Rotel RSX-1550 AV-receiver
The slick new Krell-like appearance of the 15-set is matched by a good level of construction missing from most AV receivers. Look closer and you will find the layout of the front panel is identical to the old RSX-1058 receiver. Fine and simple.
On the back panel you will find socketry to keep the die-hard HT enthusiast happy. There is a full complement of analogue and digital video and audio input signals, hardy multi-way speaker connection posts, all mounted on a flex- a thing that can not be said of competing $4k AVR's, free back panel.
Contrary to some sensed standing for simple boned HT equipment the Rotel isn't short-changed. All input signals can be put with various combinations of audio and video sources. Analogue video formats can be transcoded and upscaled to 1080 p through HDMI. Native HDMI video is passed through unaltered. Four zones of sound and video are supported. A digital AM/FM tuner finishes the input set. External IR switchers plus a number of 12V triggers allow for custom setup. On-board amplification is limited to 5x 75wpc of Class AB power.
We get a white on black text menu that is quite legible and good old fashioned manual speaker set up that is traditional. Within 15 minutes I had the speaker sizes and spaces entered in and relative amounts establish. Much quicker and better sounding than the final automobile set up AVR I 'd in-house. Auto set up systems can quickly screw up sound quality during the heavy handed use of DSP and convoluted signal paths. Room setup and great equipment surpasses each and every time to electronic intervention.
On music
First test for the Rotel was in my own music system using Well Denon, Marantz, Nakamichi and Tempered Magnepan speakers, sources. The Rotel here was used as an analogue amplifier, avoiding all signal processing.
The Rotel performed with aplomb where other AVRs have already been exposed as being adept at music reproduction. It sounded like a great two-channel integrated amp. There's a fine, fairly neutral tonal balance with only a hint of good transparency, realistic soundstaging and imaging, lower frequency heat and superior dynamics. Music flows having beat and an all-natural balance, coupled with authority and control that belies its mere 75wpc.
The only weak spot was the tuner section that is average. It pulled all my local FM stations in but sounded compressed and electronic in comparison with my stand-alone Denon tuner.
On pictures
A workout that is extensive awaited the Rotel in my home theatre room. Such is the flexibility of the input set up of the Rotel it could pay to map your favorite input assignments out before changing things around.
Among the claimed benefits of modern AVRs is the simplification of system cabling. Multiple cables from your parts can be trimmed all the way down from source to an HDMI run that was single to AVR to TV. In practice this is rarely works as intended. In the event you are fortunate enough to possess the correct combination of source-AVR-screen singing exactly the same HDMI song then you will maintain heaven. If not then prepare yourself for the frustration of missed HDMI handshakes and other (usually HDMI related) funnies.
A few were experienced with the Rotel. Changing video sources was slow and haphazard. Audio dropped out changing sources or when skipping chapters, losing the first couple of seconds of audio. Investigation demonstrated that overseas 15-series users have experienced similar quirks and that factory firmware upgrades repaired most of the bugs. Sure enough, a test of my review sample revealed it was running quite early firmware dated SEP 22 08 (probably first release). Overseas, 2009 firmware is being run by the latest units. Upgrades are just accessible through the importer.
High definition video through the Rotel's HDMI output signal from Freeview and Blu-ray looked outstanding, without any visible artifacts compared to direct connection to my ISF calibrated Pioneer plasma screen. Pictures were sharp and crisp, with exceptional colour and black detail that is great.
Good soundtracks enveloped the viewer in a dynamic, thorough and open soundfield that makes good home theatre this immersive experience.
This Rotel is not going to be for everyone. You will be receiving a fashionable, well constructed AVR that provides superlative performance that in my own experience is unmatched at this price point when you can do without the typical bells and whistles.
