Pre for rotel rb990

EDUBAG
EDUBAG Posts: 403
edited August 2010 in 2 Channel Audio
Hello everybody,

i really need your help to figure this one out.

I currently own rtia7 for the fronts, a pioneer elite vsx23txh as the current pre (and amp of the center and back speakers), a rotel rb990bx for the rtia7.

I like to listen to music in two channel (like it was meant to be) and usually run the receiver as pre in pure direct mode, however was wondering if i get a good pre to go with the rotel i would get better sound for the rtia7.

The source that i will be using will be an oppo dv980h in audio mode only (video section turned off)

any advice will be greatly appreciated

regards,

eduardo
HT:
POLK AUDIO RTI4 FRONTS
CSI3 CENTER
DEF TECH PROMONITOR800 SURROUNDS
PSW 125 SUB
PIONEER ELITE AVR23TXH AVR
APPLE TV 160GB
PANASONIC BLURAY PLAYER
50" PANASONIC PLASMA TCP50C2

2 CHANNEL:
KEF R300 THREE WAY BOOKSHELF GLOSS PIANO BLACK
ROTEL RC 990BX PRE
ROTEL RB 990BX AMP
OPPO DV980 (AS CD PLAYER)
PIONEER PL100 TURNTABLE WITH SHURE MX97E CART
MIT EXP2 SPEAKER CABLES
Post edited by EDUBAG on
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Comments

  • JPSmario
    JPSmario Posts: 142
    edited August 2010
    I'm really happy with my Rotel RC995 running through an RB980. good soundstage, very clean.
    Dual 1229/Grado Gold/Rotel RCD1070/RC995/RB980BX/Pioneer 7100/Denon DRM710/Monster HTS3600MKII/PolkAudio SDA2B/TL's
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,566
    edited August 2010
    You need tubes, something like the VTL 2.5.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • JPSmario
    JPSmario Posts: 142
    edited August 2010
    VTL 2.5? with an avg used price (on A-gon) of $1000, that's probably a different neighborhood than the RB990. how often do the tubes need replacing? at what cost? just wondering, I haven't had any tube stuff since my Fender Dual Showman, and that needed new power tubes every 8-10 months.
    Dual 1229/Grado Gold/Rotel RCD1070/RC995/RB980BX/Pioneer 7100/Denon DRM710/Monster HTS3600MKII/PolkAudio SDA2B/TL's
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,566
    edited August 2010
    No power tubes in a pre amp, therefore the tubes last a long time. The tubes used are common types with new brands being pretty cheap and NOS costing more.

    For the line stage only, you should be able to pick one up in the $700 to $800 range.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • dpowell
    dpowell Posts: 3,068
    edited August 2010
    If you're patient, you can pick up a used Anthem Pre 2L (tube pre with remote) which has HT bypass. I picked mine up for around $400 but they tend to go for a bit more in the $500-$600 range (also depending on whether it has the stock or upgraded tubes). It's a great sounding pre.
    ____________________________________________________________

    polkaudio Fully Modded SDA SRS 1.2TLs + Dreadnaught, LSiM706c, 4 X Polk Surrounds + 4 X ATMOS, SVS PB13 Ultra X 2, Pass Labs X1, Marantz 7704, Bob Carver Crimson Beauty 350 Tube Mono Blocks, Carver Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5, ADCOM GFA 7807, Panasonic UB420, Moon 380D DAC, EPSON Pro Cinema 6050
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  • EDUBAG
    EDUBAG Posts: 403
    edited August 2010
    Thanks guys for the advice. I would say i prefer solid state and preferably rotel to match with my amp (although not necesarry).

    Budget 300. With remote definetly with tone controls
    HT:
    POLK AUDIO RTI4 FRONTS
    CSI3 CENTER
    DEF TECH PROMONITOR800 SURROUNDS
    PSW 125 SUB
    PIONEER ELITE AVR23TXH AVR
    APPLE TV 160GB
    PANASONIC BLURAY PLAYER
    50" PANASONIC PLASMA TCP50C2

    2 CHANNEL:
    KEF R300 THREE WAY BOOKSHELF GLOSS PIANO BLACK
    ROTEL RC 990BX PRE
    ROTEL RB 990BX AMP
    OPPO DV980 (AS CD PLAYER)
    PIONEER PL100 TURNTABLE WITH SHURE MX97E CART
    MIT EXP2 SPEAKER CABLES
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,566
    edited August 2010
    Rotel made a matching pre amp to that amp, I had one. You would seriously be much better off going with tube pre. The Anthem that dpowell suggested is another good choice and not much more than you'd pay for the Rotel.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • EDUBAG
    EDUBAG Posts: 403
    edited August 2010
    bump...
    HT:
    POLK AUDIO RTI4 FRONTS
    CSI3 CENTER
    DEF TECH PROMONITOR800 SURROUNDS
    PSW 125 SUB
    PIONEER ELITE AVR23TXH AVR
    APPLE TV 160GB
    PANASONIC BLURAY PLAYER
    50" PANASONIC PLASMA TCP50C2

    2 CHANNEL:
    KEF R300 THREE WAY BOOKSHELF GLOSS PIANO BLACK
    ROTEL RC 990BX PRE
    ROTEL RB 990BX AMP
    OPPO DV980 (AS CD PLAYER)
    PIONEER PL100 TURNTABLE WITH SHURE MX97E CART
    MIT EXP2 SPEAKER CABLES
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  • dhart86
    dhart86 Posts: 1,594
    edited August 2010
    Ed,

    Get a Rotel RC-1070 pre. Can be obtained on the used market for about $250-$300
    I have the same pre running to the RB-991. Very musical, but my tube Dac sets it off
    Main Rig:
    Antipodes DX > Roon > PS Audio Directstream Jr.>deHavilland Ultraverve 3 >Belles Reference 150a >Harbeth C7 ES3


    Second Rig:
    Roon> PS Audio Directstream Jr Bridge II > EE Minimax pre (Tutay mods) >Belles 150A Ref >Monitor 5 (Westmassguy-modded)


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  • Flash21
    Flash21 Posts: 316
    edited August 2010
    I used to have a 990, ran the Rotel 995 pre with it. It was a nice rig.
    Steve Carlson
    Von Schweikert VR-33 speakers
    Bel Canto eVo2i integrated amp
    Bel Canto PL-2 universal disc player
    Analysis Plus Oval Nine speaker cables and Copper Oval-In Micro interconnects
    VH Audio Flavor 4 power cables
    Polk Monitor 10B speakers, retired but not forgotten
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