel clearly emphasizes detail in instruments, thereby pushing them very efficiently through my horns so that the vocals do not overshadow them. Lower end amplifiers tend to incorrectly align the vocals at different intervals of your music when you should also be hearing the background noise. Fourthly, it is THX certified, has nice binding posts, is muiltichannel and does not appear to get overheated in any way whatsoever. I love this amplifier. It is just so fluid and musical. I am sure you can find just as good a deal on it as I have.

My system:
Klipsch RF-3
Classic Mitsubishi Analog Preamp
Toshiba DVD/CD Player (I am going to buy a dedicated CD player very soon).

Adam
lionheart0999@aol.com

Similar Products Used:

I've listened to a lot of other brands. Harman Kardon receiver was tested with the same speakers.

Smooth, sweet, detailed mids and highs.

For a $1000 amp, not much, except lack of remote trigger...

This is a follow up to a previous post on this amp. It has been used for what I approximate to be around 1000 hours, not a single glitch yet! Still sounds as smooth and detailed as when new. I am not sure how people found this amp "bright", if anything it is almost the antithesis of that...It does a great job on movies, and performs admirably on music also, if lacking the last bit of power that makes 2-channel music seem so effortless on larger amps. I have looked at several other amps lately including B&K, Acurus, Proceed, NAD, and though some have a slight advantage in top end "air" and image size, none sound significantly better than this unit. I have upgraded my speakers, and will likely uprade other parts of my system in the future before I replace this excellent piece. BTW, if you want an amp that sounds great with the new B&W CDMNT series, here it is, they compliment each other perfectly.

System:
Rotel RTC965
Denon DVD2500
MIT Terminator2 bi-wires
B&W CDM 7NTs
B&W CDM CNT
Definitive Bipolar surrounds
Velodyne FS12

Clean and clean vocals, soundstage depth and exciting Dolby Digital effects.

Love-or-hate MkII style. Quite warm.

Firstly, I would like to thank you to all the people who sent in their views here. I am now a member of the Love my Rotel 985THX power amplifier Club.

I looked for the Mk1, which I actually prefer because it is a ‘boring’ black minimalist box. Listening to it side by side to my Linn system, the Linn’s power amp may have more neutral sound. However, the 985 sound louder and appear to have lower LF straight away. What I was not aware of before was the Linn soundstage was very shallow and the 985 project depth more convincingly. Stereo imaging of classical orchestra is now more 3D. I could image the orchestral players’ position with pinpoint accuracy like I remember in the concert hall. It may not be as neutral or transparent but it is just a different sound.

Perhaps because of the higher wattage rating now my 5-year-old speakers open up much more. Explosion and Dolby Digital sound effects are much more impressive. I don’t think I am in a hurry to get a subwoofer, as I am an apartment dweller.

The 985 sound just as good with Linn Kairn preamp or Tag McLaren av32r processor. Tag 100x5 power amp in the shop may sound more neutral and musical but not 5 times better as the price tag demanded. After some thought, I ended my 5 months search to replace my stereo amplifiers. Now I have a system, which sound amazing for stereo music and fabulous for home cinema.

One last word, it is still true that more expensive product sound better. I started the journey by listening to Sony str930, Denon arv2800, arv3300 and then Tag processor together with Linn LK100s, Rotel RB985, Primare 100x5 and Tag 100x5. However, sometimes it just plays music differently and not necessary better. Occasionally a product is simply super for the price and should become a classic.

Final sets up are
Sony DVP725,
Linn Karik,
Tag McLaren av32r processor,
Rotel RB985 THX,
Speakers are Ruark Dialogue, Templers and Epilogues.

Similar Products Used:

Sony STR930, Denon avr2800, Denon avr3300, Primare 100x5, Linn LK100, Tag McLaren 100x5 power amp.

Power on demand....smooth power.....yeah baby!

excuse me? none.

I've had this amp for a week now. I looked all over the place. I looked at higher end receivers such as the NAD 760 and the Denon 3300. I looked at other amps, ADS, Outlaw, Etc.. Not only for the sheer sound quility but the price was great. I got a deal from a local audio dealer in Marlboro, MA. The RB-985 MKII and the preamp RTC-965, both for $1,500.00 bucks. I stole this thing. You have to give this combo a listen to. You don't need to spend any more money and I have it to spend. Fantastic sound.

My system:

Rotel RB-985 MKII amp
Rotel RTC-965 surround sound tuner preamp
Fronts: B&W's 302's
Center: Harman Kardon CS5
Rears: JBL's G50's
Sony 32" Trinitron
Toshiba sd-2006 DVD player
Toshiba M754 6 head VHS player

I am going to step up to the fantastic sounding Energy C-4 Speakers which will blow you away with the Rotel amp. Next month's commission check.

EVERYTHING!

NONE

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hawkenslair.tripod.com

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Very clean power
Smooth balance between lows and highs.
Plenty powerful when bridged.
Minimal coloration, natural sound for solid state.

Does run seem to run hot.

Looked at Adcom's, Nad's, Rotel's and other similar priced solid state amplifiers. This amp was the smoothest sounding of the lot. Produces plenty of bass with very smooth highs. The others seemed harsh on the high end. I also believe the bass out of this amp was a bit tighter. The amp's output is run through an Adcom speaker switcher to supply power to 4 pairs of speakers (family room[main listening area], living room, rec room and deck). It has been a solid performer. Really good value for the money.
Speakers in F.R. due for upgrade.

Related Equipment:
Luxman TP 114 Preamp/tuner
Rotel RCD 955 AX CD Player
Speakers-
F.R.: ADS L-620
L.R.: Mini Advent
R.R.: Bose Acoustimass 5
Deck: Mirage