Second hand equipment

[Aero-R]

Lets say you see a second hand ad of: Rotel RSP-966 decoder / pre-amp, with a Rotel RB-989 MK II power amplifier. I've never bought quality audio equipment (I'm just a student thinkin about spend the weekend job's money on what may be the 1st equipment to buy for a 5.1 sound, I'll attach it to my Playstation 3). Not the picture from the seller, but those are the mentioned units:

The seller says it's on mint conditions. He lives far, in another island, but I'm thinking about this oportunity and take the boat

Any ideas? suggestions for buy second-hand equipment? What should I ask or take specially care of?

A strange thing I saw in the ad: that power amp is 5 channels, so how this is supposed to drive a 5.1?, is the bass usually not connected to the power amp (so it have its own internal amp)?. Is this normal?.

He asks 450€ for the set of the two units.

After that, I'll have to buy seperate speakers. When talking about this equipement, how much do you think I'll have to spend in speakers for this (second-hand ones for example) to add the 5.1 speakers?. I've seen a pack of Mission ones for less than 400€, second-hand.

I'm even not sure because at the beginning of this I just started with the idea of a Logitech Z-5500.. but I love sound.. and even if I told myself this is more expensive than the first kit I was looking for... this may be a special oportunity. I love the idea of a pre-amp separated from the power amp to improve the fidelity sound on the 5.1. I'll have to look for a new room

 

[Flerbizky]

Ohh my - That's centainly a nice Rotel set !...

Go for it, the 2.0 sound alone should be well worth it. And assuming it's not Missions cheapest models, I'd say you'd be very pleased..

And yes - bar a few low-end systems, the amp for the sub is never an integral part of your power amp. - this is because most, if not all, sub manufacturers include some sort of equalizing of the sound.

Go order boat tickets :-)

 

[Aero-R]

Thanks for your answer Flerbizky.

Go for it, the 2.0 sound alone should be well worth it. And assuming it's not Missions cheapest models, I'd say you'd be very pleased..

Since this preamplifier include Phono stage, I'm thinking also to use it as Stereo since I'll connect my turntable to it, and remove then my Kenwood stereo integrated amp (which I guess sounds worse than this Rotel set). So I'm wondering how much I'll have to pay for a second-hand kit of 5.1 speakers, and if I see that I can afford all the investment (this, and the in theory speakers) I may buy it. I'm simply not sure since this would be my 1st second-hand buy and I'm still trying to learn about audio, but I think this set gives good sound. I know it's better than thos Logitech I said, but I don't know how better it is (I'm afraid of being much so I couldn't afford speakers at its level for the set).

I was thinking about spend the same price than this kit, but on speakers (second-hand), but I don't know if that will be possible because I don't know if with that price in the second-hand market, the speakers will be good for the set.

Anybody with knowledge knows if this is a set good for Playstation 3 or if it's so old that it won't approach the 5.1 Dolby or so?. My main idea has been always to start a 5.1 system since I've been always in Stereo and I know that the gaming experience will be better with 5.1 sound. I know it has Dolby Digital and DTS, but those things changed much in the years and now Dolby True HD is there. I'm a bit lost I must confess.

EDIT: I've talked with the seller and he offers the two units for 450€ (100€ less than the initial price) for those who bought the two units and not only the amplifier or the decoder (I've edited the 1st post too to notify this). I know that this equipment is a bit old, what do you think about it for this price?.

Unfortunately I don't know if he has the DB25 Multipin cable (those Rotel units have the connectors for it). I've to ask him yet if he has it and if he has the controller or not. He did confirm that both units are without scratchs at all, no marks.

 

[Flerbizky]

Thanks for your answer Flerbizky.


Since this preamplifier include Phono stage, I'm thinking also to use it as Stereo since I'll connect my turntable to it, and remove then my Kenwood stereo integrated amp (which I guess sounds worse than this Rotel set). So I'm wondering how much I'll have to pay for a second-hand kit of 5.1 speakers, and if I see that I can afford all the investment (this, and the in theory speakers) I may buy it. I'm simply not sure since this would be my 1st second-hand buy and I'm still trying to learn about audio, but I think this set gives good sound. I know it's better than thos Logitech I said, but I don't know how better it is (I'm afraid of being much so I couldn't afford speakers at its level for the set).

I was thinking about spend the same price than this kit, but on speakers (second-hand), but I don't know if that will be possible because I don't know if with that price in the second-hand market, the speakers will be good for the set.

Anybody with knowledge knows if this is a set good for Playstation 3 or if it's so old that it won't approach the 5.1 Dolby or so?. My main idea has been always to start a 5.1 system since I've been always in Stereo and I know that the gaming experience will be better with 5.1 sound. I know it has Dolby Digital and DTS, but those things changed much in the years and now Dolby True HD is there. I'm a bit lost I must confess.

EDIT: I've talked with the seller and he offers the two units for 450€ (100€ less than the initial price) for those who bought the two units and not only the amplifier or the decoder (I've edited the 1st post too to notify this). I know that this equipment is a bit old, what do you think about it for this price?.

Unfortunately I don't know if he has the DB25 Multipin cable (those Rotel units have the connectors for it). I've to ask him yet if he has it and if he has the controller or not. He did confirm that both units are without scratchs at all, no marks.

I've bought plenty of second hand equipment over the years and have yet to regret a purchase - and for £450, I'm willing to risk my right arm you'll be very pleased with the Rotel setup. Also, Rotel usually don't go for a cheap RIAA, so your turntable should definitely sound better than with your Kenwood amp.

And yes, I'm sure you're spot on when you say it'll sound better than the Logitech set !...

 

[Aero-R]

I've bought plenty of second hand equipment over the years and have yet to regret a purchase - and for £450, I'm willing to risk my right arm you'll be very pleased with the Rotel setup. Also, Rotel usually don't go for a cheap RIAA, so your turntable should definitely sound better than with your Kenwood amp.

And yes, I'm sure you're spot on when you say it'll sound better than the Logitech set !...

Thanks for your answer mate. Don't forget that it's only 450€, so £398. People suggested me other brands as NAD but I think this rotel setup may give me good results. Lets see.

The seller is going to send me a few pictures and maybe a picture of the internal circuitery. I'll post them here to watch for help of those who, by the circuitery, can tell me if it's on good state or so. He claims that the equipment has been never touched when talking about its circuitery, but I doubt on these second-hand things.

 

[Flerbizky]

Thanks for your answer mate. Don't forget that it's only 450€, so £398. People suggested me other brands as NAD but I think this rotel setup may give me good results. Lets see.

The seller is going to send me a few pictures and maybe a picture of the internal circuitery. I'll post them here to watch for help of those who, by the circuitery, can tell me if it's on good state or so. He claims that the equipment has been never touched when talking about its circuitery, but I doubt on these second-hand things.

Pictures of the innards are a beautiful thing indeed - A friend of mine is setting up a site with just that. Pictures of Hi-Fi gear innards.. It's actually _that_ cool :-)

And at 398 Euros, for me, it's a on-brainer. Had I not had the need for HDMI switching, and hence getting the Onkyo TX-SR706 receiver, I'd fly down and buy it myself for that price... (Shameless Onkyo promotion, the TX-SR706 was just voted Best Sub £1000 Receiver at the Home Cinema Awards 2009 - No wonder I'm listening to a lot of my music collection once again, I'm not the only one who's surprised by it's sound quality)

[Edit:] What's the model names btw ?..

 

[zed300]

I had a look at a couple of sites regarding the Rotel models you could become the proud owner of.
They both mentioned that the pre-amp is as good as it got, for the money. It is a 5.1 system and it comes with a remote, so make sure you get that, as it completes the setup process.
I was unable to locate imformation concerning power output from the power-amp, so advise on speakers is limited. Just add up the speaker outputs and divide it into the number of outlets, minus the sub output. If you don't equal or exceed the output with the speakers output,then you run the risk of damage (depending on protection relays) is likely, when pumping up the volume
Other than that, get on the boat go do it. I bought a system when I was 22 and still have it, sure it doesn't get used as much these days, but I've got my monies worth 👍

 

[Aero-R]

Yesterday I had bad luck and the motor of the car I was using, was internally damaged, so I lost the car. I'll have to think about money for a second hand car.. but I'll try to keep a bit of money to be still able to buy this equipment. Answering your questions:

[Edit:] What's the model names btw ?..

RSP-966 for the Surround Sound Processor
RB-985 MKII for the 5 channels Power Amplifier

I had a look at a couple of sites regarding the Rotel models you could become the proud owner of.
They both mentioned that the pre-amp is as good as it got, for the money. It is a 5.1 system and it comes with a remote, so make sure you get that, as it completes the setup process.

Yes, the seller told me that he still has it. I was interested on the remoted exactly because of that. And by the reviews I've seen, the pre-amp is good, but the real good part of this set is the power amplifier.

I was unable to locate imformation concerning power output from the power-amp, so advise on speakers is limited. Just add up the speaker outputs and divide it into the number of outlets, minus the sub output. If you don't equal or exceed the output with the speakers output,then you run the risk of damage (depending on protection relays) is likely, when pumping up the volume

100 Watts per channels. I'll have to take care of the volume, yes. In fact, after this incident with the car, if I bought this equipment I'll have them attached to a pair of 55 Watts speakers, not great quality, as a temporal medium until I reach a stable situation to spend money on the speakers, so I'll have to stay take specially care.

I've downloaded previously the Rotel manuals in .pdf of both units. The audio specs. for the power amplifier are the next ones:

Continuous Power Output (20-20 KHz, <0.03%, 8 Ohms): 100 Watts/channel
Total Harmonic Distortion (20Hz-20KHz, 8 Ohms): < 0.03 %
Intermodulation Distortion (60 Hz : 7 KHz, 4:1): < 0.03 %
Frequency Response (-+ 0.5 dB): 10Hz-80KHz
Damping Factor (20-20000 Hz, 8 Ohms): 260
Speaker Impedance: 4 Ohms minimum
Signal to Noise Ratio (IHF A network): 115 dB
Input Impedance/Sensitivity: 27 KOhms/1.0 volt

The next ones, are the audio specs. for the pre-amp (video specs. are not included since I'm not intersted on them, I'll not use video connections):

Total Harmonic Distortion: <0.03%
Intermodulation Distortion (60Hz : 7KHz): <0.03%
Frequency Response (Line Level): 10 Hz - 70 KHz, -+ 3 dB
Signal To Noise Ratio (IHF "A" Weighted): 92 dB (Stereo), 70 dB (Dolby Digital)
Input Sensitivity/Impedance: 200 mV/47 KOHms (Line Level), 3.5 mV/47KOHms (Phono Input)
Tone Controls (Bass/Treble): -+ 8 dB at 100 Hz / 10 KHz