Rotel and RX-V2500

Nightcap

Hi everybody,

I need some experienced advice on setting up my gear. I own a RX-V2500 and a setup composed of:
-RTI10, CSI5, RTI6 and FXI3 and a Grotto sub. I want to upgrade the receiver and I am considering the RMB1075 and the RMB1095 (used). I tried to listen the Rotels in the only shop that have them around my place but the salesman almost laughed at me when I mentioned the name POLK. Needless to say I took my things and left but I still need to know. Will the RMB1075 will do justice to the RTI10 at low to moderate levels (50-50 music/HT) or must I break the piggy and look for the bigger RMB1095? I appreciate the input, I am a longtime reader but first time poster!

cfrizz

Welcome to club Polk Nightcap.

The 1075 will sound good. The 1095 will sound GREAT! You will have one rocking system that will keep you happy for years.

fireshoes

Nightcap wrote: »

I tried to listen the Rotels in the only shop that have them around my place but the salesman almost laughed at me when I mentioned the name POLK.

You need to make sure you call the owner/manager and let them know that their disrespectful attitude cost them a sale.

GZ

IMO fireshoes is right, no salesperson has the right to put down you or any part of your system.

G-2

We also experienced an obnoxious sales person at our local Rotel Dealer (Tampa/Clearwater/St. Petersburg, Florida). Would have probably bought a Rotel, turns out we're really happy with our Outlaw-7500 plenty of clean power, transferable 5 year warranty (if we decide to sell or upgrade), the Outlaw guys were great on the phone (and we called more than several times with questions), and a 30 day no questions asked return policy. We certainly won't tolerate obnoxious sales people, and no one should have to.

cmy330go

fireshoes wrote: »

You need to make sure you call the owner/manager and let them know that their disrespectful attitude cost them a sale.

FS is right. I would also be very tempted to call Rotel. If they get enough complaints about one shop they may start dealing through a shop that actually wants to sell their product.

I have zero tolerance for that type of audio snob.

olilugo

Interesting ... I have always been under the impression is part of the business. IN my opinion, Most vendors/resealers just seam to have this atitude; either you know everything it is to know about audio phile and my product and you appreciate the price or you have no business even considering entering my store.
Don't mention what you have unless what you have they sell. becuase they feel they have the total solution and nothing else will work or compare...

I would like to kow what is the approach you all take to make sure you always get good customer service.

Nightcap

Thanks for the input people. First of all, the situation I described isn't exactly atypical. Thats a bummer though because this store actually hold pretty nice gear. It just illustrate however that Polk, for marketing reasons, is in display in stores that don't have proper equipment to make proper judgment. For instance, one must sometimes rely on reviews from other people to make a purchase because some combinations are just not possible (ex: LSi25 and say a McIntosh...eh eh eh).

It wouldn't hurt that Polk forced retailers to have some minimal knowledge about amp matching and such. Then again, would that be the mandate of a speaker company to police its retailers to provide its potential customers informed advice? That's open to debate isn't it?

Emlyn

cmy330go wrote: »

FS is right. I would also be very tempted to call Rotel. If they get enough complaints about one shop they may start dealing through a shop that actually wants to sell their product.

I have zero tolerance for that type of audio snob.

Unfortunately, I've yet to come across a dealer that also happens to sell Rotel products along with other higher end gear that has a better attitude. Dealers carry Rotel products because of the unusually lucrative profit margins and popularity of Rotel products. Carrying Rotel and mid-price gear is what often allows a dealer of high-end gear to stay in business, but many salesmen somehow seem to resent it, and sometimes the snob attitude comes out.

I'd steer clear of the RMB1075 with LSi's. It's much better with RTi series speakers. The RMB1095 is much better with either series.

Spacedeckman

Emlyn wrote: »

Unfortunately, I've yet to come across a dealer that also happens to sell Rotel products along with other higher end gear that has a better attitude. Dealers carry Rotel products because of the unusually lucrative profit margins and popularity of Rotel products. Carrying Rotel and mid-price gear is what often allows a dealer of high-end gear to stay in business, but many salesmen somehow seem to resent it, and sometimes the snob attitude comes out.

I'd steer clear of the RMB1075 with LSi's. It's much better with RTi series speakers. The RMB1095 is much better with either series.

Actually, the margins on Rotel are no better than that of Denon, Yamaha, or the like. Rotel offers an alternative brand for them to sell. They use their high end surroundings to leverage the perceived value of the brand, targeting people who want something "better" than they will find in an "ordinary" dealer. Rotel is nice product, always has been. However, their performance in comparison to the better engineered Japanese products is often not what the dealer would like you to think. Before you drop the long green on a Rotel receiver, tell the dealer you want to bring your Yamaha in for a "head to head" comparison. Be prepared for him to refuse. If he doesn't refuse, don't treat him like he treated you when it's all over. You will no longer have much use for him unless he has a better line you like.

You are barking up the wrong tree. Get a good. I repeat, good, two channel amp to drive your mains. I would avoid Adcom, Carver, Rotel, and many of the others you hear tossed around. They won't give you the performance bump you are looking for. You could get into a Parasound Halo (or a used HCA2200), a Bryston (SST model, not earlier), or even some used entry level Krell K series stuff.

I'm sure this post will hack off a few people, but I'm into stuff that really works, not into stuff that makes you feel better about your purchase. That can ruffle a few feathers.

Mark

WilliamM2

I tried to listen the Rotels in the only shop that have them around my place but the salesman almost laughed at me when I mentioned the name POLK.

If they don't sell it, they will put it down, pretty common for most hi-fi dealers, with most brands, not just Polk.

Back in late 1989, when shopping for speakers, I found the SDA line at a local hi-fi shop. I loved the sound and immediatly wanted a pair. I returned to listen to them several times, each time the salesman is telling me that SDA technology is the absolute best sound out there, and Polk was the best speaker company in the world!

About three months later, when I had the funds to purchade them, I went back to buy them. They were no longer a Polk dealer, and the very same salesman proceeded to tell me that Polk were very low quality, and that SDA was just a gimmick. :rolleyes: He was now pushing Phase Linear speakers. After a long listening session, I decided to go with the "gimmick", now sold at the other dealer. Still have them.