RTi12 / Rotel 2 channel amp Review

MrNightly

Good evening:

I did a side by side comparison with my new RTi12's vs the RTi8's that I have had in my possession for the better part of 2 years. I personally believed the 8's were fantastic speakers, never a complaint in the HT setting. Every time I would put on a CD to enjoy some tunes in 2 channel, I would get distracted and switch it to 5 channel listening to add the sub. I just didn't believe that 2 channel "Pure Direct" as the Denon calls it, was for me.

Imagine my suprise when I hooked up these RTi12's. A side by side listen with the Eagles "Long Road out of Eden" CD quickly had me mesmerized. Such broad range, "Fullness" was the only thing I could think. Definition to this music I thought I knew so well. I quickly called my wife down to listen with me... as we both sat on our leather couch, stunned at the clarity, stage, feeling we were experiencing. The punch from the little subs were extremely impressive from the 12's... almost like they hit your in the chest with their sound. I sat for a good hour just listening to the entire Album, caught up in the moment of my first taste of Audio bliss from my new "Big Boys." I did several side by side switching between the 8's and the 12's... not even in the same league for Music. My once beautiful 8's sounded tinny and hollow. Shallow and lethargic.

Toxis loaned me a Rotel 2 channel amp to try, and sceptically I hooked it up. At first I couldn't hear a distinct difference, then suddenly the familiar part of CD 1 track 7 hit, and Holy Snitzels... what I had considered to be bliss with the RTi12's without an amp, suddenly had true life. My ears applauded me, my wife kissed me, and I knew I had arrived. I performed several Amp/No Amp tests with both HT and Music, and the Rotel just added an element that wasn't there before. I could close my eyes, and get lost in the music. Replay of CD 1 Track 1 and man.. the vocals were so impressive, I had to play it four more times to make sure my ears weren't playing tricks on me!

While I have previously been 90%+ a HT buff, music albums are suddenly begging to be played. I popped in a recorded mix... i couldn't even finish it. The once ok sound, was unbearable. The RTi12's magnified the deficiencies of the tracks and made it un-listenable.

Nicklebacks newest CD... some of the best songs I know by heart... suddenly were strangers to me. Sounds, vocals, breaths I had never heard were moving through my room. Amazing!

I really have no other way to say it than, these are well worth the upgrade price! (Beardog, it's coming! )

Anyone who is into music, and not sure if they should get the cheaper RTi8's or step up the RTi12's... no brainer. Get the 12's.

Sorry for not being a pro yet on the details of a review, but thanks to all for the possibility to get this far! Here's to an amazing future!

tonyb

Congrats on your new found love for music!

RuSsMaN

Sweetness.

Sami

Congrats on your discovery!

MrNightly wrote: »

I just didn't believe that 2 channel "Pure Direct" as the Denon calls it, was for me.

I run my music with surround off, so that leaves me with the fronts and subwoofer. While my 15's have nice low end, I still like the added authority of the subwoofer in the mix. Heck, I even run my SDA's with a subwoofer.

Mike Reeter

Glad you got your 12's up and running and are enjoying them.

cfrizz

Congrats Nightly. I guess next up will be an amp to further enjoy your "big boys"! LOL

MrNightly

cfrizz wrote: »

Congrats Nightly. I guess next up will be an amp to further enjoy your "big boys"! LOL

Don't tell anyone but I'm one step ahead of you...

devani

congrats on your new found joy....makes me even more afraid of hearing LSi series...

venomclan

Your ears have been opened now that you can hear what a seperate amp can do. Just make sure you look at amps that are 199 watts or less.

P.S. Any Lord of the Rings movies sound terrible with seperates, you should probably throw them out....:)

jwhitakr

Congrats man on the new setup - sounds like you will be loving your 12's for a long time! Glad your wife also appreciates the step up in sound quality ... she sounds like a keeper.

Out of curiousity, did you try the 8's hooked up with the Rotel? I would be interested to hear your thoughts of the 8's vs. the 12's with that setup.

Oh, and check your PM's!!!

Sherardp

excellent review on the 12s, enjoy them. Once you amp them up, they sound outstanding as you have noted. Again, nice write up.

TRINADS

came into this thread way late, i also have the rit12's and have been shopping for an amp. which model rotel was it?

Sherardp

check out D-Sonic, Outlaw Audio, Sunfire, Parasound to name a few. Any of those will get those 12s singing.

xandra

Just make sure you look at amps that are 199 watts or less.

Why is that? Even the RTi10 specs have a power range of 50-300

mantis

Nice review. Side by sides are always fun.

cfrizz

Venom was being sarcastic. It was a minor dig at me since I ALWAYS recommend getting 200wpc amplification.

I do this, because that much will power just about any speaker to their full potential that you have now & through future upgrades.

For me it is simply a matter of practicality, expense, & being able to concentrate on other upgrades that might need to be done.

xandra wrote: »

Why is that? Even the RTi10 specs have a power range of 50-300

xandra

cfrizz wrote:

I do this [go for 200w+amps], because that much will power just about any speaker to their full potential that you have now & through future upgrades.

+1. One of the prime reasons I opted to purchase an amp was allow for upgrades in my system (not just to join you as butt of others' sense of humor)

Peter Fleming

Has anybody out there directly compared the RTi10's to the RTi12's with a 2 channel set-up? I'm curious if they are close or worlds apart!

MrNightly wrote: »

Good evening:

I did a side by side comparison with my new RTi12's vs the RTi8's that I have had in my possession for the better part of 2 years. I personally believed the 8's were fantastic speakers, never a complaint in the HT setting. Every time I would put on a CD to enjoy some tunes in 2 channel, I would get distracted and switch it to 5 channel listening to add the sub. I just didn't believe that 2 channel "Pure Direct" as the Denon calls it, was for me.

Imagine my suprise when I hooked up these RTi12's. A side by side listen with the Eagles "Long Road out of Eden" CD quickly had me mesmerized. Such broad range, "Fullness" was the only thing I could think. Definition to this music I thought I knew so well. I quickly called my wife down to listen with me... as we both sat on our leather couch, stunned at the clarity, stage, feeling we were experiencing. The punch from the little subs were extremely impressive from the 12's... almost like they hit your in the chest with their sound. I sat for a good hour just listening to the entire Album, caught up in the moment of my first taste of Audio bliss from my new "Big Boys." I did several side by side switching between the 8's and the 12's... not even in the same league for Music. My once beautiful 8's sounded tinny and hollow. Shallow and lethargic.

Toxis loaned me a Rotel 2 channel amp to try, and sceptically I hooked it up. At first I couldn't hear a distinct difference, then suddenly the familiar part of CD 1 track 7 hit, and Holy Snitzels... what I had considered to be bliss with the RTi12's without an amp, suddenly had true life. My ears applauded me, my wife kissed me, and I knew I had arrived. I performed several Amp/No Amp tests with both HT and Music, and the Rotel just added an element that wasn't there before. I could close my eyes, and get lost in the music. Replay of CD 1 Track 1 and man.. the vocals were so impressive, I had to play it four more times to make sure my ears weren't playing tricks on me!

While I have previously been 90%+ a HT buff, music albums are suddenly begging to be played. I popped in a recorded mix... i couldn't even finish it. The once ok sound, was unbearable. The RTi12's magnified the deficiencies of the tracks and made it un-listenable.

Nicklebacks newest CD... some of the best songs I know by heart... suddenly were strangers to me. Sounds, vocals, breaths I had never heard were moving through my room. Amazing!

I really have no other way to say it than, these are well worth the upgrade price! (Beardog, it's coming! )

Anyone who is into music, and not sure if they should get the cheaper RTi8's or step up the RTi12's... no brainer. Get the 12's.

Sorry for not being a pro yet on the details of a review, but thanks to all for the possibility to get this far! Here's to an amazing future!

xandra

Has anybody out there directly compared the RTi10's to the RTi12's with a 2 channel set-up? I'm curious if they are close or worlds apart!

Can't speak for the 12's but I'd say the 10's are really lovely for HT, pop, rock, jazz, and Classical chamber/light orchestral music. The itch for LSI's appears whenever I listen to complex larger orchestral works - not sure the RTi series designed for the extreme, sudden variation in dynamics present in this kind of music. But as I said, have never heard the 12's - hopefully someone who has will pipe in.