The new flagship of Rotel‘s line-up of home theater electronics, the RSP-1098 surround audio A/V preamp/processor, sports a stylish look and outward simplicity that hides a powerful feature set and rigorous engineering that lies behind the front panel.
The RSP-1098 is a multizone/multisource controller with 8 analog inputs, 8 assignable digital inputs, 5 analog A-V inputs, 4 HD component video monitor inputs, plus 7.1 channel analog audio in. It provides a full array of surround audio capabilities, with decoders for Dolby Digital, Dolby EX, Dolby Pro-logic II, dts, dtsES, dts ES Discrete, dts Neo 6 and HDCD audio formats.
Rotel's flagship RSP-1098 home theater A/V processor will be available in March 2003, suggested retail price of $2,999 (US).
The new processor features a full-color LCD display integrated into its front panel for system-control and on-screen menu navigation. The display can also be used for monitoring a video source, or even a remote entryway or security camera.
“The RSP-1098 is Rotel’s most sophisticated product to date,” says Mike Bartlett, Rotel of America’s vice president and general manager. “So we worked harder than ever to ‘keep it simple’ on the outside. But beyond the elegant look and unique ergonomic achievements, the 1098 is pure Rotel, with the fully-integrated performance and full-system excellence our ‘Balanced Design’ concept delivers.”
The RSP-1098 faceplate is elegant and simple, showing only the inset full-color LCD screen flanked by two knobs and key pushbutton controls. Inside, the circuitry is characaterized by Rotel’s obsessively “over-engineered” approach.
The power supply features Rotel-manufactured dual-toroidal power transformers. It provides generous current reserves thanks to a bank of specially-made low-ESR capacitors with pure, rock-steady voltage and current supplies, segregated for each circuit family. The power supply provides the underpinnings Rotel considers critical to superb sonics.
The audio and video circuitry of the RSP-1098 is also rigorously engineered, with function-oriented individual circuit boards carefully spaced and isolated to eliminate signal contamination.
Crystal Semiconductor 24-bit/192 kHz digital-to-analog converters on all channels, and the latest-generation, ultra-high-speed Cirrus Logic 32-bit DSP engine combine to deliver the complete range of current-day surround modes. Support is included for Dolby Digital EX and Pro Logic II, DTS ES-Matrix/Discrete, and DTS Neo:6 processing. There’s also Rotel’s proprietary, 7.1-channel Extra Surround mode, able to conjure up advanced multichannel sound from virtually any source.
The RSP-1098 is fully software-upgradeable, providing for the possibility of additional audio processing features in the future.
8-channel analog outputs and uniquely flexible, individual-channel crossover setup control make the RSP-1098 adaptable to virtually any home-theater system layout. 8 assignable digital inputs and five analog A-V inputs handle any combination of source components.
The new preamp/processor features four selectable, wideband component-video inputs (enough to accommodate the most elaborate setup). It maintains studio-quality video bandwidth on all video signal paths and switches, ensuring that image quality will match its exceptional audio capabilities.
Rotel’s independent multi-source/multi-zone design lets the RSP-1098 serve up audio and video to a remote room even while the home-theater room is in full, multichannel swing. Independent main and remote-zone IR inputs, a fully-functional RS-232 computer-style interface, discrete on/off command structure, and four individually assignable 12-volt triggers provide enough control interconnectivity to make the Rotel preamp/processor a highly competent full-system media controller as well.
Rotel has put a lot of effort into the RR-1050 remote control handset supplied with the RSP-1098. This powerfully ergonomic controller, with its backlit LCD screen for instant user-feedback in any room lighting, replaces up to 10 different remotes with a single simple, smoothly integrated commander. Extensive macro capability and a sliding cover to conceal programming-only buttons keep the sleek handset simple and unintimidating for all users.
The RSP-1098 is available in two finishes: matte black, or a 2-tone matte-silver and black.
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