braxus

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.67 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $350.00 from Ebay

Summary:
I bought my RC 995 off Ebay since I needed a good preamp to go with my new RB 1070 amp I bought. I used to own a RC 980 pre and that was a good unit in its day. I new this 995 would be a step up. My listenning room I have the system in now is not a good room for a stereo, nor is the speaker placement. But I can get an idea of what the 995 and 1070 combo is like. The 995 gives a clean output that is not as edgy as some other preamps. I can't comment on soundstage due to the poor room and speaker placement. I'll do another review down the road when I move this system to another place. I got a good price on this preamp due to 2 channel units not selling as well these days. It still ended up being closer to $500 when it crossed the border with taxes. My unit had its feet removed, so I had to get them replaced which Rotel service in Europe was very kind to give me a set for no cost at all. Thanks Rotel! I use the phono stage as well and it seems ok. I cant comment how it rates with my old 980 pre, since I sold that unit off years ago. I do like the 995s switching ability with the remote. The remote works the volume and source switching, plus power. The power, volume, and source controls are lit up. This is a good preamp to get on a budget. Its similar to the old 990 preamp.

Strengths:
Good design
Clean looking
Remote capable
Clean output

Weaknesses:
Maybe not the best phono stage

Similar Products Used:
RC 980 pre

krell100

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.50 of 5, 4.00 votes

Price Paid:  $550.00 from Intersound HiFi

Summary:
From the first few bars of music I knew this was a special product. The soundstage is enormous. It's super transparent. The tonal balance is smooth but not at the expense of detail. Bass is fast and tight. Once you've picked your jaw up off the floor you notice so many things you've never heard before in tracks you've listened to a zillion times. All you want to do is keep on listening. This kind of musical, non-fatiguing and coherent performance is what you pay big bucks for so to find it at this price point is a small miracle. The phono stage is passable for budget vinyl but not really a strong suit. Balanced outs superior to unbalanced, careful setup (cones) and good cables essential. Try and get a listen to one of these before laying out BIG money on some pretty piece of esoterica that probably isn't as good!

Strengths:
Imaging and soundstage
Detail
Transparent and neutral
Musical and non-fatiguing
Convenient remote
$Bargain Price

Weaknesses:
Will show up rubbish recordings
Phono stage just average

Similar Products Used:
Adcom
NAD
Musical Fidelity
EAR
Parasound

Price Paid:  $400.00 from ebay

Summary:
Wow! I can not recommend this preamp high enough. It's all about music. Either it's present or it is not. With RC 995 I finally extracted music from my system: -Rotel RB 991 -Rotel RDD 980 transport -MSB LinkDacIII -MSB P1000 power supply -Paradigm Monitor 9 -Thorens 320 -Rochlin Digital IC -custom silver ICs -DIY CAT5 speaker cables Rotel RC995 takes place among preamps like BMW among sport cars. There are products many times more expensive, there are products with luxury allure, but it does not make Rotel RC995 less competent. The guitar of Eliades Ochoa, the female vocals (Ella, Holly Cole, Patricai Barber)chamber music on period instruments, Buena Vista Social Club,everything sounded like MUSIC. My search for a preamp is finally over. There is no better match for Rotel RB 991 for reasonable price. I suggest to all Rotel RB 991/1080 owners who currently use RC 1070 to buy RC995 one and give it a try and finally hear what their power amps are capable of. When new, it sold for $900. For that money, perhaps one could buy a better preamp. Today, at around $450-500 it is no brainer. If you are shopping for a preamp, give it a try. And use the money you saved to buy more CDs.

Strengths:
Doing the job of a preamp right

Weaknesses:
-captive power cord -cosmetics (e.g. cheap "feel" of volume knob will make you use remote instead)

Similar Products Used:
rotel rc 1070

Price Paid:  $500.00 from Len Wallace HI FI Sy

Summary:
Terrific! Purchased to replace a solid- state prototype Theta balanced line stage as I was connecting a turntable to the system. Used with a Meridian 506/20 cd, DIY turntable/modded rb300/denon dl 160 to a Proton AA460 dual mono pro amp & DIY Vifa mtm speakers. Interconnects are VDH hybrid between the t/t & ME Phono stage (that I prefer to use with my current high output dl 160 cart), silver spiral from the phono stage to the RC995. VDH The First between the Meridian & RC995. MIT Terminator Proline balanced XLR from the RC995 to the Proton & Kimber to the speakers. The next upgrade will be a pair of 6c33c monoblocks but have no intention of parting with the RC995. I am happy to ethusiasticly reccommend it to anyone!!

Strengths:
Does everything very well including the phono stage for my previous & recently destroyed dl 103 low output m/c cart. Benefits from mounting on cones. Responds to the use of quality interconnects.Iv'e heard better but at a frighteningly expensive diminishing return.As a bonus the remote also operates the meridian cd!

Weaknesses:
nothing.

Similar Products Used:
Can't be compared to the Theta with separate power supply & minimilstic design & blue alps volume pot but was & is still a surprisingly competent pre-amp'

Price Paid:  $500.00 from Audiogon Wanted ad

Summary:
I just replaced an Audiolab 8000LX integrated that was doing preamp duty with this baby :) The 8000LX was good but wow the 995 is so transparent sounding, simply stunning. I cannot imagine the need to upgrade anytime soon. My system: Rotel RCD-971 CD Player (modded to accept upgradeable power cord) Signal Cable Analogue Two Interconnect (awaiting an MIT terminator2) Aragon 2004 mkII Amplifier (v.nice) PowerVar Power Conditioner 5 amp 600w AC filter (for Digital) PowerVar Power Conditioner 12 amp 1400w AC filter (awaiting arrival for Analog) Home made CAT-5 Speaker cable and Signal cable biwire (experimenting) B&W P-4 Florstanders (love these) The remote controls my CD player too, which is a big bonus. Reiterate all the previous comments. I am going to mod the 995 to accept an upgradeable power cord, this was an amazing (and cheap) upgrade for the RCD-971, fantastic results. Hint: take the IEC inlet out of one those old computer power supplies.

Strengths:
Neutral, clean, transparent... User friendly control

Weaknesses:
Captive power cord, an easy upgrade

Similar Products Used:
Creek 4330R Audiolab 8000LX Pioneer A400