Rotel

Rotel has significantly upgraded the capabilities of their home theater processor/preamplifier with the introduction of the RSP-1069 at $2199. The RSP-1069 is the most advanced home theater and multi-zone controller Rotel has ever produced. It is built on a high performance platform that includes the advanced Texas Instruments Aureus Digital Signal Processor (DSP) and Burr Brown 24 bit/192kHz DACs for the best sound quality. As usual, Rotel pays careful attention to power supply, parts selection and circuit path refinement. The result is class leading audio performance. But there is even more to the RSP-1069. Four HDMI inputs handle complex audio and video switching requirements, and high-quality Faroudja DCDi video processing can automatically scale any video source up to 1080p resolution. That means the RSP-1069 can take any lower resolution video source such as a VCR and convert it to 1080p resolution for output by the HDMI connection to your video display. All you need for complete home theater control and power is the addition of a multi-channel power amplifier such as one of the new Class-D amplifiers Rotel has recently introduced (See issues 9 and 10 for more details.) In addition, the RSP-1069 has three additional zones that can send separate audio feeds and even composite video to three remote locations. When combined with a Rotel multi-zone amplifier and Rotel keypads, the RSP-1069 provides a flexible whole house audio solution with unrivaled sound quality.

Speaking of Class-D, switching power amplifiers, Rotel has added two new models to their lineup, the 5-channel, 100 watt/channel RMB1085 at $1199 and the 6-channel, 100 watt/channel RMB-1076 at $1599. These two models have the same, superb sound quality we've described in past issues but give the user more flexibility to select the product with the number of channels required. Also, Rotel has dropped the price of their 7-channel model, the RMB-1077, down to $1999, making it an even better buy than before.

For those preferring an all-in-one, receiver-based home theater solution, Rotel has introduced their most advanced home theater receiver ever, the RSX-1058. This unit has all of the great sound and features of the RSX-1057 (which continues in the line), but it adds the advanced video scaling, the HDMI switching for video and audio, and the 4-zone capability discussed above for the RSP-1069. So it can control your main home theater room with the best audio and video and can also control three remote locations with independent music sources. This unit has an exceptional amount of superior performance and flexibility for its asking price of $1999.